About

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”
– 2 Peter 3:18

Hi, I’m Michael Shaw, and I’m convinced that good theology changes everything – how we pursue our calling, relate to others, and discover our unique place in God’s bigger story.

The goal of our theology must be to shape how we think, live, and worship, which is why this site is called Theology for Life. It’s a place for me to grow in my understanding of Scripture and doctrine, while providing resources that I hope will encourage and equip others in their walk with the Lord. My prayer is that you’ll find something here that draws you closer to Christ and strengthens you for the work He’s called you to do. You can find out more about my ministry involvement, research, and family below.

Associate Pastor at Strandtown Baptist Church, where I have the privilege of helping people explore the Bible and apply it to their lives.
Visiting Lecturer at the Irish Baptist College and speaker for the Centre for Christianity in Society (www.christianityinsociety.org), an apologetics and evangelism ministry which exists to connect Christ with contemporary culture in Ireland.
PhD student in Theology at Union College, exploring the theology of Independent Puritan minister and theologian Jeremiah Burroughs (1600–1646) . My main field of study is historical theology, particularly the post-Reformation era, although I also teach courses on the New Testament and Christian apologetics.
I live in Belfast with my wife Lauren and our two young sons. When I’m not working, I enjoy running, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Publications

Book Chapters

“How Should We Respond To Transhumanism?” in Blackstock, J. and Seney, J. (eds.), World History. Forthcoming, Spring 2026. BJU Press: Greenville, S.C. https://www.bjupress.com/category/social-studies/world-history/5637160442.c
“The Concept of the Image in the Old and New Testaments” in Purgar, K. The Palgrave Handbook of Image Studies. 2021. London: Palgrave Macmillan. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-71830-5_2