Abernethy, Diana

The Rev. Dr. Diana Abernethy joined the Huntingdon College Faculty in 2018. Her research and teaching interests include narrative analysis of the Old Testament, theological interpretation of the Old Testament, Bible and film, the books of Samuel, the book of Numbers, women in the Old Testament, and violence in the Old Testament. Her current writing project is Deceiving for David: Deceptions in Context, which is under contract with Oxford University Press.

She is an ordained Elder in the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church and a John Wesley Fellow. With passions for campus ministry, local church Bible Studies, and community for persons of all abilities, her ministry experience includes serving as a board member for the Duke Wesley Fellowship, leading Disciple Bible Studies, volunteering with Reality Ministries (Durham, NC), and serving as a committee member for Friends of L’Arche North Carolina.

Courses Taught

• RLGN 101 Interpreting the Old Testament
• RLGN 101H Honors Interpreting the Old Testament
• RLGN 102 Interpreting the New Testament
• RLGN 208 Torah
• RLGN 313 Wisdom and Poetic Literature (Hebrew Scriptures)
• RLGN 309 The Prophets (Hebrew Scriptures)
• RLGN 303 Introduction to Biblical Hebrew
• RLGN 401 Women in the Old Testament
• RLGN 315 Race and the Old Testament
• INDP 372 Travel Seminar: Prague & Vienna
• CALL 200 Introduction to Ethics and Vocation
• CALL 300 Perspectives on Ethics and Vocation

Publications

Refereed Journal Articles

• 2024 “The Sudden Deluge: Parasite, Matthew 24:36-51, and Immanent Apocalyptic Imagery,” Journal of Religion and Film 28.2
• 2017 “Translation of Horse Colors in Zechariah 1:8; 6:2–3, 6 Based on Textual and Material Evidence,” Journal of Biblical Literature 136.3

Chapter in Edited Volume

• 2020 “The Heir of Saul: Jonathan’s Life and Death in Theological Perspective” in Characters and Characterization in 1 and 2 Samuel, edited by Keith Bodner and Benjamin J. M. Johnson, T & T Clark LHBOTS

Book Reviews

• 2023 Why Read the Bible in the Original Languages by Takamitsu Muraoka in Review of Biblical Literature
• 2022 Divine Violence in the Book of Samuel by Rachel Gilmour in Review of Biblical Literature
• 2019 The Female Ruse: Women’s Deception & Divine Sanction in the Hebrew Bible by Rachel E. Adelman in Review of Biblical Literature

Encyclopedia Entries

• 2015 “Rachel” and “Leah” in Routledge Enc. of Ancient Mediterranean Religions

Other Publications

• 2023 “Commentary on Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18,” Working Preacher website
• 2020 “Building an Old Testament Library: Psalms–Daniel” for Catalyst website
• 2016 “Deborah,” “Delilah,” and “Abishag,” in Common English Bible Women’s Bible

Conference Presentations

• 2024 “Nope and Nahum as Survival Literature,” International Conference on Religion & Film, Pasadena, CA
• 2023 “David’s Education in Deception,” Book of Samuel: Narrative, Theology, and Interpretation Section, Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX
• 2023 “Identifying Deception in Biblical Narrative with Case Studies from 1 Samuel,” Southeast Region of the American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA
• 2022 “Catastrophe in Parasite as Immanent Apocalypse,” Bible and Film Section, Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Denver, CO
• 2022 “David’s Deceptions: Reading Old Testament Narrative as Christian Scripture,” Wesleyan Theological Society Annual Meeting, Virtual Conference
• 2020 “Imagined Dynasties: Interpreting and Over-interpreting מַמְלָכָה in 1 Sam 13:13–14,” Biblical Lexicography Section, Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Virtual Conference
• 2019 “Worthy of Love: The Omission of Biblical Quotations in Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time,” International Conference on Religion & Film, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
• 2019 “Jonathan the Savvy Strategist: Re-Reading 1 Samuel 20:2 in the Context of Jonathan’s Characterization in 1 Samuel,” Emerging Voices in Samuel Studies Symposium, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 2018 “Jonathan as a Capable but not Chosen Successor: How the Narrative Sequence of 1 Samuel 13–15 Reveals the Theological Foundation of Israel’s Monarchy,” Book of Samuel: Narrative, Theology and Interpretation Section, Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Denver, CO
• 2018 “Thematic Power of Deception: An Experimentally Intertextual Reading of 1 Samuel 14, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” International Conference on Religion & Film, Toronto, Ontario
• 2016 “Translating Deception in 1 Samuel: A Case Study of Jonathan, Michal, and Abigail,” Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Section, Southeastern Regional Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Atlanta, GA
• 2014 “Translation of the Colors of the Horses in Zechariah 1:8; 6:2–3; and 6:6 Based on Textual and Material Evidence,” Biblical Lexicography Section, Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA
• 2013 “The Violence Continues: The Portrayal of Violence in Joshua 20 and 22,” John Wesley Fellows Christmas Conference, Durham, NC

Fellowships and Awards

• 2021 Dr. and Mrs. John N. Todd III Award for Excellence in Teaching, Huntingdon College
• 2015–2017 Dempster Graduate Fellowship, GBHEM of the United Methodist Church
• 2015–2016 Preparing Future Faculty Fellow, Duke University; Faculty Mentor: Margarita Suarez, Meredith College
• 2014, 2016 Duke Graduate School Conference Travel Grant
• 2014 Gurney Harris Kearns Summer Research Fellowship, Duke University
• 2010–2015 Graduate Program in Religion Doctoral Fellowship, Duke University
• 2010–2014 John Wesley Fellowship, A Foundation for Theological Education
• 2007–2010 Benjamin N. Duke Scholarship, Duke Divinity School
• 2006 William J. Griffith University Service Award, Duke University