Michael J. Gorman
Michael J. Gorman (born 1955) is the Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology at St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore, where he has taught since 1991. A New Testament scholar specializing in Pauline theology, Gorman is known for advancing the "participationist perspective" on Paul's theology—understanding salvation as participation in Christ—and brings ecumenical depth to evangelical biblical scholarship.
With a BA summa cum laude from Gordon College and a PhD from Princeton Theological Seminary, Gorman has authored twenty books and numerous articles on Paul, Revelation, the Gospel of John, and theological interpretation of Scripture. His election to the international Society for New Testament Studies, his role as editor of The Journal of Theological Interpretation, and his 2020 Festschrift recognition affirm his stature as a leading voice in contemporary biblical theology bridging evangelical and academic communities.
Frequently Asked Questions about Michael J. Gorman
Who is Michael J. Gorman?
Michael J. Gorman (born 1955) is a New Testament scholar who has taught at St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore since 1991, where he holds the Raymond E. Brown Professorship of Biblical Studies and Theology. He specializes in the apostle Paul, Revelation, and theological interpretation of Scripture.
Is Michael Gorman Catholic?
No. Gorman is a United Methodist layperson who teaches at a Roman Catholic seminary — the oldest in the United States — as part of its ecumenical faculty. His work is read widely across evangelical, mainline Protestant, and Catholic communities.
What is 'cruciformity' in Gorman's work?
Cruciformity, the title of Gorman's landmark 2001 book, is his term for Paul's spirituality of conformity to the crucified Christ. He argues that the cross reveals God's own character and that salvation involves participating in Christ's self-giving, cross-shaped love — a reading he developed further in Inhabiting the Cruciform God and Participating in Christ.
What has Michael Gorman written recently?
His recent works include Romans: A Theological and Pastoral Commentary and a 2025 commentary on 1 Corinthians (Eerdmans). His textbook Apostle of the Crucified Lord remains a widely used introduction to Paul.