In new book, School of Divinity professor explores the inquisitive side of Jesus

Since childhood, Liberty University John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Assistant Professor Cara L.T. Murphy (’04, ’07) has had a love for the Bible and a desire to write about it.

“What led me to Liberty in the first place was a desire to be taught in a biblical, Christian environment and grow that passion and love for God and His Word and the community and body of believers,” she said.

After graduating with an undergraduate degree in religious studies, the Roanoke, Va., native pursued her M.A. in Religious Studies with a specialization in biblical languages, which she finished soon before beginning her teaching career at Liberty in 2007.

Murphy, who primarily teaches New Testament Studies, became a School of Divinity instructional mentor in 2010, teaching, advising, and overseeing a group of faculty.

“It’s an incredible blessing because I love my students, and I also love working with my faculty,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to work with the amazing colleagues I have.”

In 2018, Murphy was invited to become a School of Divinity Subject Matter Expert, which enabled her to begin designing courses and developing curriculum. She has redesigned the existing BIBL 110: New Testament Survey course and has built the newly-launched BIBL 325: Gospels courses.

“It’s really just this overlap of all these things that make my heart come alive and make me passionate,” she said. “I love God’s Word, I love working with students and faculty, and now I get to create curriculum and I get to design a course to instill that passion in others. It’s an incredible honor and a beautiful gift.”

Motivated by her passion for the Lord and a strong desire to display His redemptive love to those around her, Murphy said she is thankful to be surrounded by so many like-minded individuals who seek to Train Champions for Christ each day.

“There is an overarching message from both faculty and administration to have a desire and a hunger to introduce more of our core values system into our classroom and into not only the academics of our students, but also the personal and spiritual lives of our students,” she said. “That makes Liberty utterly unique, in my opinion.”

Although she adores studying every aspect of the Bible, in recent years, Murphy has delved most deeply into the parables and is using them as her Ph.D. area of research.

“I love studying the Gospels,” she said. “I love studying the life of Christ.”

Inspired by a 10-week trip that she and her family took to Ireland in 2015, Murphy said this same area of study became the focus of her book, “The Inquisitive Christ: 12 Engaging Questions,” which was published early last year.

“That (time in Ireland) created a lot of discomfort and uncertainty as well as some adventures and risks,” she said. “But on the more internal side, learning how to be comfortable with having questions was interesting. In my spiritual walk with Christ, I have always felt more comfortable with answers.”

While unintended, Murphy said that prior to her time overseas, she often sought to eradicate questions in her faith and was shocked to realize that Jesus personally asked more than 300 questions in Scripture, many rhetorical.

“I studied Biblical Studies, and I never realized that,” she said. “I don’t know how I missed it, but I did. When I finally stumbled upon that beautiful data, questions came alive and He invited me to not only study them, research them, and write on them, but to live them and also to learn what it is like to live within this dialogue initiated by Christ, who is asking questions.”

Murphy’s book focuses on 12 of those questions, such as when Christ asked the disciples, “Why are you sleeping?” in the Garden of Gethsemane and “How many loaves do you have?” at the feeding of the 4,000.

She said the book dives into what the questions meant in their original context as well as what they mean for believers today. The text reminds readers that although we live in a culture that strives for certainty, there is a beauty and joy found in praying for clarity while trusting in our God, Who knows everything.

“This is definitely a book that is for those who are hungry for more,” she said. “More information about the Gospels certainly, but also more for their life, in their personal walk with God.”

Murphy will be giving a lecture for the Jerry Falwell Library’s Faculty Author Series on Thursday from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in the Jerry Falwell Library Terrance Conference Room, followed by a Q&A time and book signing.

Later that evening, from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Liberty University Barnes & Noble Bookstore, Murphy will also be giving two brief readings and signing books.