Matthew grew up on a farm in Southeast Kansas. He holds a bachelor of theology degree from Ozark Christian College in Joplin, MO, and an MA and Ph.D. in the Hebrew Bible from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beer-Sheva, Israel. He also earned a second MA in theology at Newman University. Matthew’s expertise is in Scripture, especially the Old Testament. He enjoys studying ancient Jewish texts, like the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Mishnah. Matthew has been married to his wife, Robin, for nearly seventeen years, and they have five children.