Professor James Davies

Professor James Davies
Professor James Davies
Professor James Davies

BA (Nottingham), BA (Open University), MA (London), MLitt (St Andrews), PhD (St Andrews)

Kirby Laing Chair of New Testament Exegesis

Accepting PhDs

About
Email Address
jamie.davies@abdn.ac.uk
Office Address
KCF3 King's College
Old Aberdeen Campus
King's College
AB24 3UB

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School/Department
School of Divinity, History, Philosophy & Art History

Biography

I began my academic journey as a linguist, completing my undergraduate degree in Modern Language Studies at the University of Nottingham ('95-'99). After a couple of years doing Bible translation fieldwork in West Africa, a Master's degree in Linguistics followed (SOAS, London, '00-'01). I began (and then quickly aborted) a PhD in theoretical linguistics at the University of Edinburgh. I spent a few years as a paediatric speech therapy technical instructor at Yorkhill NHS Trust in Glasgow, before I started my studies all over again in theology, studying for my BA at International Christian College, Glasgow ('06). I then worked as a church pastor in north Glasgow for 4 years, during which time I completed my MLitt at the University of St Andrews ('11) before moving to Fife to complete my PhD ('15), studying under Grant Macaskill. After 11 years in the South West of England teaching at Trinity College, Bristol, I returned to Scotland in 2026 to join the Department of Divinity as the chair of New Testament.

In my free time I enjoy board games, running, and watching movies with my wife Becky and (when we can get them in the same room) our two children.

External Memberships

British New Testament Society

Society of Biblical Literature

Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas (SNTS)

Latest Publications

  • An Apocalyptic Paul Within Judaism?: Talking points for a necessary conversation

    Davies, J.
    Paul Beyond Perspectives: Future Challenges in Pauline Studies. Nyman, L., Tellbe, M. (eds.). Mohr Siebeck
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters
  • Matthew Novenson’s Thoroughgoing Eschatological Paul

    Davies, J.
    Religious Studies Review, vol. 52, no. 2
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Theology on the Run: Apocalyptic Pastoral Theology in Paul’s Thessalonian Letters

    Davies, J.
    Baylor University Press
    Books and Reports: Books
  • Cosmology

    Davies, J.
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Entries for Encyclopedias and Dictionaries
  • Cosmos / Cosmology in Second Temple Jewish Literature and the New Testament

    Davies, J.
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Entries for Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

View My Publications

Research

Research Overview

My research is largely focussed on 'apocalyptic' thought in the New Testament, especially in the writings of the apostle Paul. I am also broadly interested in the intersection of New Testament studies with Christian systematic theology.

Research Areas

Accepting PhDs

I am currently accepting PhDs in Divinity.

Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your research ideas further.

Divinity

  • Supervising
  • Accepting PhDs

Research Specialisms

  • Biblical Studies
  • Theology

Our research specialisms are based on the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) which is HESA open data, published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.

Current Research

I am currently writing a theological commentary on 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and continuing to think about Paul's apocalyptic theology.

Publications

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  • Apocalyptic Topography in Mark’s Gospel: Theophany and Divine Invisibility at Sinai, Horeb, and the Mount of Transfiguration

    Davies, J.
    Journal of Theological Interpretation, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 140-148
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Paul Among the Apocalypses?: An Evaluation of the ‘Apocalyptic Paul’ in the Context of Jewish and Christian Apocalyptic Literature (Library of New Testament Studies 562)

    Davies, J.
    T&T Clark
    Books and Reports: Books
  • What to Expect When you are Expecting: Maternity, Salvation History, and the ‘Apocalyptic Paul'

    Davies, J.
    Journal for the Study of the New Testament, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 301-15
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
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Books and Reports

Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings

Contributions to Journals