He received his Ph.D. in the history of Christianity from Claremont Graduate University, where he completed his dissertation on the creation of a context for meaning to occur in the preaching of third-century Church father Origen of Alexandria. He continues to pursue his interests in historical preaching and the history of biblical interpretation. Boles is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), has worked as a solo pastor and as a hospice chaplain, and teaches preaching at the seminary level. He also has a beautiful wife, two ridiculously great children, and an obsession with jazz music.