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OBU—Oklahoma Baptist University
Dr. Rafael Bello
Dr. Rafael Bello

Dr. Rafael Bello

Assistant Professor of Religious Studies
Ida Elizabeth and J.W. Hollums Chair of Bible

Biography

Dr. Rafael Bello earned his M.Div, Th.M, and Ph.D (Systematic Theology) from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Before joining OBU, Dr. Bello served as professor of theology and Interpretation at Martin Bucer Seminary and Academic Editor at Fiel Publishing House. He is the recipient of several international grants and awards including the John Stott Award for Pastoral Engagement, New Visions for Theological Anthropology (NViTA) Award, and The BluePrint 1543 Award for Engagement in Science and Religion (2020). His research interests include the intersection of christology, trinitarian theology, metaphysics, and modern continental theology and philosophy. His first book, "Sinless Flesh" was published by Lexham Press and is featured in the Studies in Historical and Systematic Theology Series.

Bello is married to Josie and they have three children. He has served in churches in the US and Brazil. He enjoys watching soccer, and playing tennis.

Education

  • Ph.D., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
  • Th.M., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
  • M.Div., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
  • Bachelor's in Business., UDF Centro Universitário, Brasília Brazil

Subjects Taught

  • Systematic Theology
  • Ethics
  • Church History

Professional Memberships

  • The Evangelical Theological Society
  • The American Academy of Religion

Awards and Honors

  • New Visions for Theological Anthropology (NViTA) Award
  • BluePrint 1543 Award for Engagement in Science and Religion (2020)
  • John Stott Award for Pastoral Engagement (2019-2020)

Selected Publications

  • "Sinless Flesh: A Critique of Karl Barth’s Fallen Christ" Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020.

Selected Presentations

  • The Spirit of Habitus: The Holy Spirit and Divine Taxis in the Sanctification of the Son’s Humanity – The Los Angeles Theology Conference, 2020
  • John Webster and T. F. Torrance on Scripture and Theology – T. F. Torrance Fellowship, 2020
  • The Incarnation, Inseparable Operations, and some Thomistic Implications for the Non-Assumptus – Housh Talks, Fall 2018 Louisville, KY. Elected one of the five best proposals from the Ph.D department at SBTS.
  • Trinity and Contemplation – The Creation Project; Carl F. H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding. Presentation given at Third Avenue Baptist Church, Louisville, KY.