Support PhD Research in New Testament and Early Christianity

Have you ever become fixated on a question? Something that you just can't get your mind off of? I mean the kind of question that leads you to go down rabbit hole after rabbit hole, follow footnotes into the depths of library basements, and click through the endless wormhole of Wikipedia links late at night ...

I tend to get this way sometimes about the questions I have.

One such question led me to begin work on completing a PhD in New Testament in 2021 through the University of Aberdeen. It's been an incredible journey of discovery—both in terms of my subject matter and in my growing understanding of my own vocation as a junior biblical scholar and minister. Alongside of my part-time studies (via distance), I serve in full-time congregational ministry as a pastor in my home denomination here in Canada and am ever-experiencing the adventures of parenting young children alongside my amazing wife.

My research focuses on how the letters of James, 1–2 Peter, Jude, and 1–3 John in the New Testament are influenced by the teachings and sayings of Jesus—particularly the Beatitudes. One of the questions I couldn't stop thinking about was why the authors of these letters never quote Jesus directly, when much of what they write resonates so much with things he's remembered to have said. I've looked at dozens of examples from previous studies in which this literary relationship has been described and/or noted over the years. In my project, I'm applying a new methodology in order to demonstrate how the Beatitudes are implicitly evoked to support arguments about practical faith, theology, and ethics in the letters. My research is rooted in biblical studies, but I'm also drawing on some interdisciplinary methods from the fields of literary theory and cognitive linguistics. It’s fascinating to me how the Beatitudes become these embodied traditions within the early communities that these letters are written to. This research matters because it touches not just on matters of ancient history, but also upon the ways that people of faith live out their values today.

The target submission date for my thesis is August of 2027 and I need your help to reach the finish line. I'm incredibly grateful to have received several scholarships and bursaries that have contributed towards the first four years of my program, but due to the part-time nature of my studies, those opportunities have been exhausted. I need to raise £17,000 (approx. $31,000 CAD) to cover the overseas tuition for my final two years (2025–2027). These funds will allow me to complete my period of supervised study and get to the point where I am ready to submit. Beyond that, I would love to connect with folks who are interested in this area of research within New Testament studies!

Would you consider making a donation? Any amount you're able to contribute is deeply appreciated. Feel free to reach out to me with questions. Thank you in advance!

You can follow me on Bluesky by clicking here.