J. Nathan Clayton featured image background

J. Nathan Clayton

Associate Professor of Old Testament

Growing up as a missionary kid in France, Dr. J. Nathan Clayton established a strong sense of calling from God early on, which led him to pursue a biblical teaching ministry. Clayton integrates his intercultural background and understanding of diverse ministry settings into his classroom. “I bring, by God’s grace, a wide variety of ministry experiences and perspectives on Christian Ministry to my teaching of the Old Testament and of the Bible as a whole,” he says.

Clayton appreciates the fellowship, support, and sense of Christ-centered community at North Park. He also values the diversity of students and encourages them to engage in conversation and learn from one another. He explains, “The biblical text itself is rich with a variety of cultural and linguistic expressions; this is a significant feature of the Word God has revealed to us.”

Passionate about enabling his students to refine their sense of calling to Christian ministry, Clayton aims to strengthen their abilities to effectively preach and teach Scripture. He also provides his students with the experiential opportunity to learn and visualize the original historical, cultural, and geographical contexts of the Old Testament through tours at the University of Chicago Oriental Institute Museum.

Favorite Quote

Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name
Make known his deeds among the peoples
Sing to him, sing praises to him
Tell of all his glorious works

Psalm 105:1-2

Favorite Spot in Chicago

Wrigley Field is a definite favorite spot. Every year my sons and I try to make it to a Cubs game or two—great father/son memories there.

Interests and Hobbies

I currently serve as an elder at my home church, and preach and teach there regularly. I also play piano, guitar, and bass, and serve in a variety of music and worship settings at my church. I also enjoy playing jazz piano with a jazz group that occasionally plays gigs around Chicagoland.

Fun Fact

When I was growing up in France as a missionary kid, I regularly did outreach ministry sketches with a ventriloquist dummy named Alex in churches and at camps. A French-speaking ventriloquist!

Current Research

Cascade Companion book with Wipf & Stock on Old Testament music and song.

Baker Academic book on the “seam” psalms of the Psalter.

Recent Publications

“Divine Presence in the Levitical Psalms: Engaging Paradoxical Perceptions,” in The Psalms: Exploring Theological Themes. Edited by David M. Howard and Andrew J. Schmutzer. Bellingham, WA: Lexham, 2023), 271-282.

Sign, Service and Song: The Levites of 1 Chronicles 10-29 in Rhetorical, Historical and Theological Perspectives. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2021.

Upcoming Presentations

“Shepherding along the Psalter’s Path from Lament to Praise: Exploring a Ministry Metaphor.” Evangelical Theological Society, National Conference, San Diego, CA, November 2024

Recent Presentations

“Intensifying Paradoxical Perceptions of God in the Levitical Psalms of Book 3.” Evangelical Theological Society, National Conference, Forth Worth, TX, November 2021.

“Paradoxical Perceptions of God in the Levitical Psalms of Book 2.” Evangelical Theological Society: National Conference, Online, November 2020.

“Responding to Crisis: Insights from Chronicles.” North Park Theological Seminary, Public Theology Series: Bible Faculty, Online, Fall 2020.

Response to K. Lawson Younger’s “Another Look at ‘Early’ Ideologies of the Land in the Hebrew Bible in Light of Recent Study.” Theological Symposium, North Park Theological Seminary, Fall 2019.

“Hopeful Historiography: An Exegetical Analysis of the Literary Frame of 1 Chronicles 22-29.” Tyndale House Old Testament Study Group: Annual Meeting, Cambridge University, UK, June 2019.

“Clivage Ethnique: Obstacles pour le Développement de la Société.” Université Protestante de l’Ubangi : Conférence Biblique, Gemena, DRC, May 2019.