Associate Professor Matthew Crawford

Program Director, Biblical and Early Christian Studies
Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry

Matthew Crawford

Areas of expertise: new testament studies; christianity in late antiquity; patristic exegesis; development of the doctrine of the trinity; diatessaron; ancient apologetics; tatian; eusebius of caesarea; cyril of alexandria; didymus the blind; paratexts

Phone: +61 399533142

Email: matthew.crawford@acu.edu.au

Location: ACU Melbourne Campus

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2888-2071

For my doctoral studies at Durham University, I examined Cyril of Alexandria's Trinitarian theology and biblical exegesis. An AHRC-funded postdoc at Durham then allowed me to expand my research interests to include the fourfold gospel and its rivals, with a particular focus on Tatian's Diatessaron-Gospel and the Eusebian Canon Tables. I have published widely on these topics, including most recently a monograph on the Canon Tables in 2019. Thanks to a DECRA from the Australian Research Council, I returned to research on Cyril from 2018 onwards and have collaborated with Aaron Johnson on the first English translation of Cyril's apologetic tome Against Julian, which will appear in 2024. My next large project is a collaborative effort to produce a new critical edition of the three-book treatise On the Trinity traditionally ascribed to Didymus the Blind which will be accompanied by an English translation. It will be the first complete new edition since the 1769 editio princeps and the first complete translation into any modern language. I also continue to produce articles on the above topics and welcome inquiries from prospective masters and doctoral students who are interested in research in these areas.

In addition to my own research, I serve as Director of the IRCI's Biblical and Early Christian Studies research program, which involves supervising the program's collaborative research projects. From 2017 to 2021 I was a Chief Investigator on the project 'Modes of Knowing and the Ordering of Knowledge in Early Christianity' and in 2022 we launched a new project on 'Flourishing in Early Christianity' which is currently underway. If you are interested in collaborating with us on the Flourishing Project, please get in touch.

View academia profile

Select publications

Monographs

  1. The Eusebian Canon Tables: Ordering Textual Knowledge in Late Antiquity (Oxford Early Christian Studies; Oxford: OUP, 2019)
  2. Cyril of Alexandria's Trinitarian Theology of Scripture (Oxford Early Christian Studies; Oxford: OUP, 2014)

Edited Books

  1. The Intellectual World of Late Antique Christianity: Reshaping Classical Traditions, edited by Matthew R. Crawford, Lewis Ayres, and Michael Champion (Cambridge: CUP, 2023)
  2. The Gospel of Tatian: Exploring the Nature and Text of the Diatessaron, edited by Matthew R. Crawford and Nick Zola (The Reception of Jesus in the First Three Centuries 3; London: T&T Clark, 2019)
  3. Producing Christian Culture: Gospel Text and Gospel Commentary in Medieval Perspective, edited by Matthew R. Crawford, Francis Watson, and Giles Gasper (London: Routledge, 2017)

Scholarly Book Chapters

  1. "Theodore of Mopsuestia's Dispute with the Macedonians," in Varieties of Nicene Theology in East and West (AD 360-420), ed. Mark DelCogliano and Lewis Ayres (Oxford: OUP, 2024)
  2. "Reconsidering the Tholos Image in Eusebius' Canon Tables: Text, Space, and Ritual in Artistic Representation," in The Intellectual World of Christian Late Antiquity: Reshaping Classical Traditions (Cambridge: CUP, 2023), 484-515
  3. "Severus of Antioch on Gospel Reading with the Eusebian Canon Tables," in Gospel Reading and Reception in Early Christian Literature, ed. Simon Gathercole, Madison N. Pierce, and Andrew J. Byers (Cambridge: CUP, 2022), 215-33
  4. "Do the Eusebian Canon Tables Represent the Closure or the Opening of the Biblical Text?: Considering the Case of Codex Fuldensis," in Canones: The Art of Harmony, ed. Alessandro Bausi, Bruno Reudenbach, Hanna Wimmer (Studies in Manuscript Cultures 18; Berlin: De Gruyter, 2020), 17-27
  5. "Cyril of Alexandria's Contra Iulianum, Imperial Politics, and Alexandrian Philosophy (c.416-428)," in Eastern Christianity and Late Antique Philosophy, edited by Eva Anagnostou-Laoutides and Ken Parry (Texts and Studies in Eastern Christianity 18; Leiden: Brill, 2020), 110-32
  6. "Tatian, Celsus, and Christianity as 'Barbarian Wisdom' in the Late Second Century," in The Emergence of the Christian Intellectual in the Second Century, ed. Lewis Ayres and H. Clifton Ward (Berlin: De Gruyter, 2020), 45-80
  7. "The Eusebian Canon Tables as a Corpus-Organizing Paratext in the Multiple-Text Manuscript of the Fourfold Gospel," in The Emergence of Multiple-Text Manuscripts, ed. Alessandro Bausi, Michael Friedrich, and Marilena Maniaci (Studies in Manuscript Cultures 17; Berlin: De Grutyer, 2019), 103-20
  8. "Rejection at Nazareth in the Gospels of Mark, Matthew, Luke - and Tatian," in Connecting Gospels, ed. Francis Watson and Sarah Parkhouse (Oxford: OUP, 2018), 97-124
  9. "Scholarly Practices: The Reception of the Eusebian Canons in Hiberno-Latin Exegesis," in Producing Christian Culture: Gospel Text and Gospel Commentary in Medieval Perspective, ed. myself, Francis Watson, and Giles Gasper (London: Routledge, 2017), 65-88

Refereed Journal Articles

  1. "Cyril of Alexandria's Renunciation of Religious Violence," Church History 92 (2023): 1-21; Open Access: https://doi.org/10.1017/S000964072300063X
  2. "Henrik Ibsen, Emperor Julian, and the Crisis of Faith in Modernity," co-written with Brad Boswell and Anna Stavrakopoulou, Classical Receptions Journal 15 (2023): 151-71; Open Access: https://doi.org/10.1093/crj/clad002
  3. "Towards a New Edition of Julian's Contra Galilaeos: Assessing the Material from the Syriac Transmission of Cyril's Contra Iulianum," Classical Quarterly 72 (2022): 850-67; Open Access: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0009838822000799
  4. "'The Hostile Devices of the Demented Demons': Tatian on Astrology and Pharmacology," Journal of Early Christian Studies 29 (2021): 31-60
  5. "The Influence of Eusebius' Chronicle on the Apologetic Treatises of Cyril of Alexandria and Augustine of Hippo," Journal of Ecclesiastical History 71 (2020): 693-711
  6. "Reconsidering the Relationship between (Pseudo-)Didymus' De Trinitate and Cyril of Alexandria's Contra Iulianum," Journal of Theological Studies 71 (2020): 236-57
  7. "A New Witness to the 'Western' Ordering of the Gospels: GA 073+084," Journal of Theological Studies 69 (2018): 477-83.
  8. "The Origins of Pauline Theology: Paratexts and Priscillian of Avila's Canons on the Letters of the Apostle Paul," New Testament Studies 63 (2017): 125-45; co-authored with T.J. Lang
  9. "Resolving Genealogical Ambiguity: Eusebius and (ps-)Eprhem on Luke 1:36," Aramaic Studies 14 (2016): 83-97
  10. "The Problemata of Tatian: Recovering the Fragments of a Second-Century Christian Intellectual," Journal of Theological Studies 67 (2016): 542-75
  11. "Kanon and Scripture according to the Letter of Peter to James," Zeitschrift für Antikes Christentum 20 (2016): 260-75
  12. "'Confessing God from a Good Conscience': 1 Peter 3:21 and Early Christian Baptismal Theology," Journal of Theological Studies 67 (2016): 23-37
  13. "The Diatessaron, Canonical or Non-canonical? Rereading the Dura Fragment," New Testament Studies 62 (2016): 253-77
  14. "'Reordering the Confusion': Tatian, the Second Sophistic, and the so-called Diatessaron," Zeitschrift für Antikes Christentum 19 (2015): 209-36
  15. "Ammonius of Alexandria, Eusebius of Caesarea, and the Origins of Gospel Scholarship," New Testament Studies 61 (2015): 1-29
  16. "Reading the Diatessaron with Ephrem: The Word and the Light, the Voice and the Star," Vigiliae Christianae 69 (2015): 70-95
  17. "The Fourfold Gospel in the Writings of Ephrem the Syrian," Hugoye 18 (2015): 9-51
  18. "The Triumph of Pro-Nicene Theology over Anti-Monarchian Exegesis: Theodore of Heraclea and Cyril of Alexandria on John 14:10-11," Journal of Early Christian Studies 21 (2013): 537-67
  19. "Diatessaron, a Misnomer? The Evidence of Ephrem's Commentary," Early Christianity 4 (2013): 362-85
  20. "An Inauthentic Georgian Epistle Attributed to Cyril of Alexandria," Le Muséon 126 (2013): 369-78; co-authored with Zurab Jashi
  21. "Scripture as One Book: Origen, Jerome, and Cyril of Alexandria on Isaiah 29:11," Journal of Theological Studies 64 (2013): 137-53
  22. "The Preface and Subject Matter of Cyril of Alexandria's Treatise De Adoratione," Journal of Theological Studies 64 (2013): 154-67
  23. "On the Diversity and Influence of the Eusebian Alliance: The Case of Theodore of Heraclea," Journal of Ecclesiastical History 64 (2013): 227-57; winner of the 2013 Eusebius Essay Prize

Refereed Conference Papers

  1. "Assessing the Authenticity of the Fragments on Psalm 22 (LXX) Attributed to Cyril of Alexandria," Studia Patristica 68 (2013): 95-100

Translations

  1. "Cyril of Alexandria: Second Letter to Nestorius" (introduction and translation), in Cambridge Early Christian Writings: Volume 3, ed. Mark DelCogliano (CUP 2022), 564-69
  2. "Nestorius: Second Letter to Cyril" (introduction and translation), in Cambridge Early Christian Writings: Volume 3, ed. Mark DelCogliano (CUP 2022) 570-76
  3. "Nestorius of Constantinople: First Letter to Celestine" (introduction and translation), in Cambridge Early Christian Writings: Volume 3, ed. Mark DelCogliano (CUP 2022), 585-89
  4. "John Cassian: On the Incarnation" (introduction and translation), in Cambridge Early Christian Writings: Volume 3, ed. Mark DelCogliano (CUP 2022), 593-622; co-authored with Thomas L. Humphries, Jr.
  5. "Cyril of Alexandria: Third Letter to Nestorius" (introduction and translation), in Cambridge Early Christian Writings: Volume 3, ed. Mark DelCogliano (CUP 2022), 623-36
  6. "Nestorius of Constantinople: Letter to John of Antioch" (introduction and translation), in Cambridge Early Christian Writings: Volume 3, ed. Mark DelCogliano (CUP 2022), 637-40
  7. "Cyril of Alexandria: Letter of Reunion to John of Antioch" (introduction and translation), in Cambridge Early Christian Writings: Volume 3, ed. Mark DelCogliano (CUP 2022), 718-25
  8. "Cyril of Alexandria: First Letter to Succensus" (introduction and translation), in Cambridge Early Christian Writings: Volume 3, ed. Mark DelCogliano (CUP 2022), 731-39
  9. "Cyril of Alexandria: Second Letter to Succensus" (introduction and translation), in Cambridge Early Christian Writings: Volume 3, ed. Mark DelCogliano (CUP 2022), 740-46
  10. "Ephrem the Syrian: Commentary on the Diatessaron 1.2-1.8" (introduction and translation), in The Cambridge Edition of Early Christian Writings, Volume 1: God, ed. Andrew Radde-Gallwitz (CUP 2017), 224-28
  11. "Cyril of Alexandria: Five Tomes against Nestorius 4.1-4.2" (introduction and translation), in The Cambridge Edition of Early Christian Writings, Volume 1: God, ed. Andrew Radde-Gallwitz (CUP 2017), 328-38

Reference Works

  1. "Cyril of Alexandria," in Oxford Classical Dictionary. Article published June 2020; https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.013.1992.
  2. "Eusebian Canon Tables," in Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity Online (Leiden: Brill, 2018); http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2589-7993_EECO_SIM_00000519.
  3. "Tatian," in Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity Online (Leiden: Brill, 2018); http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2589-7993_EECO_SIM_00003346.
  4. "Theodore of Heraclea," in Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity Online (Leiden: Brill, 2018); http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2589-7993_EECO_SIM_00003394.

Reviews

  1. Journal of Theological Studies 74 (2023): forthcoming; Dimitrios Zaganas, La formation d'une exégèse alexandrine post-origénienne: Les Commentaires sur les Douze Prophètes et sur Isaïe de Cyrille d'Alexandrie (Leuven: Peeters, 2019)
  2. Journal of Ecclesiastical History 71 (2020): 391-93; Blossom Stefaniw, Christian Reading: Language, Ethics, and the Order of Things (Oakland, CA: University of California Press, 2019)
  3. Theological Studies 78 (2017): 231-32; Michael Peppard, The World's Oldest Church: Bible, Art, and Ritual at Dura-Europos, Syria (Synkrisis: Comparative Approaches to Early Christianity in Greco-Roman Culture; New Haven, CT: Yale University, 2016)
  4. Journal of Roman Studies 106 (2016): 369-70; A. Johnson and J. Schott (eds), Eusebius of Caesarea: Tradition and Innovations (Hellenic Studies 60; Washington, D.C.: Center for Hellenic Studies; Cambridge, MA/London: Harvard University Press, 2013)
  5. Review of Biblical Literature (July 2014); George E. Demacopoulos, The Invention of Peter: Apostolic Discourse and Papal Authority in Late Antiquity (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2013)

Projects

Accolades and Awards

  • Residential Fellowship at Dumbarton Oaks Research Library (Sept - Dec 2019).
  • Fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for research at Universität Bonn (2015-2017). [declined]
  • Junior Research Fellowship, Hatfield College, Durham University (2013-2015).
  • Eusebius Essay Prize from the Journal of Ecclesiastical History(2012).

Appointments and Affiliations

  • Australian Catholic University, Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry: Program Director, Biblical and Early Christian Studies (November 2018 - present); Associate Professor (November 2018 - present); Senior Research Fellow (January 2017 - October 2018); Research Fellow (September 2015-December 2016)
  • Durham University, Department of Theology and Religion, Postdoctoral Research Assistant on "The Fourfold Gospel and its Rivals" project funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council (2012-2015)

International journal review panels

  • Peer review of articles for Modern Theology, Journal of Early Christian Studies, Vigiliae Christianae, Zeitschrift für Antikes Christentum, New Testament Studies, Journal for the Study of the New Testament, Studies in Late Antiquity, Augustinian Studies, the Downside Review, Journal of Early Christian History, International Journal of Systematic Theology
  • Peer review book proposals for Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Brill

Grant agency review panels

  • Assessor of Competitive Grant Applications for Australian Research Council (2018-present)

Public engagement activities

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