معرفی
Professor Philip Esler is the Portland Chair in New Testament Studies at the University of Gloucestershire. He holds a D.Phil. and D.D. from Oxford University and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Prior to his current role, he served as Professor of Biblical Criticism and Vice-Principal for Research at the University of St Andrews, Chief Executive of the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and Principal of St Mary’s University College, Twickenham. His career began as a solicitor and barrister in Sydney, Australia.
His research focuses on the social-scientific interpretation of biblical and extra-biblical texts, ancient legal papyri, biblical theology, and the intersection of the Bible and visual arts. A notable publication is Babatha’s Orchard (2017), which reconstructs the life of a 2nd-century Jewish woman through legal documents found in a Dead Sea cave. This work highlights ordinary villagers’ lives in antiquity, a rarity in historical records.
Professor Esler’s expertise spans interdisciplinary approaches to ancient texts, emphasizing social context. He has held leadership roles in academic governance and national research councils, reflecting his influence in humanities scholarship. His fellowships and appointments underscore his contributions to biblical studies and higher education.
