Published on July 12, 2022 by Daniel Dodson  
Mathews Kenneth

Kenneth Mathews came to Samford in 1989, where he has taught many courses including the Old Testament and Hebrew exegesis. After more than 30 years of service, he retired in May as a professor of divinity.

Mathews said he has enjoyed many aspects of teaching but especially engaging with students every day and collaborating with colleagues.

“I have witnessed the transformation of Samford’s programming and facilities under the leadership of three able and passionate Presidents,” Mathews said.

Mathews said one of his favorite moments at Samford was climbing the scaffolding to the ceiling of the painted dome in Hodges Chapel. He has held a long academic list of excellence while at the university.

He is the author of Genesis 1–11:26 and Genesis 11:27–50:26 in the New American Commentary series (as well as associate general editor of the series), Leviticus: Holy God, Holy People in the Preaching the Word series, Joshua in the Teach the Text Commentary series, and The Post-Racial Church (coauthored with Beeson faculty member M. Sydney Park).

He translated “Leviticus” for The New Living Translation and is associate editor of the Old Testament for the new Evangelical Biblical Commentary series published by Lexham Press.

Mathews is an ordained minister in the Southern Baptist Convention. He serves as an itinerant preacher, conference speaker and Bible teacher. Mathews and his wife, Dea, have two adult children, seven grandchildren and one great-grandson.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.