Jesper Tang Nielsen

Jesper Tang Nielsen serves as Guest Researcher in the Section of Biblical Exegesis and External Lecturer for the board of studies at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Theology. Previously, he held academic positions including Assistant Professor (2003-2006), Substitute Associate Professor (2006), and Associate Professor (2007-2009) in the Department of Biblical Exegesis (New Testament), and has been Head of Studies for the Faculty of Theology since 2010.

His educational background includes:

• 1990: High School, Nørresundby Gymnasium
• 1999: M.Div., Aarhus Universitet
• 1999: Gold Medal at University of Aarhus for Gospel of John essay
• 1999-2003: Ph.D. student, Institute for Old and New Testament, University of Aarhus
• 2003: Ph.D., Aarhus Universitet

Nielsen's research centers on the Gospel of John through semiotic and structuralist methodologies, with significant contributions to Johannine literature analysis and apocryphal studies. His work explores theological tensions between philosophical progression and tradition in Johannine texts, while expanding into biblical reception in art and cultural contexts as evidenced by his editorial projects on biblical configurations in contemporary culture.

His publication trajectory (2018-2023) reveals consistent engagement with Johannine sources, integrating theoretical frameworks from semiotics while progressively examining the Bible's cultural manifestations beyond ecclesiastical settings. The 2023 doctoral thesis represents a culmination of his decades-long investigation into Johannine letters' relationship with the Gospel of John.

Key recognitions include:

• University of Aarhus Gold Medal for Gospel of John essay (1999)
• Alexander-von-Humboldt Research Fellowship at Munich (2005)
• Alexander-von-Humboldt Research Fellowship at Berlin (2006)

Nielsen has supervised doctoral candidates including Katrine Brix (2008) on 'The Gospel of Truth' and Kasper Dalgaard (2009) on 'Melchzedek'. His institutional service spans editorial boards of Bibliana (2000-2012), Dansk Teologisk Tidsskrift (2007-), and Studia Theologica (2007-), alongside committee memberships including Chairman of Ph.D. assessment panels and the Faculty of Theology Study Board (2009-).

He actively participates in the Centre for the Study of the Bible in Theology and Culture and maintains international scholarly networks through past research appointments at Yale University and German institutions under Humboldt fellowships.