Biblical studies and biblical interpretation

Research in biblical studies covers a wide range of topics, from historical and archaeological studies to those focused on contemporary interpretation.

The Centre for Biblical Studies provides the main focus for this research, and for visiting professors, research seminars, and research students.

Members of the centre and their work include:

• Francesca Stavrakopoulou works on ancient religion and the Hebrew Bible, and has published on subjects such as child sacrifice, burial practices and territorial land-claims.
• Siam Bhayro specialises in the study of ancient Hebrew, Aramaic, Syriac, and other ancient near eastern languages. He is currently working on the publication of a series of Aramaic incantation bowls.
• Stuart Macwilliam, who teaches Greek and Hebrew in the Department, has published on various gender-critical approaches to the Hebrew Bible.
• Louise Lawrence specialises in anthropological approaches to the New Testament, and has recently completed a contextual Bible study project in the South West region. She will be developing her work further working with Deaf communities on a Deaf hermeneutic and a Deaf Bible Commentary.
• David Horrell, director of the Centre for Biblical Studies, has published widely on the Pauline and Petrine letters, and their social-scientific and ethical interpretation. He has also been leading a collaborative AHRC-funded project on Uses of the Bible in Environmental Ethics.

Others in the Department also work on biblical interpretation in contemporary contexts.

• Mike Higton and Esther Reed are involved in the Scriptural Reasoning movement.
• Adrian Thatcher’s recent work on The Savage Text has highlighted some of the challenges in using the Bible today.
• Morwenna Ludlow, a Patristics scholar, has a particular interest in biblical interpretation in the Church fathers.
• Alastair Logan works on Gnostic texts, early Christian iconography, and the development of early Christian cultic sites.