Peter-Ben Smit

Prof. Peter-Ben Smit is a Full Professor of Contextual Biblical Interpretation at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and holds a Special Professorship in Old Catholic Church Structures at Utrecht University. His primary affiliations include the Faculty of Theology at VU and the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute, alongside roles at the Old Catholic Seminary and Stellenbosch University. He chairs the Dom Helder Câmara Chair in Contextual Biblical Interpretation and co-directs the Centre for Contextual Biblical Interpretation with Prof. Klaas Spronk.

Education includes a PhD in New Testament Studies (University of Bern, 2005), a Habilitation in Church History (University of Bern, 2009), and advanced degrees in Ecumenical Theology and Biblical Studies from institutions like the University of Sheffield and Amsterdam. His research focuses on contextual biblical interpretation, early Christian rituals and meals, masculinity studies, and ecumenical theology. He actively supervises PhD students and leads projects such as the NWO-funded 'Blueprints of Hope' exploring ecumenical and European unification.

Key areas of research include the interplay between biblical texts and societal contexts, ritual failure in early Christianity, and gender constructions in biblical reception. His work bridges theology, history, and contemporary social issues, with a focus on prefigurative politics and sustainability. Awards include the 'Stairways to Heaven' grant (2023), recognizing his contributions to religious communities and sustainable futures.

Teaching spans contextual biblical studies, ecumenical theology, and systematic theology at both VU and Utrecht. He collaborates with organizations like the Netherlands Bible Society and Kerk in Actie, emphasizing practical theological engagement. Ancillary activities include leadership roles in the Old Catholic Church and academic partnerships in South Africa and Colombia.