Faculty Directory

Rebecca K. Esterson

Dean, Center for Swedenborgian Studies

Core Doctoral Faculty
At the GTU since
2015
(510) 849-8213

Rebecca Esterson is the Dean of Swedenborgian Studies. She earned her PhD from the Graduate Division of Religious Studies at Boston University. She earned her Masters of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School with a focus in world religions, and also studied at Hebrew University in Jerusalem as a visiting graduate student. After receiving her master’s degree, she worked at Harvard’s Center for the Study of World Religions for 9 years where she was able to further develop her interest in comparative studies and interfaith learning. Her teaching and research interests include: the history of biblical interpretation, hermeneutics, Jewish and Christian mysticism, Jewish-Christian relations, eighteenth century intellectual culture, Christian Hebraism, and comparative religious studies.

Degrees and Certifications

PhD, Boston University
MTS, Harvard Divinity School

 

Research
  • The history of biblical interpretation
  • Jewish-Christian relations
  • Eighteenth century intellectual culture
  • Christian Hebraism
  • Swedenborgian studies
Courses Taught
  • The History of Biblical Interpretation
  • Sacred Texts and their Interpretation Doctoral Seminar       
  • Swedenborgian Biblical Exegesis
  • Incarnational Theology
  • Jews, Christians, and the Bible