Jonathan D. Watson
Department(s)
Bachelor of Arts (BA), Christian Studies, College of Christian StudiesCredentials
Dr. Watson holds a B.A. in Christian Studies from Ouachita Baptist University (2000), an M.Div. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (2005), and a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (2015).
About Jonathan D. Watson
Dr. Jonathan Watson serves as Professor of Christian Studies and Executive Director of the Faith and Learning Institute. He received his Doctor of Philosophy in systematic theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Ft. Worth, TX) and started teaching at CSU in 2015. As Executive Director of the Faith and Learning Institute takes a lead role in helping the University and its faculty pursue excellence in teaching and research that effectively integrates the Christian faith. His classroom ministry and teaching focus is on the doctrine of God and the Church. He wants his students to grow in knowledge of God both intellectually and experientially so that they might worship him more fully and fervently in all aspects of their lives. His dissertation considered the relationship between baptism, instruction, and communion (esp. first communion), and was published in 2021 by Lexham Press in their Studies in Systematic and Historical Theology Series. His research interests include the nature of God and the church, especially the triunity of God and the nature of church fellowship and its expression in worship through the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper. Dr. Watson, his wife Karen, and their four children attend Northwood Baptist Church (North Charleston, SC), where he serves as the Associate Pastor of Ministry Training.
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Awards
Top 10 Finalist, Excellence in Teaching Award, CSU, 2020–2021 and 2022–2023
Signature Experiences
Dr. Watson is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS). He has served in several leadership roles at CSU including Director of the Master of Arts in Christian Studies Program (Online; 2016–2018), Chair of the College of Christian Studies (Fall 2020–2026), and Executive Director of the Faith and Learning Institute (May 2025–Present).
Recent Scholarly Work & Publications
BOOKS
In the Name of Our Lord: Four Models of the Relationship between Baptism, Catechesis, and Communion. Studies in Historical and Systematic Theology. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2021.
ARTICLES & CHAPTERS
“Chapter 5: Trusting our Ancient Text” in Ancient Text, Modern World, edited by Jonathan Denton (Randall House, 2023).
“The Ongoing Use of Baptism: A Hole in the Baptist (Systematic) Baptistry.” Southwestern Journal of Theology, 61, no. 1 (Fall 2018): 3–27.
Reviews
Review of Amidst Us Our Belovèd Stands: Recovering Sacrament in the Baptist Tradition by Michael A. G. Haykin. In Southeastern Theological Review, 15, no. 2 (2024): 99–100.
Review of Contemplating God with the Great Tradition: Recovering Trinitarian Classical Theism by Craig A. Carter. In Southeastern Theological Review, 14, no. 1 (2023): 148–50.
Review of Hearers and Doers: A Pastor's Guide to Making Disciples Through Scripture and Doctrine by Kevin J. Vanhoozer. In Midwestern Journal of Theology 20, no. 2 (2021): 128–29.
Review of “He Descended to the Dead”: An Evangelical Theology of Holy Saturday by Matthew Y. Emerson. In Southeastern Theological Review 12, no. 1 (2021): 142–44.