Jacob Benson
Assistant Professor of Humanities
Admissions Coordinator
STM, Concordia Theological Seminary
Research Interests
Early modern English poetry • epic poetry • hagiography • narrative theology
Jacob Benson served the Church as a parish pastor in Connecticut and northern Wyoming before coming to Luther Classical College. His curiosity in the literature of Second Temple Judaism led him to pursue an STM after completing his seminary studies, which itself produced a love of poetry, narrative, and hagiography. Reverend Benson believes that humans (especially Christians) learn through story and works to provide a narrative lens through which students can understand the Truth expressed in Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. Reverend Benson has children named after Finnish bishops and characters in medieval French poetry, but he also enjoys hiking and sports, so he’s a good fit for LCC.
Courses Taught at LCC
- LIT 121: Greek Literature
- HUM xxx: Early Medieval Worldviews
- THE xxx: Lutheran Reformation I
- “No Feast Day in Faerieland: Spenser and the Problem of Escape,” Annual Meeting of the Sixteenth Century Society, Chicago, IL. October, 2026.
- “Hagiopedagogy: Incorporating AC and AP XXI Into the Classroom,” CCLE XXV, Mequon, WI. July, 2025.
- “The Story of the Saints” seven part lecture through Lutheran Institute of Theology (LIT), https://lutheraninstitute.org/#/courses/story-of-the-saints
- Jacob H. Benson, “Areopogaticus Christou: Reflections on Acts,” Classical Lutheran Education Journal XVI (July, 2024): 35-37.
- Psalm Sheets for Worship & Household Use. Published by the LCMS for the 2024 Worship Conference. Psalms 5, 6, 13, 16, 25, 26, 28, 35, 40, 47, 48, 50, 56, 58, 64, 71, 77, 79, 91, 93, 100, 101, 104, 106, 110, 114, 116, 117, 120, 132. https://files.lcms.org/folder/31804AA6-4011-41D0-97F9-549F8C90812E?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2TlF97AsX5CR5dqgm-rAURzmhfOMh1FV2j768Anv4gwGerfWqCin5pOA8_aem_0GUhpa2R6GY_zAfrxA20ng
- “Exhortation from the Pagans,” Sectional Paper at the CTSFW Exegetical Symposium, Fort Wayne, IN. January, 2024.
- “Luke’s Use of the Petrine Tradition in his Retelling of the Transfiguration,” Midwest Regional Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, South Bend, IN. February 2019.
- “No Place to Lay his Head: Traditionalist Christian Sexuality in Postmodern America,” UNCC Religious Studies Graduate Conference (AAR), Charlotte, NC. March 2016.
- On the Line with Pastor Bryan Stecker
- July 13, 2025, “How the Gospel Shapes Every Story | Reigniting Wonder with Pastor Jacob Benson.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek3hDxp7cdE&t=5s
- July 15, 2024, “The Real Spiritual Warfare & Artificial Intelligence | Jacob Benson.” https://youtu.be/a2gSsKOWKIA?si=UIT_-b4XNR3peKeX
- November 13, 2023, “Episode Three – Understanding the Jewish Religion with Jacob Benson.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z_HzijjDq4
- Thy Strong Word, Dr. Phil Booe, host.
- April 4, 2025, “Free-Text Friday: The Word According To… Epimenides?: Cultural References in Scripture.” https://www.kfuo.org/2025/04/04/thy-strong-word-040425-free-text-friday-the-word-according-to-epimenides-cultural-references-in-scripture/
- December 9, 2022, “Exodus 22:16-23:9: Laws Promoting Social Justice.” https://www.kfuo.org/2022/12/09/thy-strong-word-120922-exodus-2216-239-l`aws-promoting-social-justice
- August 24, 2022, “Romans 8:18-39: God’s Everlasting Love.” https://www.kfuo.org/2022/08/24/thy-strong-word-082422-romans-818-39-gods-everlasting-love
Education
PhD | Trinity College Dublin | English (anticipated 2028)
STM | Concordia Theological Seminary | 2020
MDiv | Concordia Theological Seminary | 2018
BA | University of Wyoming | Religious Studies, Minor in Psychology | 2013
AA | Northwest College | Psychology | 2010