Biography
Research Interests and Supervision
I supervise research at the intersection of the New Testament and ancient Judaism, with particular focus on the Dead Sea Scrolls and related Second Temple Jewish literature. My work combines textual analysis, cultural history, and archaeology to explore how early Jewish and Christian communities articulated belief, identity, and social structure.
I have published several monographs and multiple edited volumes on these topics. My most recent book, Qumran Wisdom and the New Testament: Exploring Early Jewish and Christian Textual Cultures (Cambridge University Press, 2022), offers interrelated studies on James, Matthew, and the Pauline letters, highlighting resonances with Jewish wisdom motifs. I am currently developing a new project on prayer as a form of ethical action and formation in early Judaism and Christianity. This project draws on ancient Jewish texts, especially the Dead Sea Scrolls, together with New Testament literature to explore how prayer functioned as a physically enacted, emotionally resonant, and ritually embedded practice. It engages both scholarly and wider audiences interested in the meaning and practice of prayer across traditions.
I welcome enquiries from prospective postgraduate students interested in topics related to the Dead Sea Scrolls, Second Temple Judaism, early Christianity, and Jewish-Christian relations in antiquity.
Biography
I completed my Ph.D. at Durham University (UK), specializing in ancient Judaism and early Christianity. After a postdoctoral fellowship at Durham, I held an Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship at the Institut für antikes Judentum und hellenistische Religionsgeschichte in Tübingen. I joined the staff at Trinity College Dublin in 2007.
My research interests also include archaeology and material culture. I have participated in several excavations, including two seasons at Qumran. I have held fellowships at the American School of Overseas Research (Albright Institute) in Jerusalem: first with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities (2012–13), and later as a Senior Fellow (2017).
Administrative Role
I currently serve as Director of Research for the School of Religion, Theology, and Peace Studies (RTPS).
Undergraduate Teaching
Semester 1:
• Jewish Thought and Practice (REU12731)
• The Apostle Paul: Life and Letters (REU33114)
• Co-teaching Introducing the Hebrew Bible (REU12101)
Semester 2:
• The Historical Jesus and the Gospels (REU22111)
• The Dead Sea Scrolls (REU44722)
• Co-teaching Introducing the New Testament and Early Christianity (REU12112)
Ph.D. Students
• Krueger Tumiwa (1st year Ph.D.)
• Maicol Cortes (2nd year Ph.D.)
• Irene Barbotti (3rd year Ph.D.)
• Simon Brummer (3rd year Ph.D.)
• Jadesmon Saragih (3rd year Ph.D.)
• Jesse Sykes (4th year Ph.D.)
Selected Publications
Monographs:
• Qumran Wisdom and the New Testament, Cambridge University Press, 2022
• 4QInstruction: Divisions and Hierarchies, STDJ 123, Brill, 2018
• Women, Men, and Angels, Mohr Siebeck, 2005
Edited Books:
• "Bring Them into the Land": The Holy Land in Ancient Judaism and Nascent Christianity: Essays in Honor of R. Steven Notley (co-edited), Wipf & Stock, 2025
• Das Böse, Der Teufel, und Dämonen — Evil, the Devil, and Demons (co-edited), Mohr Siebeck, 2016
• Memory in the Bible and Antiquity (co-edited), Mohr Siebeck, 2007
Publications and Further Research Outputs
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Creation, James C. VanderKam Lawrence H. Schiffman Sidnie White Crawford, Brill's Online Encyclopedia of the Dead Sea Scrolls: A New Research Tool for the Study of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Leiden, 2025, pp1-5 , [Benjamin Wold]
Benjamin Wold, Daniel Machiela, Jeff Garcia, Chad Pierce (ed.), "Bring Them into the Land": The Holy Land in Ancient Judaism and Nascent Christianity: Essays in Honor of R. Steven Notley, Eugene, OR, Wipf & Stock, 2025, 1-300pp
Florilegium, James C. VanderKam Lawrence H. Schiffman Sidnie White Crawford, Brill's Online Encyclopedia of the Dead Sea Scrolls: A New Research Tool for the Study of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Leiden, Brill, 2025, pp1-5 , [Benjamin Wold]
Early Christianity, James C. VanderKam Lawrence H. Schiffman Sidnie White Crawford, Brill's Online Encyclopedia of the Dead Sea Scrolls: A New Research Tool for the Study of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Leiden, Brill, 2025, pp1-15 , [Benjamin Wold]
Glorification and Community: Sacred Speech in John 17 and the Self-Glorification Hymn in, editor(s)Matthijs den Dulk and Seth A. Bledsoe , 1 Enoch and the New Testament: Radboud Prestige Lectures in New Testament 2024, Leiden, Brill (Biblical Interpretation Series), 2025, pp1-20 , [Benjamin Wold]
Benjamin Wold, Trans. ZHOU Geshan, 'Mandarin Translation of 4QInstruction: Divisions and Hierarchies)', Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2024, 1 - 221
Psalms, Hymns and Prayers and the New Testament in, editor(s)Loren T. Stuckenbruck, Ron Herms, Archie Wright , The New Testament in its Second Temple Period Context monograph series, introductory volume, Eugene, OR, Cascade Press, 2024, pp1-12 , [Benjamin Wold]
Wisdom in, editor(s)Matthias Henze & David Lincicum , Israel's Scriptures in Early Christian Writings, Grand Rapids, MI, Eerdmans, 2023, pp1-18 , [Benjamin Wold]
Benjamin Wold, Qumran Wisdom and the New Testament: Exploring Early Jewish and Christian Textual Cultures, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2023, 1 - 236pp
Debt Remission and the Matthean Lord's Prayer in, editor(s)Beth Langstaff, Michael Tilley and Loren T. Stuckenbruck , The Lord's Prayer: Origins, Significance, and Reception, Tübingen, Mohr Siebeck, 2022, pp91 - 114, [Benjamin Wold]
Benjamin Wold, "Mystery" in the Wisdom of Solomon and 4QInstruction, Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha, 31, (1), 2021, p28 - 47
"Fleshly Spirit" and "Vessel of Flesh" in 4QInstruction and the Thanksgiving Hymns in, editor(s)James Aitken, Hector Patmore and Ishay Rosen-Zvi , The Evil Inclination in Early Judaism and Christianity, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2021, pp49 - 64, [Benjamin Wold]
Benjamin Wold, Pope Francis on "Lead Us Not Into Temptation": Historical and Linguistic Comments, SEARCH, 43, (1), 2020, p35 - 39
Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha, 30, 2, (2020), 59 - 114p, Benjamin Wold & Daniele Pevarello, [eds.]
Benjamin Wold, "Ḥokma of the Hands" in Early Jewish Sapiential Tradition and the Letter of James, Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha, 30, (2), 2020, p74 - 86
Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha, 30, 1, (2020), 1-56p, Benjamin Wold & Daniele Pevarello, [eds.]
Book of Genesis in, editor(s)D. M. Gurtner and L. T. Stuckenbruck , Companion to Second Temple Judaism, London, T & T Clark, 2019, pp1-8 , [Benjamin Wold]
James in the Context of Jewish Wisdom in, editor(s)Eric S. Mason & Darian R. Lockett , Reading the Epistle of James: A Resource for Students, Atlanta, GA, SBL Press, 2019, pp73 - 86, [Benjamin Wold]
Wisdom in the New Testament in, editor(s)M. J. Goff and S. Adams , The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Wisdom Literature, Hoboken, NJ, Wiley-Blackwell, 2019, pp351 - 367, [Benjamin Wold]
Words of the Luminaries and John's Plague Septets in, editor(s)B. Blackwell & J. Maston , Reading Revelation in Context: John's Apocalypse and Second Temple Judaism, Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan, 2019, pp131 - 137, [Benjamin Wold]
Benjamin Wold, Sin and Evil in the Letter of James in Light of New Qumran Discoveries, New Testament Studies (Cambridge University Press), 65, (1), 2019, p78 - 93
Old Testament Context: Insights from the Dead Sea Scrolls in, editor(s)D. Allen & S. Smith , Methodology in the Use of the Old Testament in the New, London, T & T Clark, Library of New Testament Studies, 2019, pp115 - 126, [Benjamin Wold]
Benjamin Wold, 4QInstruction: Divisions and Hierarchies, STDJ 123, Leiden, Brill, 2018, 1 - 246pp
Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 41, 1, (2018), 1 - 138p, Benjamin Wold, [editor]
Instruction in, editor(s)George J. Brooke and Charlotte Hempel , Campanion to the Dead Sea Scrolls, T & T Clark (Bloomsbury Companions), 2018, pp318 - 319, [Benjamin Wold]
Benjamin Wold, Universal and Particular Law in James and Early Judaism, Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 41, (1), 2018, p95 - 106
Benjamin Wold, Reading Messiah Texts Afresh? Comments on Matthew Novenson's "Grammer of Messianism", Journal for the Study of the Historical Jesus, 16, (2), 2018, p243 - 249
4Q174 (Florilegium) 4Q175 (Testimonia) in, editor(s)R. Herms, B. Embry, A. Wright , Early Jewish Literature: An Anthology, Eerdmans, 2018, pp1-10 , [Benjamin Wold]
Benjamin Wold, "基于库姆兰的新发现对《雅各书》的重新解读" ("James in Light of New Qumran Discoveries"), Journal for the Study of Biblical Literature (圣经文学研究), 18, (1), 2018, p1-15
Apocalyptic Thought in the Epistles of Colossians and Ephesians in, editor(s)Benjamin Reynolds and Loren Stuckenbruck , Jewish Apocalyptic Tradition and the Shaping of the New Testament, Minneapolis, Fortress Press, 2017, pp291 - 310, [Benjamin Wold]
Benjamin Wold, Is the 'Firstborn Son' in 4Q369 a Messiah? The Evidence from 4QInstruction, Revue de Qumran, 29, (1/109), 2017, p3 - 20
Demonizing Sin? The Evil Inclination in 4QInstruction and the Dead Sea Scrolls in, editor(s)Chris Keith and Loren Stuckenbruck , Evil in Second Temple Judaism and Early Christianity, Tuebingen, Mohr Siebeck, 2016, pp34 - 48, [Benjamin Wold]
Benjamin Wold, Genesis 2-3 in Early Christianity and 4QInstruction, Dead Sea Discoveries, 23, (3), 2016, p329 - 346
Apotropaic Prayer and the Matthean Lord's Prayer in, editor(s)B. Wold, J. Dochhorn, S. Rudnig-Zelt , Evil, the Devil, and Demons: Dualistic Characteristics in the Religion of Israel, Ancient Judaism, and Christianity, Tübingen, Mohr Siebeck, 2016, pp90 - 101, [Benjamin Wold]
Teacher of Righteousness, Eric Orlin, et al., Routledge Dictionary of Ancient Mediterranean Religions, 2016, pp1 , [Benjamin Wold]
Jesus among Wisdom's Representatives in, editor(s)Loren Stuckenbruck and Gabriele Baccaccini , Enoch and the Synoptic Gospels: Reminiscences, Allusions, Intertextuality , Atlanta, SBL Press, 2016, pp317 - 336, [Benjamin Wold]
Benjamin Wold, Jan Dochhorn, Susanne Rudnig-Zelt (eds.), Das Böse, Der Teufel, und Dämonen - Evil, the Devil, and Demons, Tübingen, Mohr Siebeck, 2016, 1 - 297pp
Benjamin Wold, "Flesh" and "Spirit" in Qumran Sapiential Literature as the Background to the Use in Pauline Epistles, Zeitschrift für die Neutestamentliche Wissenschaft, 106, (2), 2015, p262 - 279
Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha, Thousand Oaks, CA, Sage Publications, [Member of Editorial Board], 2015
Exile in Second Temple and Hellenistic Judaism, Vol. 8 Essenes-Fedeism, Dale C. Allison, Jr., Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception, 8, Berlin, Walter de Gruyter, 2013, pp1-4 , [Benjamin Wold]
Benjamin Wold, The Universality of Creation in 4QInstruction, Revue de Qumran, 26, (2/102), 2013, p211 - 226
Benjamin Wold, Agency and Raising the Dead in 4Q521 2 ii and 4QPseudo-Ezekiel, Zeitschrift für die Neutestamentliche Wissenschaft, 103, (1), 2012, p1 - 19
Enosh ("Man") in the Dead Sea Scrolls, Heinz-Josef Fabry, Theologisches Wörterbuch zu den Qumranschriften, Band I, Stuttgart, Kohlhammer W., GmbH, 2012, pp241 - 247, [Benjamin Wold]
Ebion ("Poor") in the Dead Sea Scrolls, Heinz-Josef Fabry, Theologisches Wörterbuch zu den Qumrantexten, Band I, Stuttgart, Kohlhammer W., GmbH, 2012, pp13 - 17, [Benjamin Wold]
Revelation 16 and the Eschatological Use of Exodus Plagues in, editor(s)H. Lichtenberger, H.-J. Eckstein, C. Landmesser , Eschatologie - Eschatology: The Sixth Durham-Tübingen Colloquium, Tübingen, Mohr Siebeck, 2011, pp249 - 266, [Benjamin Wold]
The Eschatological Application of Exodus Plagues in Revelation 16 in, editor(s)H. Lichtenberger, H.-J. Eckstein, C. Landmesser (eds.) , Eschatology/Eschatologie: The Sixth Tübingen/Durham Symposium, Tuebingen, Mohr Siebeck, 2011, pp249 - 266, [Benjamin Wold]
Benjamin Wold, Agents of Resurrection in 4Q521, 4QPseudo-Ezekiel, and the Saying Source Q, Judaism in Antiquity Seminar, Durham University, November 12, 2010, Robert Hayward, 16pp
Revelations Plague Septets: New Exodus and Exile in, editor(s)Florentino García Martínez , Echoes from the Caves: Qumran and the New Testament, Leiden, E. J. Brill, 2009, pp279 - 298, [Benjamin Wold]
Benjamin Wold, Family Ethics in 4QInstruction and the New Testament, Novum Testamentum, 50, (3), 2008, p286 - 300
Benjamin Wold, Loren Stuckenbruck, Stephen Barton (eds.), Memory in the Bible and Antiquity, WUNT, Tübingen, Mohr Siebeck, 2007, 394 pgs., pls. i-vipp
Erhard Blum, 'Historiography or Poetry? The Peculiarities of Old Testament Prose Tradition', Memory in the Bible and Antiquity, (WUNT), Tübingen, Mohr Siebeck, 2007, 25 - 46
Memory in the Dead Sea Scrolls: Exodus, Creation and Cosmos in, editor(s)B. Wold, L.T. Stuckenbruck, S. Barton , Memory in the Bible and Antiquity, Tübingen, Mohr Siebeck, 2007, pp47 - 74, [Benjamin Wold]
Hermann Lichtenberger, 'History Writing and History Telling in First and Second Maccabees', Memory in the Bible and Antiquity, (WUNT), Mohr Siebeck, 2007, 95 - 110
Benjamin Wold, Metaphorical Poverty in Musar leMevin, Journal of Jewish Studies, 58, (1), 2007, p140 - 153
Benjamin Wold, Women, Men and Angels: The Qumran Wisdom Document Musar leMevin and its Allusions to Genesis Creation Traditions, Tübingen, Mohr Siebeck, 2005, 286 pgs, pls. i-ixpp
Benjamin Wold, Reconstructing and Reading 4Q416 2 ii 21: Comments on Menahem Kister's Proposal , Dead Sea Discoveries, 12, (2), 2005, p205 - 211
Benjamin Wold, Reconsidering an Aspect of the Title Kyrios in Light of Fragment 4Q416 2 iii, Zeitschrift fuer die Neuetestamentliche Wissenschaft, 95, (3/4), 2004, p149 - 160
Research Expertise
Recognition
Representations
Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha, Sage Publishers, editorial board
Associate Editor, De Gruyter Open (Religious Studies)
External Examiner, University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Department of Theology, Religious Studies, and Islamic Studies.
Awards and Honours
Excellence in Supervision of Research Students
Fellow of Trinity College Dublin (FTCD)
Senior Associate Fellow - Albright Institute for Archaeological Research (Jerusalem)
Visiting Professor, Chinese University of Hong Kong
Vice President, Irish Biblical Association
Honorary President, Theological Society (TCD)
National Endowment for the Humanities Award
M.A. Jure officii, Trinity College Dublin
Alexander von Humboldt (Rückkehrstipendium)
Alexander von Humboldt Award
Lightfoot Scholarship, Durham University
Memberships
Society of Biblical Studies (SBL)
European Association of Biblical Studies
Enoch Seminar
British New Testament Society
International Organization of Qumran Studies (IOQS)