Roy Ciampa

Dr. Roy Ciampa, before retiring, was the S. Louis and Ann W. Armstrong Professor of Religion and Chair of the Religion Department at Samford University. Roy served the Nida Institute for Biblical for the American Bible Society providing advanced professional development in biblical studies, Bible translation and Scripture engagement to leaders in that area of scholarship worldwide. He also served as Professor of New Testament and chaired the Division of Biblical Studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary where he continues to provide leadership for their Doctor of Ministry track in Bible Translation. Before that, Roy was a missionary professor of biblical studies in Portugal and served as a translator for the Portuguese Bible Society’s contemporary Portuguese translation of Scripture.  

Dr. Ciampa has authored numerous scholarly essays on NT themes, especially on the interpretation of the Old Testament within the New Testament, but also on issues more directly related to Bible translation (including articles that address translation issues in Acts 17:11 and 1 Corinthians 7:1 that became footnotes in the CSB. He is also that author of a book on The Presence and Function of Scripture in Gal 1 and 2, and co-author with Brian Rosner of the Pillar Commentary on 1 Corinthians. Roy is an ordained minister. 

CBE’s 2026 International Conference Speaking Session

Keynote Session | Sunday, August 9 at 10:45 am | Location: O’Hare III

Enriched by God: How God’s Gifts Are Designed to Promote the Health and Healing of the Body of Christ 

This presentation will discuss what Paul says about gifts in 1 Corinthians and how this relates to practices of patronage common in the Greco-Roman world. More specifically, it will explore the significant impact of understanding—as Paul does—that every believer is given one or more gifts directly by God (in a world where patronage usually occurred in a hierarchical, trickle-down fashion from higher social tiers to lower ones). Using their spiritual gifts, each member of the church becomes both a benefactor and a beneficiary in relation to every other member. This helps us better understand how God’s gifts are designed to promote the health and healing of the body of Christ. Key texts include 1 Corinthians 1:4–9 and 1 Corinthians 12:4–26. 

This in person session will also be available for LIVE virtual viewing.