Michael Legaspi

Dr. Michael Legaspi is Associate Professor of Old Testament at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in Yonkers, NY. He holds a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible from Harvard University and teaches courses in Hebrew, Old Testament, and philosophy. Prior to joining SVOTS, he taught at Creighton University, Pennsylvania State University, and Phillips Academy (Andover).

His research centers on the intellectual history of biblical interpretation, with a focus on the development of biblical studies as a discipline. His work explores the intersection of historical criticism and traditional religious understanding, particularly in the wisdom literature of the Hebrew Bible.

Dr. Legaspi is the author of two major scholarly books published by Oxford University Press: The Death of Scripture and the Rise of Biblical Studies (2010) and Wisdom in Classical and Biblical Tradition (2018). His recent work investigates the book of Job, the concept of subjectivity in the Psalms, and the relationship between modern critical approaches and classical forms of interpretation.

Though no awards or formal fellowships are mentioned, his contributions to Orthodox Christian scholarship are recognized through invitations to present in academic and religious forums, such as the Lenten sermon series hosted by the Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham University in 2024.

He mentors students in biblical and theological studies, though specific advisees are not listed. There is no mention of research grants, laboratories, or formal research teams, which is consistent with the humanities-based nature of his scholarship.