Karen King

Karen King is a prominent American scholar of New Testament studies and Early Christianity, currently serving as the Hollis Professor of Divinity at Harvard University. Her work focuses on the intersection of Christianity and Gnosticism, with a particular emphasis on the role of women in Early Christian communities, as seen in texts such as the Gospel of Mary and the Gospel of Thomas. King's research has been influenced by scholars such as Elaine Pagels and Bart Ehrman, and she has engaged in discussions with other notable academics, including John Dominic Crossan and N.T. Wright. Her studies have also drawn on the work of Helmut Koester and James M. Robinson, among others.

● Early Life and Education

Karen King was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and grew up in a Christian household, attending First Presbyterian Church. She pursued her undergraduate degree at the University of Oklahoma, where she studied Classics and Religion, with a focus on Ancient Greek and Latin. King then went on to earn her master's degree from the University of Oklahoma, before moving to Brown University to complete her Ph.D. in Religious Studies. During her time at Brown University, King was influenced by scholars such as Mircea Eliade and Jonathan Z. Smith, and she developed a strong interest in the study of Gnosticism and Esotericism, including the works of Carl Jung and Hans Jonas.

● Career

King began her academic career as an assistant professor at Occidental College, where she taught courses on New Testament studies, Early Christianity, and Gnosticism. She later moved to Harvard University, where she was appointed as a lecturer in the Divinity School, and eventually became a full professor, holding the prestigious Hollis Chair of Divinity. King has also held visiting appointments at institutions such as University of California, Berkeley, University of Chicago, and Oxford University, where she has worked with scholars such as Christopher Rowland and Graham Stanton. Her work has been recognized by organizations such as the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Society of Biblical Literature, and she has participated in conferences sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Philosophical Society.

● Research and Publications

King's research has focused on the study of Gnosticism and its relationship to Early Christianity, with a particular emphasis on the role of women in Gnostic communities, as seen in texts such as the Apocryphon of John and the Hypostasis of the Archons. She has published numerous articles and books on this topic, including The Gospel of Mary and What Is Gnosticism?, which have been widely reviewed and discussed by scholars such as Pheme Perkins and Frederik Wisse. King has also edited several volumes, including Images of the Feminine in Gnosticism and Women and Goddess Traditions in Antiquity, which have featured contributions from scholars such as Rosemary Radford Ruether and Adela Yarbro Collins. Her work has been influenced by the research of scholars such as Kurt Rudolph and Bentley Layton, and she has engaged in discussions with other notable academics, including Michael Williams and April DeConick.

● The Gospel of Jesus' Wife

In 2012, King announced the discovery of a previously unknown Gospel fragment, which she dubbed the Gospel of Jesus' Wife. The fragment, which is written in Coptic, appears to suggest that Jesus had a wife, and has sparked intense debate and discussion among scholars, including Francis Watson and Simon Gathercole. While some have questioned the authenticity of the fragment, King has defended its legitimacy, citing the work of scholars such as Roger Bagnall and Leo Depuydt. The discovery of the Gospel of Jesus' Wife has been widely reported in the media, with coverage in outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and BBC News, and has been the subject of discussions at conferences sponsored by the Society of Biblical Literature and the International Association for Coptic Studies.

● Awards and Honors

King has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to the field of New Testament studies and Early Christianity, including the National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship and the American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship. She has also been elected as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Society of Biblical Literature, and has served as the president of the Society of Biblical Literature. King's work has been recognized by institutions such as Harvard University, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge, and she has received honorary degrees from University of St. Andrews and Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. Her research has been supported by grants from organizations such as the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Philosophical Society, and she has participated in conferences sponsored by the Institute for Advanced Study and the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin. Category:American academics