Michael S. Moore

Book Title: Praise or Performance?: A Short Theological

Introduction to the Psalter

Dr. Michael S. Moore is a distinguished biblical scholar,

educator, and author whose work bridges the ancient world

and contemporary understanding of sacred texts. With a

career spanning more than three decades, Dr. Moore has

devoted his professional life to illuminating the languages,

literature, and social worlds of the ancient Near East, bringing

rigorous academic scholarship to bear on some of humanity's

most enduring religious and literary traditions. His reputation

as both a meticulous researcher and an inspiring teacher has

earned him a place among the most respected voices in

biblical studies today.

Dr. Moore holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Drew University,

where he specialized in ancient Near Eastern literature. This

foundational training shaped his lifelong commitment to careful, text-

centered inquiry, grounded in history, language, and comparative

literary analysis. His doctoral work laid the groundwork for a

distinguished academic career that would go on to span multiple

institutions, disciplines, and audiences, all united by a passion for

understanding the ancient texts that have shaped human civilization.

Since 1992, Dr. Moore has served as a Faculty Associate at Arizona

State University, where he has introduced generations of

undergraduate students to the world of the Hebrew Bible and the

civilizations that produced it. His teaching at ASU reflects his deep

commitment to making ancient Near Eastern scholarship accessible

and intellectually stimulating for students from all walks of life and

academic backgrounds. In the classroom, he is known for his ability to

bring ancient languages and long-forgotten cultures to life with clarity,

depth, and infectious enthusiasm.

In addition to his work at Arizona State University, Dr. Moore serves as

a Faculty Associate at Fuller Theological Seminary, one of the largest

multidenominational seminaries in the world. In this capacity, he equips

graduate-level students with the analytical tools necessary to engage

scripture at the highest levels of academic and theological depth. His

dual appointment across a major public research university and a

premier theological institution reflects the rare breadth of his scholarly

vision, one that speaks to both secular and faith-based audiences with

equal authority and clarity.

Dr. Moore also serves as the founding Director of the Arizona Research

Center for the Ancient Near East (ARCANE), an institution dedicated to

advancing scholarly research and public education in ancient Near

Eastern studies. Through ARCANE, he has created a unique

interdisciplinary space where scholars, students, clergy, and curious

minds come together to explore the linguistic, cultural, and theological

dimensions of the ancient world. His leadership at ARCANE

underscores his belief that serious academic scholarship should be

accessible, relevant, and transformative for all who encounter it.

As an author, Dr. Moore has produced a compelling body of work that

reflects the full range of his scholarly interests. His published books

include The Balaam Traditions: Their Character and Development

(Scholars Press, 1990), Reconciliation: A Study of Biblical Families in

Conflict (College Press, 1994), Faith Under Pressure: A Study of Biblical

Leaders in Conflict (Leafwood, 2003), WealthWatch: A Study of

Socioeconomic Conflict in the Bible (Pickwick, 2011), and What Is This

Babbler Trying to Say?: Essays on Biblical Interpretation (Wipf & Stock,

2015). Each work demonstrates his gift for making complex ancient

texts speak with fresh urgency, whether examining prophetic

traditions, family dynamics, economic ethics, or the art of

interpretation itself.

Dr. Moore is married to Caron, an Advanced Placement English teacher

at Sandra Day O'Connor High School in Glendale, Arizona, and is the

proud father of two married sons. Beyond his academic titles and

literary accomplishments, he is, at his core, a man driven by a profound

love for learning and a deep respect for the wisdom embedded in

ancient words. Whether in the classroom, the research center, or on

the written page, Dr. Moore's life's work remains united by a single

conviction: that encountering the ancient world honestly and deeply

has the power to change the way we see ourselves, one another, and

the texts we hold sacred.