Mike Pope

Degrees

PhD, University of Chicago, 2014 (New Testament and Early Christian Literature)
MA, University of Chicago, 2011 (New Testament and Early Christian Literature)
MA, BYU, 2007 (Comparative Studies, Classics Emphasis)
BA, BYU 2005 (Classics)

Interests

My training and interests are in the literature of the late Republic and Early Principate and I am especially interested in the ethics of Epicureanism and Stoicism and how these are coopted in literature.  I am also interested in how philosophers, rhetoricians, historians, and poets utilize scenes of violence to exemplify notions of honor, virtue, masculinity, and duty.
Outside of academia, I enjoy weightlifting, trail running, mountain biking, hiking, snowshoeing, gardening, cooking, and eating.  I also love college football.

Publications

“Sweating with Blood and Civil Conflict in De Rerum Natura,” Classical Journal 112 (2016): 41-55.

“The Downward Motion of Jesus’ Sweat and the Authenticity Question of Luke 22:43-44,” Catholic Biblical Quarterly 79 (2017): 261-81.

“Ocular Penetration, Grammatical Objectivity, and an Indecent Proposal in De Rerum Natura,” Classical Philology 113 (2018): 206-12.

“Bodies Piled High: Lucretius, Lucan, and the Un/Natural Costs of Civil War,” Classical Philology (Forthcoming).

“A Note on Gabriel’s Entrance and Biblical Violence in Luke’s Annunciation Narrative,” Journal of Biblical Literature (Forthcoming).

“Seminal Verse: Atomic Orality and Aurality in De Rerum Natura,” Eugesta (Forthcoming).

Book Reviews

“A Closer Look: Luke 22:43-44 and Questions of Interpretation,” Studies in the Bible and Antiquity 6 (2015): 127-133.

C. Kavin Rowe, One True Life: The Stoics and Early Christians as Rival Traditions, in Journal of Theological Studies 67 (2016): 773-775.

Recent and Future Courses

Classical Civilizations 110: Intro to Greek and Roman Literature

Greek 311: Greek New Testament (comparing Markan and Lukan Passion Narratives)

Greek 411R: Early Christian Literature (courses on Paul, Luke, Ignatius of Antioch)

Greek 490R: Philosophy and Literature (courses on Philo of Alexandria, Epictetus, 4 Maccabees)

Latin 111: Accelerated Intro Latin

Latin 490: Lucretius

Latin 431: Vergil

Classics 490: Seminar on Hellenistic Philosophy

Classical Civ 307: Roman History