Biography
Philip Esler is the Portland Chair in New Testament Studies at the University of Gloucestershire in Cheltenham (appointed in September 2013). But from October 1992 to September 2010 he was on the staff at St Mary’s, from 1995 as Professor of Biblical Criticism. He has served as the Chief Executive of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (2005-2009, on leave from St Andrews) and as Principal and Professor of Biblical Criticism, St Mary’s University College Twickenham (2010-2013). He was born and raised in Sydney, Australia and had an earlier career as a litigation solicitor and then barrister in Sydney.
Research areas
The core of Philip's research involves the application of social-scientific ideas and perspectives to biblical and extra-biblical texts and to ancient legal papyri (especially in the Babatha archive). He also writes on New Testament theology and the Bible and the visual arts, the latter most recently in an ongoing collaboration on 1 Enoch with Angus Pryor, Head of the School of Arts in the University of Gloucestershire (see https://www.bookofenoch2020.com).
Selected publications
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Babatha’s first marriage contract: hiding in plain sight
Esler, P. F., 1 Oct 2023, In: Journal of Jewish Studies. 74, 2, p. 303-322 20 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Honour, shame and other social values in the Hebrew Bible
Esler, P., 12 Jan 2023, T&T Clark handbook of anthropology and the Hebrew Bible. Pfoh , E. (ed.). London: Bloomsbury T&T Clark, p. 263-286 24 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Ancient Judean families and households: the Babatha archive as a case study
Esler, P., 2022, (In preparation) Inscriptions and papyri. Harrison, J. R. & Richards , E. R. (eds.). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, (Ancient literature for New Testament studies; vol. 10).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Babatha's final days: new light from Papyrus Starcky
Esler, P., 15 Sept 2022, In: Journal of Biblical Literature. 141, 3, p. 491-512 22 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Family Conflict by the Dead Sea Repeating Itself: A Microhistorical Analysis of P. Yadin I 5 and 1 13
Esler, P., 2022, (In preparation) In: Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Social-scientific criticism
Esler, P., 1 Dec 2022, New Cambridge companion to biblical interpretation . Boxall, I. & Gregory, B. C. (eds.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 129-149 21 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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The righteousness of Joseph: interpreting Matt. 1.18-25 in light of Judean legal papyri
Esler, P., 1 Jul 2022, In: New Testament Studies. 68, 3, p. 326-343 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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The significance of Logeia for the meaning of Paul’s collection in 1 and 2 Corinthians
Esler, P., 1 Oct 2022, Greco-Roman associations, deities and early Christianity. Longenecker, B. (ed.). Waco, TX: Baylor University PressResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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1 Thessalonians
Esler, P., 2021, (In preparation) The Oxford Bible commentary. Dell , K. & Lincicum, D. (eds.). 2nd ed. Oxford University PressResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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2 Corinthians: a social identity commentary
Esler, P., 21 Oct 2021, London: T&T Clark. 304 p. ( T&T Clark social identity commentaries on the New Testament)Research output: Book/Report › Book