Laura Locke Estes
Biography
I study religion in late antiquity with particular focus on the literature of Syriac-speaking Christian communities. I am especially interested in how early Christians interpreted the Bible, an interest that has led to my inclusion as an annotator for Oxford University Press's Ancient Christian Study Bible for the books of Genesis and Jude.
My current book project, tentatively titled Naming Hagar's Children: Late Antique Christian Portrayals of Early Islam, explores identity formation and literary representation of Muslims in Christians narratives from the 7th-9th centuries CE. It considers how Christian authors transformed existing literary traditions, especially biblical exegesis and polemic, to name and portray Muslims as "Jews," "pagans," and "heretics."
Education
- Graduate Certificate in Children's Ministry, Lubbock Christian University, 2025
- PhD Theological Studies, Saint Louis University, 2022
- MA Ancient and Oriental Christianity, Abilene Christian University, 2016
- BA History and Biblical Languages, Freed-Hardeman University, 2012
Topics
- Jewish-Christian Muslim Relations
- Late Antique Scriptures and Exegesis
- Syriac Christianity
Courses
- REL 100 The Way of Jesus
- REL 518 Hebrews and General Epistles
- REL 531 Church History and Theology I: Ancient and Medieval
- GRE 151 Elementary New Testament Greek I
- GRE 152 Elementary New Testament Greek II
- GRE 351 Intermediate New Testament Greek