Dr. Esau McCaulley, theologian and bestselling author, recently delivered his inaugural lecture as the Jonathan Blanchard Chair of New Testament and Public Theology at Wheaton College. While the lecture primarily focused on the historical use of the Bible during the 19th-century slavery debates, McCaulley also shared candid reflections on his experience as a public theologian.
As reported by The Wheaton Record, McCaulley, author of Reading While Black, expressed a sense of unease with his growing public profile.
“I had just wanted to teach the Bible,” he stated, “and I found myself talking to and about God in public. Most days, I wanted it to end. I wanted to go back to something approaching normalcy.”
His initial motivation for engaging in public discourse stemmed from the tumultuous 2016 election and a desire to provide a Christian perspective on racial issues for his children.
“There had to be a record of what the people of God had to say about what was going on,” he explained. “There had to be a record saying that the God of justice, the God of holiness, the God of righteousness, were one and the same.”
McCaulley’s rise in popularity, fueled by his widely read books and media appearances, created a tension between his desire for a quieter academic life and the demands of public engagement. He acknowledged the burden of this role, stating, “I say this not to brag, but to be honest in saying that it was just too much.”
However, McCaulley also recognized the historical context of Black theology, noting, “Our people were suffering publicly in slavery. So our theology had to be public.” This understanding helped him reconcile his personal discomfort with the necessity of his public voice.
New Testament professor Amy Peeler offered insight into McCaulley’s approach, observing that his success lies in “the less glorious path of remaining a local one.” She emphasized his commitment to community, citing his involvement in “the neighborhood church, the 40-person classroom, the backyard barbecue.”
McCaulley, known for his work on New Testament theology, African American biblical interpretation, and Christian public theology, also writes opinion articles for The New York Times.