Fr. Peter Hannah, O.P.
Education
- Ph.D. Theology, Durham University (projected finish Dec 2025)
- S.S.L. Pontifical Biblical Institute (2020)
- M.A. Philosophy, Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology (2016)
- M.A. Theology, Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology (2016)
- M.A. Liberal Arts, St. John's College (Annapolis) (2001)
- B.A. American History, U.C. San Diego (1999)
Research Interests
- Primeval History (Gen 1-11)
- Pentateuch
- History of Biblical Interpretation
- Biblical Theology / Canonical Criticism
- Theological Exegesis
- Hermeneutics (Philosophical and Biblical)
- Theology of Revelation
Courses Taught
- Wisdom Literature (OT 2600)
- Prophets (OT 2149)
Recent Publications
- "Image and Likeness Revisited: A Canonical Reading" (SSL Thesis, 2020)
- "The Metaphysics of Meaning: Applying a Thomistic Ontology of Art to a Contemporary Hermeneutical Puzzle and the Problem of the Sensus Literalis." Nova et Vetera 14:2 (2016): 675-697
From the Professor
Dei Verbum #12 provides a road map for contemporary Catholic exegesis: exegetes should attend to the historical context and literary forms which have shaped the biblical text in its development and transmission, while also reading the text "in the spirit in which it was written," that is, within the living tradition of the Church. The challenge of adequately attending to the dual demands of reason and faith in the task of exegesis animates my study and teaching of the Old and New Testaments. In my view, a fruitful exegesis engages historical and philological data as a vital starting point to imaginative theological reflection on the Bible's contents as received by faith traditions. My courses aim to provide historical and literary orientation to the array of material in the Bible, while helping students acquire habits of close reading and attention to the rich and detailed complexity of text, along with its hermeneutic potential as a source of Christian revelation.