Mark J. Boda

Mark J. Boda (born June 15, 1962) is a Canadian academic and Old Testament scholar, specializing in the literature and theology of the Old Testament.

Life and career Boda was born on June 15, 1962. He completed undergraduate studies at Canadian Bible College in Regina, Saskatchewan (BTh) and a master's degree at Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside, Pennsylvania (MDiv). Boda earned his doctoral degree (PhD) at the University of Cambridge in 1996, writing his dissertation under the supervision of Graham I. Davies and Hugh G. M. Williamson.

Boda began his teaching career in 1994 back at his alma mater, Canadian Bible College and Theological Seminary, where he was Assistant and Associate Professor of Biblical Studies and Old Testament (1994–2001), then Professor of Old Testament Literature (2001–2003). Since 2003, he has been Professor and Chair in Old Testament at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario. In 2026, he was appointed the Margaret and Stanley Ford Chair of Old Testament at McMaster Divinity College.

In addition to his academic work, Boda also has ministry experience within the Christian & Missionary Alliance, having served in various pastoral roles in both Canada and the United States.

Academic work The primary areas of focus within Boda's scholarship include Old Testament theology, prayer and penitence in the Old Testament and Christian theology, Babylonian and Persian period history and texts in the Hebrew Bible, and Hebrew poetry. His work has focused especially on the following Old Testament books: Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles, Haggai, Zechariah, Judges, Psalms, and Lamentations.

Boda served as president of the Canadian Society of Biblical Studies in 2013–2014 and was the program secretary for the Institute for Biblical Research from 2012 to 2018. Additionally, he has been on the Committee for Bible Translation, the group responsible for the New International Version (NIV), since 2016.

Publishing activities Boda has maintained a steady research and publication output throughout his career. As of 2024, he has authored 8 monographs and 5 biblical commentaries, 25 articles in academic journals and periodicals, more than 60 chapters in edited volumes, and numerous articles or entries in dictionaries and reference works. In addition, he has served as the editor or co-editor of over 20 volumes, and has extensive experience as a member of the editorial board for several book series, journals, and publishers. Currently, he is the series co-editor of the Baker Commentary on the Old Testament: Prophets (Baker Academic) and an associate editor of the Story of God Bible Commentary series (Zondervan).

Selected publications Authored books and monographs

(from the Official SBL website) (from the Official SBL website)

Biblical Commentaries

Edited volumes