Rate My Professor James Harding

Associate Professor James Harding holds the position of Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies in the Theology Programme at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. He serves as course adviser for undergraduate students in the programme. Harding's research specializations centre on biblical studies, with particular focus on the Old Testament, ancient Judaism, and the Bible in relation to human sexuality. His scholarly work examines reception history, interpretive indeterminacy, ideological underpinnings of texts, and themes such as violence, suffering, justice, and friendship in biblical narratives. Key areas of interest include the books of Job and Judges, as well as the David and Jonathan story. As a Reverend Doctor and ordained Anglican priest, he integrates theological perspectives into his academic pursuits.

Harding is the author of the monograph The Love of David and Jonathan: Ideology, Text, Reception (Equinox Publishing, 2013), which analyses the ideological, textual, and reception dimensions of this biblical relationship. His peer-reviewed publications include 'Homophobia and Masculine Domination in Judges 19-21' (2016), 'A Spirit of Deception in Job 4:15? Interpretive Indeterminacy and Eliphaz's Vision' (2005), 'What Is Reception History, and What Happens To You If You Do It?' (2015), 'Problem-based Learning in Biblical Studies: Reflections from Classroom Experience' (2001), 'David and Jonathan between Athens and Jerusalem' (2011), 'The Book of Job as Metaprophecy' (2010), 'Homophobia and Rape Culture in the Narratives of Early Israel' (2018), and 'Ben Sira on Friendship: Notes on Intertextuality and Method' (2016). He has supervised numerous doctoral theses, such as those on violence in the Book of Job (2013), the Matthean Jesus's temple action (2026), the paradox of judgement in John 18:28–19:22 (2019), wilderness tabernacle and eschatological temple (2012), and Qohelet's fall using Genesis 2-4 (2016). In teaching, he delivers courses including BIBS112 Interpreting the Old Testament, BIBS218 and BIBS318 Judaism in the Time of Jesus, BIBS311 God, Land and Exile in the Hebrew Prophets, BIBS317 God, Suffering and Justice, and BIBS412 Special Topic: The Book of Job. Harding engages publicly as a media expert on religion and theology, contributing opinion pieces to the Otago Daily Times, such as 'Ignore the demons of intolerance and prejudice' (2023) and 'Faith and reason: Many biblical issues are ours too' (2016), and delivering lectures on topics like Old Testament faith thinking.