Dr. Gerald Wilson, Professor of Biblical Studies at Azusa Pacific University since fall 1999, died on 11 November 2005, immediately after suffering a heart attack. He was deeply respected by his students and colleagues. In 2002 he was awarded the Faculty Outstanding Scholarship Achievement Award.

Professor Wilson was a graduate of Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Afterwards he took an M.Div. and an M.A. from Fuller Theological Seminary. There he was inspired in the study of biblical Hebrew by Prof. William S. LaSor. He continued his studies at Yale University, under the direction of Professors Robert R. Wilson and Brevard S. Childs. There he earned an M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. On the basis of his work at Yale, he established himself as a pioneering scholar in the study of the Psalms as he undertook examination of the canonical shape of the Psalter.

Prior to taking his position at Azusa Pacific University, Dr. Wilson served as Assistant Professor of Religion at the University of Georgia, and afterward went on to faculty appointments at George Fox University, the University of Portland, and Western Evangelical Seminary.

In addition to numerous journal articles, Dr. Wilson recently published the first volume of his commentary on Psalms, in the NIV Application Bible series ( Zondervan, 2002). Before his untimely death he had brought to completion a commentary on Job for the New International Biblical Commentary. Hendrickson Publishers will publish this volume posthumously.

Dr. Wilson is survived by his wife Diane, son Micah, and daughter Meghan. A memorial service for was held on Thursday, 17 November 2005.

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Citation: , " Gerald Wilson," SBL Forum , n.p. [cited Feb 2006]. Online:http://sbl-site.org/Article.aspx?ArticleID=498