معرفی
Jean-Pierre Sonnet serves as Professor of Hebrew Bible at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he teaches biblical narrative poetics and biblical poetry. As an ordained Jesuit Catholic priest, he brings a distinctive theological perspective to his academic work while maintaining rigorous scholarly standards.
Education:
- M.A. in Comparative Literature from the Catholic University of Louvain
- M.A. in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome
- Special formation in Jewish biblical interpretation at the Ratisbonne Center, Jerusalem
- Ph.D. from Indiana University
Sonnet's research centers on literary techniques within biblical texts, particularly narrative structures and poetic forms. His work demonstrates how biblical authors employed sophisticated literary devices like mise en abyme (self-reflective embedding) to establish textual authority and create connections between ancient and contemporary readers. He examines how scriptures construct meaning through layered narratives and poetic expression, with special attention to Deuteronomy's structural complexity and Ruth's narrative artistry.
His publications reveal an evolving trajectory from strict literary analysis toward creative engagement with biblical texts. While his early work focused on technical aspects of biblical narrative structure, his recent scholarship integrates academic analysis with poetic interpretation, exemplified by his Jerusalem-centered poetry collection that gives voice to scriptural narratives. This dual approach bridges scholarly biblical criticism with devotional reflection.
Sonnet's unique position as both Catholic priest and biblical scholar specializing in Jewish interpretation methods creates a distinctive ecumenical perspective. His formation at Jerusalem's Ratisbonne Center provided specialized training in Jewish approaches to scripture, which informs his scholarly methodology while working within a Catholic academic institution.
