J. Nathan Clayton

Education

PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
MDiv, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
BA, Religion & Philosophy, Sterling College

Profile

Growing up as a missionary kid in France, Nathan Clayton established a strong sense of calling from God early on, which led him to pursue a biblical teaching ministry. Clayton integrates his intercultural background and understanding of diverse ministry settings into his classroom. “Scripture sings—sometimes in lament, sometimes in praise—and I’ve spent my life learning its tune. From Kansas to France, from ancient Hebrew to songs of worship, I’ve come to see the Bible as a bridge God builds between cultures, generations, and hearts,” he writes.

The Rev. Dr. J. Nathan Clayton is Associate Professor of Old Testament and Chair of the Bible Field at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, where he teaches courses in Old Testament and Biblical Hebrew. He holds a PhD in Theological Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, where he specialized in Old Testament Theology and Exegesis. His doctoral dissertation, Symbol, Service and Song: The Levites of 1 Chronicles 10–29 in Rhetorical, Historical and Theological Perspectives, reflects his long-standing interest in biblical texts, worship, and the theology of priestly service.

A passionate educator, Dr. Clayton brings extensive experience teaching in a wide range of instructional settings. He regularly teaches students from diverse cultural, denominational, and vocational backgrounds, and is committed to equipping all learners to faithfully interpret and apply Scripture in a variety of ministry contexts. In addition to classroom teaching, he contributes actively to seminary life through committee service in areas such as pastoral care, and library and publications. He also regularly helps lead worship during the seminary’s community worship services. Dr. Clayton plays a leading role in organizing the seminary’s biennial Symposium on the Theological Interpretation of Scripture and serves as editor of Ex Auditu, the seminary’s theological journal.

In addition to his academic work, Dr. Clayton is deeply rooted in pastoral ministry. He was Ordained to Christian Ministry in 2024 at Christ Church, a multi-campus evangelical congregation in Lake County, Illinois, where he serves as an elder and worship leader. He has also preached, taught, and led worship in churches across the Chicagoland area and beyond, including serving as a senior pastor in New York City. His ministry reflects a deep integration of biblical scholarship, pastoral care, and musical leadership.

Raised in a Christian missionary family—born in Kansas and raised in France—Dr. Clayton sensed a call to vocational ministry early in life. This call has been shaped through years of study, pastoral leadership, and cross-cultural experience. Fluent in French and trained in several biblical and modern languages, he brings a global and multilingual perspective to the study of Scripture. His teaching and scholarship aim to serve both the academy and the church, equipping future leaders with theological depth, pastoral wisdom, and a heart for worship.

Recent Publications

“My Strength and My Song”: Learning from the Music of Moses and David. Eugene, OR: Cascade, forthcoming.

Symbol, Service and Song: The Levites of 1 Chronicles 10-29 in Rhetorical, Historical and Theological Perspectives. Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2021.

“From Lament to Praise: How the ‘Seam” Psalms Can Teach Us to Walk the Godward Path.” Covenant Quarterly 82, no. 1 (2024): 37-51

“Intensifying Paradoxical Perceptions of God in the Levitical Psalms of Book 3.” Perichoresis 22, no. 4 (2024): 27-47.

“Divine Presence in the Levitical Psalms: Engaging Paradoxical Perceptions,” pages 271-81 in The Psalms: Exploring Theological Themes. Edited by David M. Howard and Andrew J. Schmutzer. Bellingham, WA: Lexham, 2023.

Presentations

“Shepherding along the Psalter’s Path from Lament to Praise: Exploring a Ministry Metaphor” Evangelical Theological Society, National Conference, San Diego, November 2024.
“Intensifying Paradoxical Perceptions of God in the Levitical Psalms of Book 3.” Evangelical Theological Society, National Conference, Fort Worth, TX, November 2021.
“Paradoxical Perceptions of God in the Levitical Psalms of Book 2.” Evangelical Theological Society: National Conference, Online, November 2020.

Professional Organizations & Associations

Evangelical Theological Society
Institute for Biblical Research
Society of Biblical Literature