Focus
The Sub-Programme Bibliological Perspectives is devoted to in-depth research of the Old and New Testament. This includes exegetical, hermeneutical, biblical theological, theological and canonical studies.
Subprogramme leader
Prof. Albert Coetsee
E-mail: albert.coetsee@nwu.ac.za
Tel: +27 18 299 1606
Subprogramme members
Apart from the full-time staff listed below, the Subprogramme has a number of internationally renowned extraordinary researchers. Many of the researchers within the Subprogramme are active members of the Old Testament Society of South Africa (OTSSA), New Testament Society of South Africa (NTSSA), European Association of Biblical Studies (EABS) and Society of Biblical Literature (SBL).
Please view the short biographies of our team to learn more about their respective research foci and consider reaching out to those with whom you share an academic interest to start a conversation.
Prof Albert Coetsee
Albert J. Coetsee is an associate professor in the Old Testament at North-West University and at the Theological School Potchefstroom, both in South Africa. He completed his PhD in 2013 at North-West University on the theme of God’s speech in the Book of Hebrews, and he serves as Sub-Programme Leader of the group Bibliological Perspectives of the Faculty of Theology of the same institution. He is the author and co-author of 24 articles and book chapters and the co-editor of five scholarly books. His research interests include the Book of Deuteronomy, the Book of Hebrews, the use of the Book of Deuteronomy in Hebrews, and hermeneutics.
For a complete list of his research outputs, kindly visit
Email: Albert.Coetsee@nwu.ac.za
Dr Lekgetho Moretsi
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For a complete list of his research outputs, kindly visit
Email: Lekgetho.Moretsi@nwu.ac.za
Dr Zukile Nqgeza
Zukile Ngqeza (PhD) is a Lecturer in the School of Christian Ministry and Leadership of the Faculty of Theology at North-West University, South Africa. He is also a member of the Unit for Reformational Theology and the Development of the South African Society. His research focus is on the application of Gender Studies, Childism, and Trauma Theory as lenses for reading and interpreting the Christian Bible.
For a complete list of his research outputs, kindly visit
Email: Zukile.Ngqeza@nwu.ac.za
Dr Chris van der Walt
After being a minister for 21 years, Chris (P.C.) van der Walt was appointed by the NWU in 2011 to teach Old Testament and specifically the prophets. His PhD dealt with the identity of God’s people in the book of Isaiah, and since then, some articles and book chapters have been written about Isaiah. He loves nature and is also involved in eco-theology.
For a complete list of his research outputs, kindly visit
Email: Chris.VanDerWalt@nwu.ac.za
Dr Sheurl Davis
Dr. Sheurl V. Davis’s research focus involves postcolonial feminist biblical interpretation in the Old Testament. She is passionate about the interface between scriptural texts, her community, and social justice. She recently completed her PhD, which focused on a contemporary reading of Miriam, Jael and Jezebel in conversation with Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
For a complete list of her research outputs, kindly visit
Email: Sheurl.Davis@nwu.ac.za
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Prof Elma Cornelius
Elma Cornelius is associate professor in New Testament Studies in the Faculty of Theology at the Vanderbijlpark campus of the North-West University (NWU) in South Africa. She holds a DPhil degree in Religious Studies from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. Before Stellenbosch, she obtained a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (PU for CHE) in Greek. From 1993 to 2003 she taught Greek at the PU for CHE, and from 1998 she held the position as Head of the subject group for Greek. In 2002 she was appointed as associate professor in the Faculty of Theology at the PU for CHE. From 2004 to 2018 she taught New Testament part-time in the Faculty of Humanities at the Vanderbijlpark campus of the NWU. Since 2019 she has been offering New Testament full-time in the Faculty of Theology at the NWU. Up to date she has supervised four master’s degree students and co-supervised one master’s degree and one doctoral student. She has published many articles in national journals and authored various chapters in books. Elma’s focus in her current research is the interpretation of the Pauline letters for the healing of society.
For a complete list of her research outputs, kindly visit
Email: Elma.Cornelius@nwu.ac.za
Prof Philip du Toit
Prof Du Toit’s research focus mainly revolves around identity studies in the New Testament, especially the Pauline corpus, which includes critical engagement with theories of identity and postcoloniality from an African perspective. He also has a keen interest in first century Judaism, Messianic Judaism, Christian Zionism and the epistemology of New Testament studies. He currently serves as subject chair of New Testament and is a C-rated NRF researcher. He has published numerous articles, chapters in books as well as a monograph titled God’s Saved Israel: Reading Romans 11:26 and Galatians 6:16 in terms of the new identity in Christ and the Spirit (Eugene: Pickwick, 2019).
For a complete list of his/her research outputs, kindly visit
Email: Philip.DuToit@nwu.ac.za
Prof Risimati Hobyane
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For a complete list of his research outputs, kindly visit
Email: Risimati.Hobyane@nwu.ac.za
Mr Nkhumiseni Pepsi Mulaudzi
Nkhumiseni Pepsi Mulaudzi, I did my Bachelor of Theology (BTh) at the University of Pretoria. Completed in 2010 and received an Honours in Ancient Languages and Cultures in 2011 from the same University. In 2012, I enrolled for an MA in Ancient Languages and Culture. I am currently working towards finalising my PhD in Ancient Near Eastern Studies. My study focuses on the interpretation of the biblical text, particularly the Old Testament, and a comparative study between the Ancient Near East, the Old Testament, and African traditions. Currently teaching Honours module on Old Testament in the Modern World (OTES 624).
For a complete list of his research outputs, kindly visit
Prof Francois Viljoen
Francois P. Viljoen is a professor in New Testament at the North-West University and at the Theological School Potchefstroom. He holds a ThD from the former Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, and a PhD from the Radboud University Nijmegen. His research focusses on the Synoptic Gospels, Hermeneutics and Narrative Criticism, with the majority of his publication dealing in Matthean studies. He is the author of 76 scholarly articles and his books include ‘The Torah in Matthew’, Matthew’s portraits of Jesus’ and ‘Studies in Matthew’. He is recognised as an established researcher by the NRF of South Africa.
For a complete list of his research outputs, kindly visit
Email: Viljoen.Francois@nwu.ac.za
Dr Walter Maqoma
Walter Maqoma is a PhD graduate from the University of Pretoria, and the focus of his thesis was a dialogue between the interdisciplinary themes of Ethics, Anthropology, Old Testament, New Testament, and Philosophy, in the department of New Testament Studies. He is currently a Senior Lecturer and Researcher at North-West University. Previously the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, the Head of the Department of Biblical Studies, and a senior lecture at the Baptist Theological College of Southern Africa (BTCSA). From 2012 to date, he has served as the Principal of Metanoia Bible Institute (MBI), a local church Bible School, where he also serves as a Youth Pastor, at Koinonia Bible Church, in Sebokeng (based in Gauteng). He is part of the adjunct faculty at Reaching a Generation Leadership Academy (RaGLA). He is a Consultant for Biblica (The Internation Bible Society), involved in Bible Translation Review, Contextualization, and Editing.
For a complete list of his research outputs, kindly visit
Email: Walter.Maqoma@nwu.ac.za
Projects
EABS research unit: “Biblical Theological Investigations into the Attributes of God”
Since 2020 the Subprogramme hosts a research unit at the European Association of Biblical Studies (EABS). The aim of the research unit is to investigate how biblical texts portray a specific attribute of God as part of the developing, unfolding, and progressive story line of the text, and to publish the results of these investigations. The focus of the research unit for 2025 is the immutability of God.
Reading circle
The Subprogramme meets once a month to hear a paper of one of its members, to discuss its content and to give feedback. This usually takes place the last Friday of the month at 14:30-15:30. Other scholars who are interested to form part of the discussion, are welcome to contact the Subprogramme leader for more information.
Publications & completed projects
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Detail to be submitted with your application:
Postgraduate students interested in studies related to the focus of the Subprogramme are encouraged to apply at the NWU. Proficiency in Semitic Languages (for Old Testament studies) and Greek (for New Testament studies) is a prerequisite for most M and D studies within the Subprogramme, as well as knowledge of subject-specific works related to the research focus of the project. A provisional research motivation should be included with the application, containing the following:
- Working title of study
- Field, focus and possible study leader
- Background
- Problem statement
- Aims and objectives
- Central theoretical argument (hypothesis)
- Methodology
- Value of study
- Ethical framework
- References