About our research
Our activities are research-led. All members of staff have been recognised as producing international quality research, demonstrating consistent research excellence across the whole Department.
The Department is ranked third in the country on the basis of its 4* and 3* publications (2008 Research Assessment Exercise). Exceptionally, 65% of the work was in the top categories of world-leading and internationally excellent.
Current research projects and recent publications
Our department is held in high esteem by academics across the world
"Sheffield is the only place where Biblical Studies are not undertaken in a context where theology is the dominant discipline; this unique approach, with a strong input from religious studies, cultural studies, gender studies and critical theory, cannot be missed!"
Jan Willem van Henten, Director of Graduate School and Professor of New Testament, University of Amsterdam
"Sheffield has long had a reputation for producing some of the most innovative research in Biblical Studies in the world. This is not simply due to the outstanding research published by the academic staff, but to the entire ethos of the department."
James Harding, Lecturer in Hebrew Bible, University of Otago, New Zealand
"High quality pedagogical methods... the open exchange of ideas... an impressive tradition of inspiring innovative critical research by other academics around the world."
Dr. James R. Linville, Chair, Dept of Religious Studies, Lethbridge, Canada
Visiting scholars
In addition to our permanent staff, the Department regularly hosts visiting scholars, who take advantage of our facilities to assist their research. They also contribute to our teaching and research environment, including the research seminar programme.
Affiliated research networks
Staff members are highly active in all the leading learned societies. These include:
- Society of Biblical Literature, which is the oldest and largest international scholarly membership organisation in the field of biblical studies, with more than 8,500 international members.
- Society of Old Testament Studies, which is a learned society, based in the British Isles, of professional scholars and others committed to the study of the Old Testament.
- British New Testament Society, which promotes research of the New Testament and related writings.
- Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas, which is a prestigious international society of New Testament scholars from around the world.
- European Association of Biblical Studies, which promotes the cause of Biblical Studies, encouraging and advising co-operative initiatives among related regional, national, and international organizations, and fostering the development of younger scholars.
Editing and publishing
The Department has a long history of involvement with publishing in biblical studies. This includes sitting on the editorial boards of the leading academic journals:
- Journal for the Study of the Old Testament
- Journal for the Study of the Historical Jesus
- Postscripts
- Biblical Interpretation
- Old Testament Abstracts
- Sapentia
In addition to pioneering monograph series for international publishers: