John Kaltner

John Kaltner is the Associate Professor of Religious Studies and holds the Virginia Ballou McGehee Professorship of Muslim-Christian Relations at Rhodes College. His academic expertise spans Arabic language, Islamic studies, and biblical scholarship, with a focus on Jewish, Christian, and Muslim scriptural intersections. He teaches courses in the Bible, Islam, and Arabic, contributing to the Department of Religious Studies and Jewish, Islamic, and Middle East Studies.

Education:
• Ph.D., Drew University (Hebrew Bible)
• S.S.L., Pontifical Biblical Institute
• Diploma, Pontifical Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies
• M.A., Maryknoll School of Theology
• B.A., State University of New York at Oswego

Kaltner’s research centers on interfaith dialogue, Qur’anic interpretation of biblical texts, and comparative religious studies. His publications analyze scriptural parallels between Islamic, Jewish, and Christian traditions, emphasizing pedagogical tools for understanding ancient texts in modern contexts. Key themes include prophetic narratives, textual criticism, and cross-cultural religious engagement.

His scholarly works, including Jonah: A New Translation (2023) and How the Qur’an Interprets the Bible (2020), highlight trends in scriptural comparison, hermeneutics, and educational resources for multifaith understanding. These publications span biblical characters in Islamic tradition, Qur’anic analysis, and historical-cultural contexts of religious texts.