Jackson earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1983 and a master of divinity degree in 1986 from Abilene Christian University. He holds a sacred theology master’s degree from Drew University (1994) and a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible from Duke University (2005). Prior to teaching at Milligan, Jackson served as a visiting lecturer in Elementary Biblical Hebrew at the University of North Carolina. He taught Old Testament at Greensboro College as well as Introduction to Biblical Hebrew and Introduction to the Old Testament at Duke University. Other work experience includes serving at University Instructors, a tutoring program for 4th and 5th grade students in reading and mathematics, a stint as associate minister at Cole Mill Road Church of Christ and Bible translation consultant for World Bible Translation Center.
Jackson has presented and published multiple papers for publications such as the Leaven Journal Forum and the Society of Biblical Literature. He is a member of the National Association of Professors of Hebrew and the Society of Biblical Literature.