Benjamin Grant White

Ben teaches courses in Biblical Studies and Theology, with a focus on the New Testament. He began his role at King’s after several years in Durham, England, where he wrote his Ph.D. thesis under the direction of John M.G. Barclay. Originally from Canada, Ben has presented his academic work at major conferences around the world, including the UK, Germany, and the USA. His work has also been published, or is forthcoming, in a variety of journals including Journal for the Study of the New Testament and Horizons in Biblical Theology.

His first book, a lightly revised version of his doctoral thesis, is entitled Pain and Paradox in 2 Corinthians: The Transformative Function of Strength in Weakness (Mohr Siebeck, 2021). He is also the co-editor, with John Barclay, of a collection of essays entitled The New Testament in Comparison: Validity, Method, and Purpose in Comparing Traditions (T&T Clark, 2020). He has been a guest co-editor for a special issue of the Journal of Theological Interpretation and, during term time, he attends the Columbia University New Testament Seminar.

Ben is the proud creator of the ‘Christianity and the City’ course at King’s. It combines an out-of-the-classroom exploration of New York City with an in-depth study of the apostle Paul’s letters to cosmopolitan Corinth, which serve as a model for contextualizing the gospel in the NYC context. He is a faculty advisor for the campus chapter of International Justice Mission and the House of Thatcher.

Prior to his doctoral studies, Ben worked in full-time pastoral ministry and he still preaches on occasion. He is presently a Fellow of the Center for Pastor Theologians in Chicago and a former Pastoral Tutor at St. John’s College, Durham. He writes regularly for lay people, and his work on various topics has appeared in Christianity Today, Relevant Magazine, Mere Orthodoxy, and Faith Today.

Ben’s current research activity includes a visiting scholar appointment at Princeton Theological Seminary, where he is conducting research on two projects: an academic book on the theological sub-structure of the Pauline corpus and a book for non-professional audiences that traces how early Christianity spread in the Roman world and why the dynamics of that story are essential for re-gaining a compelling Christian witness today.

Outside of the classroom and the study, Ben is an avid basketball fan, enjoys being outdoors, and loves anything related to the English Lake District. He is married to Brittany, and he spends a good deal of his time playing with their sons, Gideon and Thaddeus.

Time at King's: August 2018 to July 2023