Benjamin Dunning

Benjamin Dunning is the Florence Corliss Lamont Professor of Divinity and Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Harvard Divinity School (HDS). He is a historian specializing in sexuality, gender, and religion, focusing on the first to fourth centuries CE. His work bridges queer studies, critical theory, and feminist theory, examining intersections of identity and theology in early Christian contexts.

Education:

• BA, University of Pennsylvania
• MAR, Westminster Theological Seminary
• PhD, Harvard University

Research Interests:
Dr. Dunning’s scholarship explores how early Christian texts and communities constructed identity through gender and sexuality. He critiques traditional theological frameworks, emphasizing queer and feminist lenses to re-examine Pauline writings and early Christian ethics. His current project investigates theological justifications for condemnations of homoeroticism in early Christian thought.

Editorial & Academic Roles:

• Former member/chair of Fordham University Press Board of Directors
• Associate Editor of Journal of Early Christian Studies
• Editorial board member of Brill’s Critical Approaches to Early Christianity