Noel Cheong

Noel Cheong is a Research Fellow at the Department of New Testament / Ancient Judaism within the Faculty of Protestant Theology at the University of Bonn, specializing in early Christian literature and ancient Judaism with particular focus on the First Letter of Peter and related identity formation themes.

His academic credentials include:

• BA in Theology & Religion from University of Oxford (2019)
• MPhil in Theology from University of Oxford (2021)
• DPhil in Theology from University of Oxford (2025)

Cheong's research explores the intersection of ethnicity, conversion, and social identity in early Christianity through rigorous textual analysis and historical contextualization. His work examines how communities referenced in 1 Peter navigated their status as pároikoi and parepidḗmoi within Graeco-Roman society, while investigating reception history of apostolic traditions and symbolic representations like the 'diabolical lion' in early Jewish-Christian literature.

His recent publications demonstrate a methodological trend integrating animal studies, social identity theory, and comparative literary analysis to uncover marginalized perspectives in New Testament texts. This approach reveals how early Christian writers adapted Graeco-Roman rhetorical strategies to construct communal identity amid cultural tension.

Cheong teaches 'Bible Studies of the New Testament' and 'The Life of Paul the Apostle' for Summer Semester 2025, emphasizing primary source engagement and contemporary scholarly debates. He maintains active research participation through conference presentations at major international forums including Society of Biblical Literature and European Association of Biblical Studies, with consultation available by appointment at the University of Bonn.