Date: April 22, 2025
On the day, when we mourn the passing of Pope Francis, it is also the day, when we planned to have a commentary introducing the Rev. Canon Dr. Richard Burridge to the community. Richard received the Ratzinger Prize (an honor conferred by the Pope on a distinguished theologian) from Pope Francis. A coincidence indeed.
Richard is an internationally-acclaimed scholar on the New Testament. Some of you may have gotten to know him at his conference in early April, or perhaps in the refectory. Be sure to come to chapel on Wednesday, April 30 to hear him preach before he departs in May!
Richard is internationally recognized for his research and publications on the New Testament. Some of his most noteworthy works include, but are not limited to: John: the People’s Bible Commentary (1998), Imitating Jesus (2007), Confronting Religious Violence (2018). In 2009, VTS was grateful to have Richard as a visiting professor when he gave a course entitled, New Testament Ethics Today.
In addition to his scholarship, Richard was the Dean of King’s College London until just before the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last few years, he has spent time with us at VTS and continued his research. As a Dean’s Scholar this year, he anticipates finishing another volume expanding on the work in Imitating Jesus.
If you have time during this busy season to chat with Richard, please stop for a chat or have some English Breakfast tea with him. Not only is he an incredible person to talk to about New Testament scholarship—he is also a humorous, gregarious, and kind-hearted man who I am so proud to call my friend.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and President of The General Theological Seminary