Nathan MacDonald
{{for|the Canadian musician|Nathan MacDonald (musician)}}
A British biblical scholar, Nathan MacDonald (born 1975) currently serves as Reader in the Interpretation of the Old Testament at Cambridge University as well as Fellow and College Lecturer in theology at St John's College, Cambridge. Much of his work has concentrated on the historical conception of monotheism in ancient Israel and the Hebrew Bible. Through major research projects, publications, conference organization, and editorial undertakings, his academic endeavors have helped bridge Anglo-American and Continental biblical scholarship.{{citation-needed|date=August 2022}}
Life
Having earned a BA(Hons) in theology and then an MA and MPhil in Classical Hebrew studies at Cambridge University, he received a PhD in theology at Durham University, which he completed in 2002. Throughout his education, MacDonald focused on the Hebrew Bible.{{cite web|title=CV of Nathan MacDonald|url=https://cambridge.academia.edu/NathanMacDonald/CurriculumVitae|website=Professional Website at academia.edu|access-date=July 5, 2015}}
MacDonald served as teaching fellow, lecturer, then reader in Hebrew and Old Testament at the University of St Andrews before moving to Cambridge University as lecturer in Hebrew Bible as well as fellow and college lecturer in theology at St John's. Overlapping with his time as reader at St Andrews and then lecturer and fellow in Cambridge, MacDonald directed the Sofia Kovalevskaya research project "Early Jewish Monotheisms" from 2009–14, hosted by Hermann Spieckermann in the Faculty of Theology at the University of Göttingen.{{cite web|title=Early Jewish Monotheisms Project Description|url=https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/123100.html|website=University of Göttingen|access-date=July 5, 2015}} He has also conducted his research during stays at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and the Kenyon Institute, in Jerusalem.{{cite web|title=Award Announcement|url=http://www.uni-muenchen.de/informationen_fuer/presse/presseinformationen/2007/p-23-07.html|website=University of Munich|access-date=July 22, 2015}}{{cite web|title=CV of Nathan MacDonald|url=https://cambridge.academia.edu/NathanMacDonald/CurriculumVitae|website=Professional Website at academia.edu|access-date=July 5, 2015}}
Honors, grants & awards
Among numerous other marks of distinction, MacDonald received the John Templeton Award for Theological Promise,{{cite web|title=John Templeton Award for Theological Promise|url=https://www.templeton.org/what-we-fund/grants/john-templeton-award-for-theological-promise|website=John Templeton Foundation|access-date=July 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715053603/http://www.templeton.org/what-we-fund/grants/john-templeton-award-for-theological-promise|archive-date=July 15, 2015|url-status=dead}} an Alexander von Humboldt Foundation research fellowship,{{cite web|title=Award Announcement|url=http://www.uni-muenchen.de/informationen_fuer/presse/presseinformationen/2007/p-23-07.html|website=University of Munich|access-date=July 22, 2015}} the Sofia Kovalevskaya Award,{{cite web|title=Nathan MacDonald Press Notice|url=https://www.uni-goettingen.de/de/3240.html?cid=3132|website=University of Göttingen|access-date=July 5, 2015}}{{cite web|title=2008 Sofja Kovalevskaja Prize Announcement|url=http://www.humboldt-foundation.de/web/skp-2008.html|website=Humboldt Foundation|access-date=July 5, 2015}}{{cite web|title=Sofja Kovalevskaja Prize Announcement|url=https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/news/archive/2008/title,28179,en.php|website=University of St Andrews|access-date=July 22, 2015}} and the Society of Biblical Literature's D.N. Freedman Award for Excellence and Creativity in Hebrew Bible Scholarship.{{cite web|title=DN Freedman Award (2011 Announcement)|url=https://www.sbl-site.org/membership/FreedmanAward.aspx|website=Society of Biblical Literature|access-date=July 5, 2015}} His work has seen reception in the popular press as well, from the BBC and Telegraph to the Scientific American.{{cite news|title=Biblical diet 'not very healthy'|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7826163.stm|website=BBC News|date=13 January 2009 |access-date=July 22, 2015}}{{cite web|title=Bible diets dismissed as healthy food choice|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/4231257/Bible-diets-dismissed-as-healthy-food-choice.html|website=The Telegraph|date=14 January 2009 |access-date=July 22, 2015}}{{cite web|title=The First Supper|url=http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/food-matters/the-first-supper/|website=Scientific American|access-date=July 22, 2015}}
Professional activities
In addition to sitting on editorial boards for the Journal of the Bible and its Reception{{cite web|title=Homepage of Journal of the Bible and its Reception|url=http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/jbr|website=Walter de Gruyter|access-date=July 5, 2015}} and Journal of Theological Interpretation,{{cite web|title=Journal of Theological Interpretation Webpage|url=https://www.eisenbrauns.com/ECOM/_4EK06QNJ9.HTM#Board|website=Eisenbrauns|access-date=July 22, 2015}} MacDonald has served as founding editor for the Eisenbrauns' books series "Critical Studies in the Hebrew Bible" and "Siphrut: Literature and Theology of the Hebrew Bible."{{cite web|title=Homepage of Critical Studies in Hebrew Bible |url=https://www.eisenbrauns.com/ECOM/_4E31FG2IC.HTM |website=Eisenbrauns |access-date=July 5, 2015 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite web|title=Homepage of Siphrut: Literature and Theology of the Hebrew Scriptures |url=https://www.eisenbrauns.com/ECOM/_4E31FG2IR.HTM |website=Eisenbrauns |access-date=July 5, 2015 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} He also edits the sub-series "Studies of the Sofja Kovalevskaja Research Group on Early Jewish Monotheisms," which comprises part of Mohr Siebeck's book series Forschungen zum alten Testament. As translator, he contributes to the Common English Bible.{{cite web|title=List of Contributors|url=http://www.commonenglishbible.com/explore/our-scholars|website=Common English Bible|access-date=July 22, 2015}}
MacDonald holds membership to the Society for Old Testament Study, the Higher Education Academy, the Society of Biblical Literature, and Old Testament Studies: Epistemologies and Methods (OTSEM). He provides council for Westcott House, Cambridge, too.{{cite web|title=Governance Overview|url=http://www.westcott.cam.ac.uk/westcott-council/|website=Westcott House|access-date=July 22, 2015}}
References
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External links
- [http://www.divinity.cam.ac.uk/directory/nathan-macdonald Homepage of Nathan MacDonald]
- [https://cambridge.academia.edu/NathanMacDonald/CurriculumVitae Curriculum Vitae of Nathan MacDonald]
- [http://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/123100.html Website for the Sofja Kovalevskaja Project "Early Jewish Monotheisms]
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Category:Cambridge University Orators
Category:Alumni of Durham University
Category:Fellows of St John's College, Cambridge