Travis R. Niles

Dr. Travis R. Niles serves as a Postdoctoral Researcher (Habilitand) at the Institute for New Testament Studies within the Faculty of Theology at the University of Bern. He leads research in the Swiss National Science Foundation project 'Resonances through History: Biographically Grounded Construals of History in the Early Roman Imperial Era' under Prof. Dr. Rainer Hirsch-Luipold.

His academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Theology, University of Bern (2021)
• Master of Divinity, Princeton Theological Seminary (2017)
• Bachelor of Arts in Theology, Whitworth University (2011)

Dr. Niles specializes in the intersection of New Testament studies with classical literature and philosophy, focusing on biographically grounded approaches to ancient texts. His work examines how early Imperial authors like Plutarch, Lucian, and New Testament writers construed divine involvement in historical narratives through biographical frameworks, particularly exploring philosophical concepts within Hellenistic Judaism and early Christianity.

His recent publications reveal consistent engagement with Pauline literature, Gospel studies, and Greco-Roman historiography, demonstrating methodological innovation through comparative analysis of biblical and classical texts. Key thematic threads include the relationship between Stoic philosophy and Christology, the use of biographical forms in historical writing, and theological interpretations of palace architecture in antiquity.

Scientific recognition includes:

• NEH-funded Translation Fellowship for Karl Barth Translators’ Seminar

Dr. Niles maintains active teaching responsibilities across multiple institutions, supervising tutorials on New Testament exegesis and biblical theology while collaborating on international research projects. His current SNSF grant supports comparative analysis of historical construals across Jewish, Christian, and Greco-Roman literature during the Roman Imperial period.

He participates in research teams through the 'Resonances through History' project and maintains affiliations with the Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas and Society of Biblical Literature for scholarly exchange.