The Oriel and Laing Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture (until 1991 the Oriel Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture) is a

chair A chair is a type of seat, typically designed for one person and consisting of one or more legs, a flat or slightly angled seat and a back-rest. They may be made of wood, metal, or synthetic materials, and may be padded or upholstered in vario ...

theology Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...

, particular

Old Testament studies Biblical studies is the academic application of a set of diverse disciplines to the study of the Bible (the Old Testament and New Testament).''Introduction to Biblical Studies, Second Edition'' by Steve Moyise (Oct 27, 2004) pages 11–12 For ...

, at the

University of Oxford , mottoeng = The Lord is my light , established = , endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019) , budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20) , chancellor ...

Oriel College, Oxford Oriel College () is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Located in Oriel Square, the college has the distinction of being the oldest royal foundation in Oxford (a title formerly claimed by University College, wh ...

, decided in 1876 to establish a chair in theology, funded by the revenue from a canonry at

Rochester Cathedral Rochester Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an English church of Norman architecture in Rochester, Kent. The church is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rochester in the Church of England and the s ...

controlled by the college. The first professor,

John Wordsworth John Wordsworth (1843–1911) was an English Anglican bishop and classical scholar. He was Oriel Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture at the University of Oxford from 1883 to 1885, and Bishop of Salisbury from 1885 to 1911. Life H ...

, was appointed in 1883. The chair was renamed in 1991 to mark a donation from the Laing Foundation that secured its endowment. The professorship carries with it a

fellowship A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

of Oriel College.

List of holders

1883–85 *

Thomas Kelly Cheyne Thomas Kelly Cheyne, (18 September 18411915) was an English divine and Biblical critic. Biography He was born in London and educated at Merchant Taylors' School, London, and Oxford University. Subsequently, he studied German theological methods ...

1885–1908 *

George Albert Cooke George Albert Cooke (26 November 18659 September 1939) was a British Anglican clergyman and academic. He held two senior chairs at the University of Oxford: Oriel Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture from 1908 to 1914, and Regius Pro ...

1908–14 *

Charles Fox Burney Charles Fox Burney (4 November 1868 – 15 April 1925) was biblical scholar at Oxford University, England. Early life Charles was the son of Charles Burney, Paymaster Chief Royal Navy, and his wife Eleanor Norton, daughter of the Rev. W. A. Norton ...

1914–25 * David Capell Simpson 1925–50 *

Hedley Sparks Hedley Frederick Davis Sparks, (14 November 1908 – 22 November 1996) was a British biblical scholar and Church of England priest. From 1946 to 1952, he was Cadbury Professor of Theology at the University of Birmingham. From 1952 to 1976, he w ...

1952–76 * James Barr 1976–78 *

Ernest Nicholson Ernest Wilson Nicholson, (26 September 1938 – 22 December 2013) was a British scholar of the Old Testament and Church of England priest. He was Oriel Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture at the University of Oxford from 1979 to 1 ...

1979–90 * John Barton 1991–2014 (now Emeritus Professor) *

Hindy Najman Hindy Najman is an American academic specialising in Jewish studies and the Hebrew Bible. Since July 2015, she has been Oriel and Laing Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture at the University of Oxford. Previously, she was Director of t ...

2015–present

References

Oriel and Laing Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture, University of Oxford (2014)
Interpretation of Holy Scripture, Oriel and Laing Interpretation of Holy Scripture, Oriel and Laing Oriel College, Oxford Lists of people associated with the University of Oxford 1883 establishments in the United Kingdom {{UOxford-stub