Scholars We Support

Dr. Mark Talbot

Mark R. Talbot, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Wheaton College in Illinois, is our first Scholar. He has been a Thomas F. Staley Distinguished Christian Scholar, an Andrew Mellon Graduate Fellow in the School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his Ph.D., and a recipient of The Leland Ryken Award for Teaching Excellence in the Humanities at Wheaton College. He is currently working on a four-volume series on Suffering and the Christian Life. The first two volumes, When the Stars Disappear and Give Me Understanding that I May Live are available now. Dr. Talbot is available to speak on this and other topics. You may contact him at [email protected].

Dr. Talbot is also the host of the biweekly podcast When the Stars Disappear. This podcast is available on all major podcast platforms or visit whenthestarsdisappear.com to listen and subscribe.

Brand new book!

Give Me Understanding That I May Live: Situating Our Suffering within God's Redemptive Plan

Since creation’s fall, suffering has been part of earthly life. At times, it can feel overwhelming, even for believers who trust in the Lord. The Suffering and the Christian Life series provides help and hope from Scripture for those who are suffering.

In volume 2 of this series, Mark Talbot explores Scripture’s account of the origin, spread, and eventual end of suffering, giving Christians the perspective they need to get through life’s difficult times. He encourages readers to see themselves within the Bible’s storyline (creation, rebellion, redemption, and consummation), finding the courage to endure and taking comfort that God is at work for their good.

“This second volume in Mark Talbot’s tetralogy on suffering is a masterful han- dling of the vexing and deeply personal problem of suffering in the life of the Christian. Talbot the philosopher shows his skill as a biblical theologian by situ- ating suffering within the grand sweep of the Bible’s fourfold storyline: creation, fall, redemption, and consummation. Both elegant and wise, as well as judicious and kind, this is biblical and theological reflection at its very best—the kind of thoughtful, mature analysis that feeds the people of God. There are treasures to be found on every page—and, as a bonus, in many of the endnotes! Christian, here you have a sure and steady guide. Take and read—and learn from someone who has thought more deeply and scripturally about suffering than anyone I know. Highly recommended!”

Todd Wilson, President, Center for Pastor Theologians; author, Real Christian; coauthor, The Pastor Theologian

Podcast

Writings

More samples of Dr. Talbot’s writings may be found at Academia.edu.

Broken Wholeness

Read Broken Wholeness, a glimpse into our first Scholar’s journey from a paralyzing accident as a teen to his life as a professor, an author, and speaker today.

Four Questions about Human Suffering

Crossway, 2022

When the Stars Disappear - Vol 1

Sample Chapter – 2020

Give Me Understanding That I May Live - Vol 2

Sample Chapter – 2022

Why Personhood Runs Deeper Than Neurology

Didaktikos Journal Article, April 2020.

What the Apostle Paul Teaches Us About Suffering

Excerpt from When the Stars Disappear.

Vocation & Calling

A talk to the Fellows of the Chicago Chapter of the C. S. Lewis Institute on March 3rd, 2018.

Good Reading

Didaktikos Journal Article, April 2019.

Media

Not Ideal, but We're Going with It: "Lost at sea lessons on suffering well from Dr. Mark Talbot."

A Chapel talk at Crossway Books on God's Commands (2019)

A Chapel talk at Crossway Books on Suffering (2017)