Daniel McClellan (biblical scholar)
Daniel McClellan | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | Daniel Orrin McClellan July 23, 1980 West Virginia, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Scholar of the Bible and religion | ||||||||||
| Known for | Popularizing critical Biblical scholarship on social media | ||||||||||
| Awards | Richards Award for Public Scholarship (2023) | ||||||||||
| Academic background | |||||||||||
| Education | |||||||||||
| Thesis | Deity and Divine Agency in the Hebrew Bible: Cognitive Perspectives (2020) | ||||||||||
| Doctoral advisor | Francesca Stavrakopoulou | ||||||||||
| Academic work | |||||||||||
| Discipline | Religious studies | ||||||||||
| Sub-discipline | Biblical Studies | ||||||||||
| Main interests |
| ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Website | www | ||||||||||
Daniel Orrin McClellan[1] (born July 23, 1980) is a scholar of the Bible and religion from the United States who shares his perspective on religious topics on social media.[2][3]
He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).[4] In 2023, McClellan received the Society of Biblical Literature's Richards Award for Public Scholarship. He has also been involved in politics, running unsuccessfully for state office in Utah twice.
Biography
[edit]Early and personal life
[edit]McClellan was born on July 23, 1980.[5] He is originally from West Virginia and has lived in multiple locations, including Maryland, California, Colorado, Texas, Uruguay, Utah, the United Kingdom, and Washington.[6] He did not grow up in a particularly religious household.[7]
At age 20, McClellan joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and later served as a missionary.[7] McClellan met his wife while attending Brigham Young University;[7] they married in May 2006[6] and have three daughters.[7]
Education and academic career
[edit]From 2013 to 2023, McClellan worked as scripture translation supervisor for the LDS Church.[6][8]
According to McClellan, he was expelled from the University of Northern Colorado before attending Collin Community College in Plano, Texas.[9] He received a bachelor's degree in ancient Near Eastern studies from Brigham Young University with a minor in Classical Greek,[10] a master's degree in Jewish studies at the University of Oxford, and a master of arts in biblical studies from Trinity Western University.[6][11] In 2020, he received a PhD from the University of Exeter, where he wrote a dissertation under the supervision of Francesca Stavrakopoulou.[11][12] A revised version of his dissertation was published in 2022, titled YHWH's Divine Images: A Cognitive Approach.[11][13]
McClellan's academic interests include Second Temple Judaism, the early Israelite religion, the cognitive science of religion, and textual criticism of the Hebrew Bible.[6][14] He promotes a scholarly, historical-critical approach to biblical texts and advocates for incorporating perspectives from historically underrepresented groups.[7]
McClellan's first full-length book titled The Bible Says So: What We Get Right (and Wrong) About Scripture's Most Controversial Issues was published by St. Martin's Press in April 2025.[15]
Social media
[edit]Since 2021, McClellan has been active on social media about the academic study of the Bible and religion.[11] He leads online classes, cohosts the Data Over Dogma podcast,[16] and is also active on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.[13] On TikTok, he has become popular by "stitching" videos containing misinterpretations of the Bible.[17]
Political career
[edit]McClellan has run for public office in Utah twice, though he lost both elections to incumbents. His first bid was for Utah State House of Representatives (District 52) in 2018; he received 33.5% of the vote.[18] In 2020, he ran for Utah's State Senate (District 10) and received 34.8% of the vote.[19][20] As of 2025, he is a registered Democrat — though he has also voted Republican at times in the past.[21]
Electoral history
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Lincoln Fillmore (incumbent) | 44,126 | 65.17 | ||
| Democratic | Dan McClellan | 23,586 | 34.83 | ||
| Total votes | 67,712 | 100 | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Knotwell (incumbent) | 12,640 | 66.49 | ||
| Democratic | Dan McClellan | 6,370 | 33.51 | ||
| Total votes | 19,010 | 100 | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
Reception
[edit]McClellan's online content has gained a broad following, including religious individuals, atheists, agnostics, and those experiencing or recovering from religious trauma. His work has received both support and criticism, particularly from some conservative evangelical communities who disagree with his interpretations.[7]
He was the winner of the Society of Biblical Literature's 2023 Richards Award for Public Scholarship for his work in providing access to the academic study of the Bible.[13]
Publications
[edit]General audience books
[edit]- McClellan, Dan (2025). The Bible Says So: What We Get Right (and Wrong) About Scripture's Most Controversial Issues. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 9781250347473.
Academic books
[edit]- McClellan, Daniel O. (7 May 2015). Psalm 82 in Contemporary Latter-day Saint Tradition (1st ed.). The Interpreter Foundation.
- — (2022). YHWH's Divine Images: A Cognitive Approach (PDF). Ancient Near East Monographs. Atlanta, GA: Society of Biblical Literature. ISBN 978-1628374384. OCLC 1345581122.
Theses
[edit]- McClellan, Daniel O. (July 2010). Anti-Anthropomorphism and the Vorlage of LXX Exodus (PDF) (Master of Studies in Jewish Studies thesis). Oxford: University of Oxford.
- — (December 2013). "You Will be Like the Gods": The Conceptualization of Deity in the Hebrew Bible in Cognitive Perspective (PDF) (Master of Arts in Biblical Studies thesis). British Columbia, Canada: Trinity Western University, Library and Archives Canada. ISBN 9780499255105. OCLC 1019486334.
- — (May 2020). Deity and Divine Agency in the Hebrew Bible: Cognitive Perspectives (PhD in Theology and Religion thesis). UK: University of Exeter.
Book chapters
[edit]- McClellan, Daniel O. (2018). "Religion and Description". Method Today: Redescribing Approaches to the Study of Religion. pp. 106–113. doi:10.17613/vybm-9p24. ISBN 978-1-78179-568-2.
- — (2019). "The Use of the Old Testament in the New Testament." (PDF). In Blumell, Lincoln (ed.). New Testament History, Culture, and Society: A Background to the Texts of the New Testament. BYU Religious Studies Center. pp. 497–513.
- — (2021). "Forming Divine Bodies in the Hebrew Bible". In Stavrakopoulou, Francesca (ed.). Life and Death: Social Perspectives on Biblical Bodies. The Hebrew Bible in Social Perspective. Bloomsbury Academic. pp. 171–194. doi:10.17613/atkd-xr22. ISBN 978-0-567-65672-8. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- — (2021). "'Go Ye and Learn What That Meaneth': Mercy and the Law in the Old Testament's Prophetic Literature and in the Gospels". In Shannon, Avram R. (ed.). Covenant of Compassion: Caring for the Marginalized and Disadvantaged in the Old Testament. BYU Religious Studies Center. doi:10.17613/aw8k-9d82.
- — (2023). "The Church of Jesus Christ in Kosrae". In Jensen, R. Devan; Ram, Rosalind Meno (eds.). Battlefields to Temple Grounds: Latter-Day Saints in Guam and Micronesia. Provo, UT: BYU Religious Studies Center. pp. 107–26.
Articles
[edit]- McClellan, Daniel O. (2009). "Ancient Studies: Research Update". BYU Religious Education Review Magazine (Fall 2009).
- —; Faulconer, James E. (2009). "Outreach: A Conversation with James E. Faulconer". Religious Educator. 10 (3).
- — (2017). "Cognitive Perspectives on Early Christology" (PDF). Biblical Interpretation. 25: 647–662.
- — (2017). "Names of God". Bible Odyssey. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- — (2018). "The Gods-Complaint: Psalm 82 as a Psalm of Complaint". Journal of Biblical Literature. 137 (4): 833–51.
- — (2019). ""As Far as It Is Translated Correctly": Bible Translation and the Church". Religious Educator. 20 (2). Religious Studies Center: 52–83. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- — (2020). "2 Nephi 25:23 in Literary and Rhetorical Context". Journal of Book of Mormon Studies. 29. Utah, USA: Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, 29, 20200401, 1: 1–19. JSTOR 10.5406/jbookmormstud2.29.2020.0001. OCLC 9700686633.
- — (2023). "The Angel of YHWH". TheTorah.com. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
References
[edit]- ^ "Report of the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies" (PDF). Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies. 2009–2010. p. 159. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ Dye, John (7 February 2022). "How a Scripture Translation Supervisor for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is TikTok famous". LDS Magazine. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ Riess, Jana (9 December 2022). "Mormon TikTok star debunks Bible conspiracies, misinformation". Religion News Service. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ Dye, John (7 February 2022). "How a Scripture Translation Supervisor for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is TikTok famous". LDS Magazine. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ McClellan, Dan [@maklelan]; (23 July 2020). "I turn 40 today. The coronavirus prevented any elaborate plans for my birthday, but this is still about the best possible way for me to start my day" – via Instagram.
- ^ a b c d e "Daniel O. McClellan". Religious Studies Center. Brigham Young University. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "DAN McCLELLAN — A LIFT+LOVE Family Story". Lift + Love. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ "Why We Can't Cherry-Pick the Bible — A Conversation with Dan McClellan". Faith Matters. Archived from the original on 13 December 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ McClellan, Daniel O. (26 December 2009). "Comment on 'Religious Bigotry in a University Classroom?'". Daniel O. McClellan. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ "Bible Scholar: Dead Sea Scrolls, Ancient Drugs & Jesus Christ | Dan McClellan". YouTube. 24 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Dr Dan McClellan". University of Birmingham. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ Bailes, Joy (21 February 2024). "How Do We Make Meaning with the Bible? Public Bible Scholar Dan McClellan Explores this Topic March 5; The Public is Invited". Washburn University. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "Daniel McClellan: 2023 Richards Award for Public Scholarship" (PDF). Society of Biblical Literature. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ Maybell, Scott Ryan (2 January 2024). "YHWH's Divine Images: A Cognitive Approach". Theology and Science. 22 (1): 245–247. doi:10.1080/14746700.2023.2294532. ISSN 1474-6700 – via Taylor & Francis Online.
- ^ Riess, Jana (28 April 2025). "In first book, TikTok biblical scholar explains what the Bible really says about hot-button topics". Religion News Service. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ Pitchford, Leila (13 May 2023). "Facets of Faith: An atheist and Bible scholar discuss Scripture in new podcast". The Advocate. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ Clayton, Jerry (28 January 2024). "Biblical scholar Dan McClellan fights misinformation about the Bible on social media". Texas Public Radio. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ "2018 Utah State House Election Results". USA Today. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ "2020 Utah State Senate Election Results". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ "Dan McClellan // Democrat // State Senate-District 10". Utah Cultural Alliance. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ McClellan, Dan (8 January 2025). Can lesbians follow Christ?. Event occurs at 0:27. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ "UT State Senate 10 Race - Nov 03, 2020". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ "UT State House 52 Race - Nov 06, 2018". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| Artists | |
- Living people
- 1980 births
- 21st-century American male writers
- 21st-century American non-fiction writers
- 21st-century American writers
- 21st-century Christian biblical scholars
- Academics from West Virginia
- Alumni of the University of Exeter
- Alumni of the University of Oxford
- American biblical scholars
- American Latter Day Saint writers
- American religion and spirituality podcasters
- American religion academics
- American TikTokers
- Brigham Young University alumni
- Brigham Young University faculty
- Trinity Western University alumni
- Writers from West Virginia
- Cognitive science of religion
- Latter Day Saint biblical scholars
- University of Northern Colorado alumni