Christopher Porter

The Revd Dr Christopher Porter

BPsych ANU, BIT Adel, GradDipDiv, GradCertTheol, MDiv, GradCertMin, MA(Th), PhD ACT
Postdoctoral Research Fellow

E: cporter@trinity.edu.au 

Chris Porter is a New Testament scholar working on the Fourth Gospel with a particular emphasis in the intersection of theology and psychology. Previously he has worked in personal and social identity and memory research, and in computational linguistics. Trained in Psychology at ANU he naturally brings a Social Identity (Tajfel & Turner, et al) framework to the consideration of the biblical text and theology. Broadly he has an interest in the science informed theology and Christian identity. Currently he is working on an introduction to Social Identity Theory; theological approaches to social identity formation in the Fourth Gospel; a reception history of the Christology of the Fourth Gospel; and narrative identity construction and Christian formation. 

Current Research Areas

• Fourth Gospel and Social Identity Formation
• Reception of Christology of the Fourth Gospel
• Narrative Identity Construction and Christian Formation
• Identity Construction and Apocalyptic Literature
• Discursive Approaches to Social Group Arguments

Areas for Supervision

• Socio-Scientific Criticism
• Christology of the Fourth Gospel
• Identity and Christian Formation
• Narrative Discourse and Group Conflict

Publications

• Porter, Christopher Alan. “Pastoral Epistles (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus).” In T & T Clark Commentary on Social Identity in the New Testament, edited by J. Brian Tucker and Aaron Kuecker. London: T&T Clark, 2020
• I Want to Do I Do Not Do, but What I Hate I Do’: The Hermeneutics of Trauma in Romans 7.” In When Psychology Meets the Bible, edited by Heather A. McKay and Pieter van der Zwan, 124–40. Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2023.
• Johannine Social Identity Formation after the Fall of the Jerusalem Temple: Negotiating Identity in Crisis. BINS 194. Leiden: Brill, 2022
• Porter, Christopher A. “‘Keep Your Friends Close but Your Enemies Closer’: Navigating Religious Love and Enmity in an Individualistic Society.” In Redeeming Truth and Community in the Age of Individualism: Meaning and Morality in the Contemporary World, edited by Kirsty Beilharz, Maureen Miner, and Jane Fernandez. Avondale, NSW: Avondale Academic Press, 2021. 
• Porter, Christopher A. “Of Sheep, Shepherds, and Temples: Reading the Good Shepherd Paroemia on the Way to a Destroyed Temple.” Conspectus 32 (October 2021): 157–69.
• “On Choirs, Kwaya Competitions, Muziki Wa Injili, and Spiritual Formation: Reflections on Choir Competitions in the Diocese of Karagwe.” In Nuru Na Uzima: Essays Celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the Anglican Church of Tanzania, 1970-2020., edited by Fergus J. King, Emmanuel Mbennah, Mecka Ogunde, and Dorothy Prentice, 179–88. London: Missional University Press, 2021.
• Porter, Christopher A. “Which Paul? Whose Judaism? - A Socio-Cognitive Approach to Paul within Judaism.” In Paul Within Judaism, edited by Michael F Bird, Ruben Buhner, Jörg Frey, and Brian S. Rosner. WUNT. Tubingen: Mohr/Siebeck, 2023. 
• Porter, Christopher A. “Will the Real Οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι Please Stand Up?” In The Enduring Impact of the Gospel of John, edited by Dorothy Lee, Robert Derrenbacker, and Muriel Porter, 62–80. Interdisciplinary Studies. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2022. 
• Porter, Christopher A., and Brian S. Rosner. “‘All Things to All People’: 1 Corinthians, Ethnic Flexibility, and Social Identity Theory.” Currents in Biblical Research 19, no. 3 (February 2021): 286–307.
• Porter, Christopher Alan. “Pastoral Epistles (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus).” In T & T Clark Commentary on Social Identity in the New Testament, edited by J. Brian Tucker and Aaron Kuecker. London: T&T Clark, 2020. 

Community Engagement

• General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia: 2014, 2017
• Social Responsibilities Committee of the Diocese of Melbourne
• Provincial Council: Victoria
• Co-chair Multi-disciplinary Approaches to the Gospels, Institute for Biblical Research (2019 to present)
• Board Member of Scripture Union Australia, Christian Research Association, and SparkLit