Mario Tafferner

Mario Tafferner serves as an Assistant Professor of Old Testament Language and Literature at Tyndale Theological Seminary in Badhoevedorp, The Netherlands, and as an Affiliated Researcher in the Department of Old Testament at Evangelische Theologische Faculteit (ETF) Leuven. His academic journey includes a PhD in Theological Studies with concentration on Old Testament from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (2016-2022), a Master of Arts in Near Eastern Linguistic and Cultural Studies from Philipps-Universität, Marburg (2012-2015), and a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Freie Theologische Hochschule Gieß (2009-2012).

Tafferner's research focuses on the Former Prophets, the relationship between Israelite and West Semitic (particularly Ancient South Arabian) writing and culture, and the theological anthropology of the Old Testament. His work demonstrates a strong interdisciplinary approach connecting biblical studies with epigraphy, linguistics, and ancient Near Eastern studies. His recent publications reveal a particular interest in royal inscriptions and their relationship to biblical texts, as well as exploring theological implications of biblical narratives for contemporary issues.

Tafferner's scholarly output shows a clear trajectory of examining the intersection between biblical texts and ancient Near Eastern contexts, with particular emphasis on comparative literary analysis and linguistic studies. His work on the Mesha Inscription and Old Sabaic royal inscriptions demonstrates methodological sophistication in comparative epigraphy.

• European Association of Biblical Studies (2021-present)
• Fellowship of European Evangelical Theologians (2021-present)

As a researcher and educator, Tafferner bridges academic biblical scholarship with theological reflection, evidenced by his Robert D. Orr Endowed Fellowship at the Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity, which connects his biblical expertise with contemporary ethical concerns.