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Joan Taylor is a Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies within the Faculty of Arts & Humanities at King's College London. Her interdisciplinary research bridges literature, language, history, and archaeology to examine early Christian texts and Second Temple Judaism within their socio-historical contexts. Her primary research focuses include: New Testament studies with emphasis on historical figures (Jesus, John the Baptist, Mary Magdalene); Dead Sea Scrolls and Qumran archaeology; Alexandrian Judaism including Philo of Alexandria; women's roles in early Christianity; and the archaeology of Christian holy sites across Palestine. Taylor employs a contextualizing methodology that integrates literary analysis with archaeological evidence. Her recent publications reveal consistent engagement with gender studies in religious contexts, historical Jesus research, and archaeological analysis of sacred spaces. Key themes across her 109 research outputs include the interplay between textual traditions and material evidence, particularly regarding women's leadership roles and the spatial organization of ancient religious communities. Iren Levi-Sala Prize (1995) Taylor has secured significant research funding including a Wellcome Research Grant for her pharmacological analysis of Essene practices, a British Academy grant for her Philo commentary, and Leverhulme Trust support for projects on Coptic Apocrypha and 'Babatha’s Sisters'. Her current active project examines social and economic relationships behind early Christian texts using papyrological resources. She has supervised 11 postgraduate students and contributed to public understanding through media engagements including the 'Jesus' Female Disciples' documentary and advising on Fern Britton's Holy Land Journey.

• New Testament Studies
• Early Christian Texts
• Archaeology of Qumran
• +6 more

Laura Quick is an Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible at the University of Oxford and a Tutorial Fellow of Theology and Religion at Worcester College. Her academic work bridges biblical studies with comparative ancient Near Eastern literary culture, focusing on the intersection of language, gender, and ritual in the Hebrew Bible. Research Focus: Beauty and aesthetics in the Hebrew Bible and ancient Near East; body symbolism in biblical and Dead Sea Scroll texts; philological gender analysis; ritual and liturgical studies Academic Roles: Editorial Board, Hebrew Studies; Steering Committee, Philology in Hebrew Studies (SBL); External Member, Sheffield Institute for Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies Recent publications examine topics ranging from cosmetic practices in Esther and Ruth to the mythological background of Isaiah 14. Her scholarship frequently engages with Deuteronomy, Dead Sea Scrolls, and Septuagint studies, employing comparative methods to analyze textual strategies and cultural exchange. She teaches Hebrew poetry, ritual, and liturgy, contributing to both undergraduate and postgraduate theological education at Oxford.

• Hebrew Bible
• Ancient Near Eastern Literary Culture
• Biblical Philology
• +3 more

Professor Markus Bockmuehl is the Dean Ireland's Professor of the Exegesis of Holy Scripture at the University of Oxford's Faculty of Theology and Religion, affiliated with Keble College. He previously held professorships at the Universities of St Andrews, Cambridge, and in Canada. His work bridges New Testament studies, Jewish and early Christian history, emphasizing the interplay between theology and history. Key research focuses on Jesus' presence in scripture, Jewish-Christian relations, and early Christian creedal development. He has organized major conferences (e.g., 2024 Pontifical University conference on Old Testament as Christian Scripture) and led interdisciplinary projects like the Oxford-Notre Dame initiative on scriptural creedal development (2018-22, $45,000). He mentors early-career scholars globally, notably through ERC-funded postdoctoral fellowships (e.g., €225,000 for Jeremiah Coogan's work). His publications include *The New Cambridge Companion to Jesus* (2025), *Ancient Apocryphal Gospels* (2017), and edited volumes on Dead Sea Scrolls research. He serves as Associate Editor of *Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament* and directs the NT4Oxford research portal. Research interests include the symbiosis of history and theology in biblical interpretation, early Christian-Jewish dialogue, and the development of creedal formulations. Current projects explore Jesus’ presence in NT texts and the Old Testament’s role in Christian theology. His work often bridges ancient texts with contemporary theological questions, as seen in studies on resurrection narratives (*The Risen Jesus*, 2025) and Jewish-Christian friendships in antiquity (2024). Grants and fellowships include leadership roles in multi-institutional projects ($45k Oxford-Notre Dame) and mentoring over €425k in EU fellowships. He has advised on Dead Sea Scrolls research (2018-22) and co-edited proceedings for *Revue de Qumran*. His teaching emphasizes exegetical rigor and contextual understanding, reflecting his commitment to early-career academic development across disciplines.

• New Testament Studies
• Jewish-Christian Relations
• Early Christian Theology
• +3 more

Matthew Collins is a Senior Lecturer in Hebrew Bible and Second Temple Judaism at the University of Chester. His research examines the Dead Sea Scrolls' academic and popular impact, Hebrew Bible narratives in ancient Near Eastern contexts, and biblical reception in contemporary culture. Key research areas include: Academic and public reception of the Dead Sea Scrolls Ancient Israelite religion and demonology Bible in film, television, and literature Matthew Henry's exegetical legacy Recent publications analyze: Biblical adaptations in Hollywood films Television's role in biblical literacy WWI's impact on biblical scholarship Sectarian terminology in Qumran texts He directs the Scriptural Traces book series and co-chairs the Biblical World and Its Reception seminar for the European Association of Biblical Studies.

• Dead Sea Scrolls
• Hebrew Bible Reception
• Ancient Israelite Religion
• +3 more

Hindy Najman is the Oriel & Laing Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture at Oriel College, University of Oxford since 2015, previously serving as Professor of Religious Studies and Classics at Yale University. She founded and directs the Centre for the Study of the Bible at Oriel College. Role: Director of Centre for the Study of the Bible Current Project: 'Ethical Reading: The Transformation of Text and Self' examining ancient and modern textual practices Her research spans philological analysis of Judean traditions and biblical studies, focusing on: Textual recovery and canon formation Interpretive authority and revelation Philosophical contemplation in ancient texts Diaspora identity and exile narratives Key publication themes include: Dead Sea Scrolls nomenclature Post-Temple Jewish theological responses Biblical genre and poetic analysis Angelic mediation in revelation

• Philology
• Diaspora and Exile
• Authority and Tradition
• +13 more