About

Ron Hock

Professor of Religion

Contact Information
E-mail: hock@usc.edu
Phone: (213) 740-0279
Office: ACB 227

LINKS
Curriculum Vitae
Faculty Profile on Departmental Website
 

Biographical Sketch
Born June 15, 1944, in Elmhurst, IL, to Francis A. and Grace M. Hock, I grew up in Lombard, IL, and attended Northern Illinois University (B.A. in psychology in 1966), Southern Methodist University (B.D. in 1969) and Yale University (M.Phil. in 1972; Ph.D. in 1974 in New Testament Studies). In 1975 I joined the faculty of the University of Southern California. I married Carol Erlandson of Lombard, IL, in June 1966 and have two children, Jennifer Lynne (b. 1972) and David Ronald (b. 1974). Jennifer and David grew up in Diamond Bar, CA, attended Ivy League colleges,and are now in their desired professions, university teaching for Jennifer and law for David. My wife taught for thirty years, most of them in Glendora,CA. She is now retired, which allowed us to move to our retirement home in beautiful La Quinta, CA. Travel, reading mysteries, gardening, and jogging fill up my spare time.
 

Education
B.A. Psychology, Northern Illlinois University, 6/1966
BD , Southern Methodist University, 6/1969
M.Phil. New Testament, Yale University, 5/1972
Ph.D. New Testament, Yale University, 5/1974
 

Academic Appointment, Affiliation, and Employment History

Tenure Track Appointments
Professor of Religion, University of Southern California, 09/01/1995-  
Associate Professor of Religion, University of Southern California, 09/01/1981-06/01/1995  
Assistant Professor of Religion, University of Southern California, 09/01/1975-06/01/1981  
 

Non-Tenure Track Appointments
Lecturer, Yale Divinity School, 1974-1975   
 

Description of Research

Summary Statement of Research Interests
Professor Hock's research interests are focused on gospel studies and Pauline studies with special emphasis on their relation to social and intellectual conventions in the Early Roman Empire. Current interests include the social conventions that help us to interpret the parables of Jesus, the moral norms that undergird the love commands in the New Testament, and the rhetorical instructions that clarify the composition of the gospels.
 

Research Keywords
gospel studies, Pauline studies, early Roman Imperial literature, ancient education, Progymnasmata
 

Research Specialties
parable interpretation, gospel composition, friendship conventions in the Gospel of John, commentaries on the Progymnasmata of Aphthonius of Antioch, Second Sophistic literature
 

Affiliations with Research Centers, Labs, and Other Institutions
Institute of Antiquity and Christianity, Claremont, CA, Director, Chreia in Ancient Literature and Education Project
 

Conferences and Other Presentations

Conference Presentations
"Household Mangagement and the Greek Novel", Society of Biblical Literature, Talk/Oral Presentation, , San Diego, CA, Hellenistic Ethics and Early Christian Literature , 2007-2008   
"The Opening of the Gospel of Mark and Insights from the Progymnasmata", Society of Biblical Literature, Talk/Oral Presentation, , Washington, D.C., Institute for Antiquity and Christianity, 2006-2007   
 

Publications

Book Chapter
Hock, R. F. (2008). Jesus, the Beloved Disciple and Greco-Roman Friendship Conventions. (Vol. 1). pp. 24 pages. Leiden: Christian Origins and Classical Culture/ E.J. Brill.
Hock, R. F. (2007). "The Problem of Paul's Social Class: Further Reflections". (Vol. 4). pp. 14 pages. Leiden: E.J. Brill.
 
 

Honors and Awards
Mortar Board Recipient, 2006-2007   
 

Service to the Profession

Editorships and Editorial Boards
Editorial Board, Ancient Narrative, 2007-2008   
Major Reviews Editor, Religious Studies Review, 2007-2008   
Editorial Board, Studies in Antiquity and Christianity, 2007-2008   
Editorial Board, Synkrisis, 2007-2008   
 

Professional Offices
Steering Committee, Ancient Fiction and Early Christian and Jewish Narrative, Society of Biblical Literature, 2006-2007   
 

Professional Memberships
Institute for Antiquity and Christianity, 2007-2008   
Society of Biblical Literature, 2007-2008   
Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas, 2007-2008   
 
 
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