E. Earle Ellis (March 18, 1926 – March 2, 2010) was a North American Biblical scholar. Ellis served as Research Professor of Theology Emeritus at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas joining the institution in 1985.
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Ellis was born to Lindsey Thornton and Lois Belle McBride Ellis in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Ellis served in the United States Army from 1944 to 1946. Following he completed a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Virginia in 1950, with concentrations in law, economics, political science and history. Ellis studied at the University of Virginia School of Law and intended to enter into a career in law. However, he left legal studies in order to pursue biblical studies.
He studied at Faith Seminary in Wilmington, Del., but soon moved to the Wheaton Graduate School in Wheaton, Ill. From Wheaton he received a M.A and B.D. degrees by 1953. Two years later, he was awarded with a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh.[1]
Ellis served in universities and seminaries throughout the United States, including the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Southwestern Seminary. He also founded the Institute for Biblical Research and the International Reference Library for Biblical Research. At Southwestern he served as Research Professor of Theology (1985–1998) and then as Research Professor of Theology Emeritus.
Prior to Southwestern Seminary Ellis taught at New Brunswick Theological Seminary (1977–85); Bethel Theological Seminary(1960–77); The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (1958–60); and Aurora College (1955–58).[2]
Throughout his career, Ellis produced numerous innovative and thought-provoking books and articles. His books include Paul’s Use of the Old Testament (1957), Paul and His Interpreters (1961), The World of St. John (1965), The Gospel of Luke (1966), Eschatology in Luke (1972), Prophecy and Hermeneutic in Early Christianity (1978), Pauline Theology: Ministry and Society (1989), The Old Testament in Early Christianity (1991), The Making of the New Testament Documents (1999), Christ and the Future in New Testament History (2000), History and Interpretation in New Testament Perspective (2001), and Sovereignty of God in Salvation (2009).