Campus Spotlight: Dr. Ryan Stokes

Dr. Ryan Stokes
Associate Professor of Biblical Studies and Associate Dean of the School of Biblical and Theological Studies

Education:
BA from Western Kentucky University
MA from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
MA from Yale University
MPhil from Yale University
PhD from Yale University

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which is best known as the place where Corvettes are manufactured and the home of the National Corvette Museum. What is not as well know is that Bowling Green is also the location of the headquarters of Fruit of the Loom.

When did you first know that an education in theology was what you wanted to pursue?

While I was a college student and was involved in one of my university’s campus ministries, I sensed that God was calling me to full-time Christian ministry. In the fall of my junior year, as I was considering how I might pursue this call, I happened to enroll in a course on the life and teachings of the apostle Paul. In this course and the other Bible courses that followed it, I discovered that studying and teaching the Bible in an academic context fit perfectly with how God had wired me. By the end of my junior year, I had decided to enroll in seminary and eventually earn a PhD in Biblical Studies. Although academics and ministry are often thought to be unrelated or even at odds with each other, for me, working with students in an academic context is how I fulfill my calling to ministry.

What are you most excited about in your new role as associate dean of the School of Biblical and Theological Studies?

It is an honor and a blessing to serve alongside of my colleagues in the School of Biblical and Theological Studies as we work to prepare students’ hearts, minds, and hands for Christian leadership. Like many departments at Carson-Newman, the School of Biblical and Theological Studies has assembled a highly qualified team of faculty and has attracted some extremely gifted students. I hope that my new position will afford me greater opportunity to assist my colleagues in their work, to get the word out about the extraordinary quality of our school, and to transform our students’ lives.

In a world that is seeing rapid and incredible advancements in technology, travel and knowledge, what would you answer someone who asks how ancient Scriptures continue to be relevant today?

While the world that we live in today is in many respects very different from the world of the Scriptures, the human predicament and God’s solution to it are the same now as they were thousands of years ago. Despite the truly remarkable advances in medicine, technology, and many other areas of knowledge, humankind continues to be assailed by sin, suffering, and death. We are broken beings living in a broken world. The Scriptures teach us that God’s solution to this problem is Jesus Christ. In Christ, we have hope that God will one day dwell with us, that he will wipe every tear from our eyes, and that death will be no more (Rev 21:3-4).

Which of Jesus’ disciples would you say you most relate to and why?

Serious answer. One of the disciples betrayed Jesus for money. The other eleven either abandoned Jesus or denied him when they encountered potential persecution. The real possibility that I might do any of these things truly frightens me.

If you could go back to biblical times and visit with any person other than Jesus, who would it be, and what is the first question you would ask them?

I would probably have a long talk with James, Jesus’s brother, who was an apostle and one of the primary leaders of the early church. If I could not speak directly with Jesus, I would want to speak with someone who knew him well.

What is your greatest hope for students studying theology at Carson-Newman?

For the past several months, I have been praying Romans 12:2 for our students, specifically that they “will be transformed by the renewing of their minds.” I hope that our students will think about the Scriptures carefully, clearly, and in such a way that informs every aspect of their lives. I hope that they will accept nothing less in life than being faithful followers of Christ who serve others and help them also to become faithful followers of Christ.

You’re taking a road trip. What artists are featured in your playlist?

My playlist would definitely include Béla Fleck, Punch Brothers, Billy Strings, and a number of other contemporary Bluegrass bands. That is unless my wife is traveling with me. Then, instead of bluegrass, we would listen to contemporary Christian music and true crime podcasts. My wife is wonderfully complex.

If you could become a master at any musical instrument, what would it be?

In my spare time, I am doing my best to learn to play the 5-string banjo.

Who is your favorite artist that plays that instrument?

There are so many incredible players whose powers I would steal if I could, but Béla Fleck is at the top of the list.

If you were stuck on a desert island with a TV that could only play one movie, what movie would it be?

Ben Hur, the 1959 version starring Charleton Heston.

Favorite food on the weekend?

A grilled hamburger on a toasted bun.

Biggest pet peeve?

Lengthy questionnaires.

What do you enjoy doing most in your free time?

Hiking with my wife and playing my banjo.

What do you love most about teaching at Carson-Newman?

Carson-Newman is a university community, every component of which is designed with one purpose in mind: to encourage students to follow Christ more faithfully. From campus ministry, to athletics, to our rigorous academics, and other student experiences, we are all working together to transform students’ lives for Christ.