Paul Foster

Professor Paul Foster holds the Personal Chair of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of Edinburgh's School of Divinity. His academic career is rooted in theological studies, driven by a desire to engage with biblical texts in their original languages. He specializes in New Testament language, literature, and theology, with a focus on pre-gospel sources (e.g., Q), non-canonical gospels (e.g., the Gospel of Peter), and the writings of the Apostolic Fathers like Ignatius and Polycarp. His work provides a holistic view of early Christian development across the first two centuries.

Qualifications include BSc, DipEd, BEd, BD, MSt, and DPhil degrees. He supervises PhD students in areas such as Synoptic Gospels, Koine Greek, and Pauline letters. Active in research funding, he has led projects including the AHRC-funded 'Commentary on the So-Called Gospel of Peter' (2007) and initiatives like 'Reinventing the Reformation for the Modern World' (2015–2018). His research also extends to textual criticism and early Christian sermon culture.

Professor Foster’s research interests span the Gospel of Matthew, Pauline epistles (e.g., Colossians, Thessalonian letters), and the socio-religious context of early Christian communities. He collaborates on interdisciplinary projects, such as studies on unbelief in Northern Ireland and Scotland, and has published extensively on early Christian literature and its historical frameworks.