On 13 March 2019, the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Pretoria hosted the inaugural lecture of Prof Ernest van Eck, as the newly appointed Head of the Department of New Testament Studies and Related Literature.

Prof Ernest van Eck (BA, BA [Hon], MA [Greek], BD, MDiv, DD) obtained all but the BA-degree from the University of Pretoria. His two master’s degrees focused on different aspects of space used in secular and religious narratives, and in his DD-thesis, obtained in 1993, the focus was a social-scientific interpretation of ideological/political use of space in the gospel of Mark. The thesis was subsequently published by KITAL.

He has authored 46 and co-authored 25 peer reviewed articles, 11 chapters in international publications, and his latest monograph, focusing on parable research, is titled The parables of Jesus the Galilean: Stories of a social prophet. His research focus on the social-scientific and ideological-critical reading of the parables of the historical Jesus, gender-studies, sexuality in ancient texts, the gospels, Paul, post-colonial hermeneutics, narratology and literary theories. Professor van Eck is the chairman of the editorial board of HTS Teologiese/Theological Studies since 2010. Up to March 2019, he has successfully supervised 30 master’s and 16 PhD students.

The celebration of his most recent leadership appointment took place in the main auditorium of the Groenkloof Campus, where Prof Norman Duncan, Deputy Principal of the University, delivered the opening address, followed by a keynote speech from Prof Van Eck himself.  Prof Jerry Pillay, Dean of the Faculty, closed the official proceedings with a few remarks of his own, then invited the guests to a reception in the foyer of the auditorium, where refreshments were served and many congratulations offered to Prof van Eck and his family.

Click here to read the full inaugural address.