Johnson Thomaskutty

Johnson Thomaskutty is an Indian New Testament scholar and theologian, currently serving as Professor of New Testament and Chairperson of Biblical Studies at the United Theological College, Bengaluru. He is known for his contributions to Johannine literature, dialogical hermeneutics, and contextual readings of the New Testament in Asia. He is currently serving as the editor of Bangalore Theological Forum. He was invited as a resource person in churches and academic institutions in different parts of India and in the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Holland, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Turkey, Thailand, South Korea, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

Early life and education

Dr. Thomaskutty was born in Kollam, Kerala, to a Malayali Christian family. He is an ordained Charismatic minister and an ecumenical theologian hailing from the Indian context. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (BA) in history at University of Kerala, India. He then earned his Bachelor of Divinity (BD) and Master of Theology (MTh) in New Testament from the Senate of Serampore College (University) at Faith Theological Seminary, Manakala, and Gurukul Lutheran Theological College in Chennai, respectively. He later completed a ThM in New Testament studies at Princeton Theological Seminary, New Jersey, USA, and earned a PhD in New Testament under Prof. Jan van der Watt from Radboud University Nijmegen in 2014. His doctoral dissertation was titled The Nature and Function of Dialogue in the Book of Signs (John 1:19–12:50).

Academic career

From 2001 to 2004, he served as a lecturer in New Testament and Greek language, and also as a College Chaplain at Serampore College, West Bengal. He then joined the Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, becoming Head of the Department of New Testament, Dean of Biblical Studies, and Dean of Distance Learning (2008–2021). In 2021, he was appointed Professor of New Testament and later on Chairperson of Biblical Studies at the United Theological College, Bengaluru. He also serves as a Research Associate at the Department of New Testament & Related Literature, University of Pretoria, South Africa. He is a member of the Society for Biblical Studies in India (SBSI), the Society of Asian Biblical Studies (SABS), the Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas (SNTS), and the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL).

Research interests

Dr. Thomaskutty's research explores the literary, theological, and cultural dimensions of the New Testament, with a special focus on the Gospel of John. His work emphasizes dialogue as a defining narrative mode in the Johannine writings, interpreting it through polyphonic, polyvalent, and contextual lenses. He investigates how conversation functions as both a theological and literary device within the Gospel's structure. In addition, he studies the Thomas tradition and the intersections between New Testament texts, apocryphal writings, and early Indian Christianity. A major thrust of his scholarship is the decolonization of biblical interpretation and translation, advocating Asian, linguistic, and cultural frameworks for reading Scripture. Thomaskutty's works Dialogue in the Book of Signs (Brill 2015) and Saint Thomas the Apostle: New Testament, Apocrypha, and Historical Traditions (T&T Clark 2018) have been extensively cited with academic reviews as a significant contribution to the study of dialogue and characterization in the Gospel of John. Moreover, his works, such as An Asian Introduction to the New Testament (edited volume; Fortress 2022) and John: A Pastoral and Contextual Commentary (Langham 2025) are highly appreciated in the academic and ecclesiastical circles. He is noted for advancing a decolonized hermeneutic of the New Testament that integrates Asian linguistic and cultural contexts.

Selected works

Books

Book chapters

• Thomaskutty, Johnson (2025). "Evangelical and Pentecostal Movements: Ecumenical Challenges and Prospects." In Rajesh Kavalackal; Jomon Mularikkal; Siby Kuriakose Kavattu (eds.). Towards an Ecumenical Church: Challenges and Prospects Sixty Years after Vatican II. Bengaluru: Dharmaram Publications. pp. 143-165. .

Academic writings

Thomaskutty has also authored numerous scholarly articles in academic journals and dictionaries. Prominent among them are:

• Thomaskutty, Johnson (January 2026). "Nathanael from an Indian Perspective". Bible Odyssey: Society of Biblical Literature. https://www.bibleodyssey.org/articles/nathanael-from-an-indian-perspective/
• Thomaskutty, Johnson (November 2025). "Christian Religious Education in the Context of Artificial Intelligence". Eighth World Humanities Forum (Andong International Convention Centre, South Korea). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/400075069_Eighth_World_Humanities_Forum_Book
• Thomaskutty, Johnson (May 2025). "Thomas". Bible Odyssey: Society of Biblical Literature. https://www.bibleodyssey.org/articles/thomas/

• Thomaskutty, Johnson (2023). "Reading John's Gospel from a Glocal-Mission Perspective". Biblical Studies Journal 5(1): 1-19.
• Thomaskutty, Johnson (2023). "Ekklesio-Academics in the Johannine Community as a Paradigm in the Indian Context". Biblical Studies Journal 5(4): 77-98. https://www.biblicalstudies.in/index.php/pub/article/view/75

• Thomaskutty, Johnson (2021). "God in the Midst of Pandemic Covid-19: Reflections Based on John 5:1-18". Biblical Studies Journal 3(4): 1-7.

• Thomaskutty, Johnson (2021). "Yuhanna Rachita Susamachar [Hindi version of the Introduction to the Gospel of John". Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, India: 1-50.

• Thomaskutty, Johnson (2020). "'Suffering for Christ': A New Testament Perspective". Biblical Studies Journal 2(1): 12-24. https://www.biblicalstudies.in/index.php/pub/article/view/58/50

• Thomaskutty, Johnson (2019). "Dialogue as a Literary Genre in the Book of Signs (John 1:19-12:50)". Biblical Studies Journal 1(2): 1-16. https://www.biblicalstudies.in/index.php/pub/article/view/33/26

• Thomaskutty, Johnson (2019). "The Event of Footwashing in John 13:1-20 as a Paradigm for Witnessing Christ in the Nepali Context". Doing Theology and Mission in Nepal (AGST Nepal): 110-132.

• Thomaskutty, Johnson (2017). "Reading John's Gospel in the Bangladeshi Context". Journal of Asian Evangelical Theology 21(1-2): 53-72.

• Thomaskutty, Johnson (2016). "Reading John's Gospel in the Nepali Context". Journal of Asian Evangelical Theology 20(1): 5-21.
• Thomaskutty, Johnson (Chakkuvarackal, 2002), "Glimpses of the 'Feminine' in Indian Religion and Society: A Christian Perspective". Indian Journal of Theology 44(1-2): 79-93.
• Thomaskutty, Johnson (Chakkuvarackal, 2002). "Woman-Power in the Canonical Gospels: A Paradigm for the Modern Patriarchal Societies". Bangalore Theological Forum 34(2): 58-77.
• Thomaskutty, Johnson (Chakkuvarackal, 2002). "Important Issues in the Translation of the Bible in the Indian Context". Bangalore Theological Forum 34(1): 163-175.
• Thomaskutty, Johnson (Chakkuvarackal, 2001). "The Message of the Sermon on the Mount in the Multi-Religious Context of India". Indian Journal of Theology 43(1-2): 42-49.

Academic Presentations

• Academic Presentation during the One Day National Conference at The American College, Madurai (2026): Interreligious Engagement and Global Careers: The Expanding Role of Religious Studies.
• Dehradun Interfaculty Seminar at New Theological College, Dehradun, Uttarakhand (2026). Reading John 1:35-51 from a Spiritual Formation and Mission Perspective in Asia.
• Eighth World Humanities Forum, Andong, South Korea (2025): Christian Religious Education in India in the Context of AI.
• Fifteenth International Roundtable, organized by Asia Research Center for Religion and Social Communication at Payap University, Chiang Mai (2025): Mediatization of a New Imperial Spirituality in Contemporary India.
• Keynote Speaker at Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bengaluru, during the Biblical Theology Seminar (2025): A Christocentric Reading of the First Epistle of John.
• Seminar at Kristu Jyoti College, Krishnarajapuram, Bengaluru, India (2025): John 17, Council of Nicaea, and Wider Ecumenism.
• Academic Presentation during the 79^th General Meeting of Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas [SNTS], University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany (2025): An Indigenous Reading of John 21:1-14 as a Paradigm for the Mukkuvar Communities in India.
• Faculty Research Seminar at The United Theological College, Bengaluru, India (2025): Apocryphal Writings and India.
• Presentation during the Founder’s Day Celebration at Hindustan Bible Institute and College, Chennai, India (2025): Paradigmatic Servant-Leadership Model based on Romans 1:14-17; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 10:45; Luke 4:18-19; and John 1:1-18.
• Presentation during the New Testament Colloquium organized by University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa (2024): An Indigenous Reading of John 21:1-14 as a Paradigm for the Fisherfolk in Kerala.
• Presentation during the Tenth Congress of Asian Theologians (CATS-X), organized by the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2024): Echoes of John 17 in Nicaea: A Paradigm for Wider Ecumenism and Dialogue.
• Fellowship of Indian Missiologists’ (FOIM) Bi-annual Consultation at Caleb Institute, Gurugram, Haryana, India (2024): A Hermeneutic of ‘Groaning’ in the Context of Religious Nationalism in India.
• Presentation to the Chaplains and Medical Practitioners at Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, Tamil Nadu (2024): “Our dear friend Luke, the doctor”: Reading the Third Gospel in a Medical College.
• Keynote Presentation during “Portraits in Prose: A Writer’s Workshop” jointly organized by Dictionary of Christian Biography in Asia (DCBAsia) and Centre for Global Leadership Development (CGLD) at Southern Asia Bible College, Kothanur, Bengaluru, India (2024): Biographical Interpretation of the Bible.
• Presentation during the New Testament Guild organized by McMaster Divinity College, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (2024): New Testament Scholarship from an Indian/Asian Perspective.
• Asia Theological Association (ATA) Theological Consultation at SAIACS, Bengaluru (2024): Jesus as Tweeter in the Fourth Gospel: A Pedagogical Paradigm for Digital Natives in the Contemporary Context.
• The Society of Asian Biblical Studies (SABS) Biennial conference at Yu-Shan Theological College and Seminary, Hualien, Taiwan (2024): Decolonizing New Testament Translation in the Indian Context: John 10:1-18 in the Satya Veda Pusthakam.
• National Seminar on “Religion and Eco-Concerns: Indian Specific Explorations,” at St. Joseph’s University, Bengaluru (2024): The Gospel of John from a Creation Theology Perspective.
• Academic presentation at Nagaland Bible College, Mokokchung, Nagaland (2024): Pedagogy of Jesus in the Farewell Discourses of the Fourth Gospel: A Paradigm in the Nagaland/Indian Context.
• Academic presentation at the Center for Biblical Studies, The University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom (2024): An Intercultural reading of the Fourth Gospel in the Asian context.
• Presented a paper during the EFBR conference at Yarnton Manor, Kidlington, Oxford, United Kingdom (2024): ‘Parousia’ and ‘New Jubilee’ in the Lukan Community: A Paradigmatic Reading in the Indian Context.
• Academic conference organized by University of Applied Sciences for Intercultural Theology at Hermannsburg, Germany (2024): ‘Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans’: Ethics of the Johannine community and ethos of the Indian Christian spirituality for an inclusive paradigm.
• International conference organized by the Department of Christian Studies, University of Madras, Chennai (2024): Ecumenicals, Evangelicals and Pentecostals: Dialogical Challenges and Prospects.
• Academic presentation organized by the Ephesians 2 project of MissionOne, Phoenix, Arizona, USA (2023): Reconciliation as Community Transformation: A Reading of Ephesians 2:11-13.
• Presentation during the Fourth EURASIA World Conference on Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences and Education in Bangkok, Thailand (2023): A Pedagogy of Emancipation and Transformation in the Asian Context.
• National Seminar on “Religion and Society in India: Contemporary Multi-Disciplinary Explorations,” at National Biblical Catechetical and Liturgical Center (NBCLC, Bengaluru, 2023): An Intercultural Reading of the Fourth Gospel in the Light of Asian Spiritualities. ÂÂ
• Presentation during the International Consultation on Religion and Culture, organized by L-SAPIKA, Indonesia (2023): An Intercultural Hermeneutics of the Fourth Gospel in the Asian Context.
• Presentation as Guest Lecturer at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California (2023): A Universalistic Interpretation of the Fourth Gospel.
• UTC AGM Pre-Council Seminar at United Theological College, Bengaluru (2022): Ekklēsio-Academics in the Johannine Community as a Paradigm in the Indian Context.
• Academic presentation organized by Bhutanese Theological Association in Bhutan (2022): Reading the New Testament in Bhutan.
• Academic presentation, organized by the Senate of Serampore College (University), at South India Biblical Seminary, Bangarapet, Karnataka (2022): The Irony of Ability and Disability in John 9:1-41.
• A colloquium organized by TransLe (Transforming Leadership) Ministries International, Australia (2021): ordinarius hermeneutica (Ordinary Hermeneutics).
• Professorial Lecture organized by the Doctoral Studies Department and the Administrative Council of The United Theological College, Bengaluru, India (2021): Reading John 11:1-45 from a Postnormal Times (PNT) Perspective.
• International Consultation, organized by Christian Institute of Management (CIM, India) and Global Institute for Leadership Development (GILD, UK, 2021): Re-reading the Bible from a Management Perspective in a Pandemic/Post-Pandemic World.
• Academic Paper presentation in the Lecture series Wider Contextualized Biblical Hermaneutics, organized by Ecumenical Christian Centre (ECC), Whitefield, Bangalore (2020): Reading the New Testament in the Pandemic Covid-19 Context.
• Academic presentation jointly organized by Nepal Theological Forum (NTF) and Asia Graduate School of Theology (AGST), Kathmandu, Nepal (2020): Gospel and Culture: Ethical Implications of the Fourth Gospel in the Nepali Context.
• Academic Paper presentation during the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Faith Theological Seminary, Manakkala, Kerala (2020): ‘New Jubilee’ in the Gospel of Luke.
• Johannine Seminar, organized by Christian Education Department, CSI Church, Chennai Diocese, at Indian Social Institute, Bangalore (2019): Universalistic Linguistics and Literary Style of the Fourth Gospel.
• Faculty Seminar at Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, India (2019): Missional-pneumatology of the Fourth Gospel.
• One Day Seminar, organized by Christian Study Center, Asian Academy for Leadership and Peace, and Mary Retreat Center, Daund, Maharashtra, India (2019): Jesus’s Holistic Mission in the Gospel of Mark.
• Seminar Presentation at Madras Theological Seminary and College (MTSC), Chennai, Tamil Nadu (2019): Paul and His Social World.
• Seminar Presentation at Madras Theological Seminary and College (MTSC), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India (2018): The Hermeneutical Principles of the Fourth Evangelist.
• Academic Presentation, organized by Nepal Theological Academy (NTA) at Nepal Theological College (NTC), Satdobato, Kathmandu, Nepal (2018): The Event of Footwashing in John 13:1-20 as a Paradigm for Witnessing Christ in the Nepali Context.
• Center for Mission Studies (CMS) Consultation of Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, India (2017): Faith and Theology in the Johannine Community and in the Reformation: A Paradigm in the Indian Context.
• Reformation’s 500^th Celebration, organized by Evangelisch-Theologischer Facultätentag (Universität Bonn), Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft für Theologie, and Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland, in Wittenberg, Germany (2017): Faith and Theology in the Johannine Community and in the Reformation: A Paradigm in the Indian Context.
• Presentation to the scholars in residence, organized by Tyndale House, Cambridge, UK (2017): Saint Bartholomew the Apostle: New Testament, Apocrypha, and Historical Traditions.
• Presentation during the National Leaders’ Workshop, organized by Church of God Mission, Lalmonirhat, Bangladesh (2017): Reading John’s Gospel in the Bangladeshi Context.
• Presentation during the Biannual Conference, organized by Society for Biblical Studies in India (SBSI) at LITE Centre, CSI Diocese of Madras, Chennai, India (2016): Relationship between the Physical/Material and Spiritual in the Gospel according to St. John.
• Presentation during the Doktorklub, organized by SAIACS, Bangalore, India (2016): Didymus Judas Thomas in the Apocryphal Traditions: The Gospel of Thomas.
• Ph.D Seminar, organized by Princeton Theological Seminary, New Jersey, USA (2016): Love in India: How I Perceive It?
• Interview by Prof. Karen L. King for the course “World Religions through Their Scriptures” at Harvard Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA (2016): Saint Thomas Christianity in India.
• Missiological Colloquium, organized by Center for Missiological Research (CMR) at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, USA (2015): Religious Freedom and Conversion in India Today: Reading John’s Gospel as a Jewish-Christian Conflict Narrative.
• SAIACS Consultation in Bangalore, India (2015): Religious Freedom and Conversion: Reading John’s Gospel as a Jewish-Christian Conflict Narrative.
• Student Council 2014-2015 Seminar, organized by Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India (2014): Glo[b/c]alization and Mission[s]: Reading John's Gospel.
• Student Council 2014-2015 Seminar, organized by Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India (2014): Dialogue as a Literary Genre in the Book of Signs [John 1:19-12:50].
• Inaugural Session of “Nepali Christian Theology Academic Forum,” organized by Nepal Ebenezer Bible College (NEBC), Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal (2014): Reading John’s Gospel into the Nepali Context.
• Academic Conference on “The Gospel of John as a Genre Mosaic,” organized by Theology Department of Aarhus University, Denmark (2014): Dialogue as a Literary Genre in the Book of Signs.
• Mission Consultation in Dhaka, organized by Church of God Ministries, Lalmonirhat, Bangladesh (2014): Glo[b/c]alization and Mission: Reading John's Gospel.
• Bible Darshan, an International Conference on the Bible, organized at The United Theological College, Bangalore, India (2014): A Dialogue between ‘the Eastern’ and ‘the Western’ in NT Scholarship: A Proposal.
• Presentation to the Theological Faculty, Theological University (Reformed Churches), Kampen, Netherlands (2013): Similarities and Differences between Dialogues in Synoptic Gospels and in John.
• Presentation at the Department of Comparative Religion and Syriac Christianity, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel (2013): Saint Thomas the Apostle and Syriac Christianity.
• Presentation at the École biblique archéologique française, Jerusalem, Israel (2013): Saint Thomas the Apostle in the New Testament Traditions.
• Presentation to the NT Faculty, University of Groningen, Netherlands (2012): Dialogue in Plato and in John.
• Presentation at Cornerstone Center for Intercultural Studies, Beugen, Netherlands (2012): Christian Mission in the Plural-Indian Context.
• NT Faculty Seminar, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium (2010): Dialogical Structure of John 7-8.
• New Testament Faculty Seminar, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Netherlands (2010): Dialogue as a Literary Genre in the Gospel of John.
• College Seminar at Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India (2009): A Dalit Interpretation of Mark 12:38-13:2.
• Dalit Theology Seminar at Bishops College, Kolkata, West Bengal (2008): A Dalit Reading of Mark 12:38-13:2.
• West Bengal Inter-Seminary Faculty Seminar at Morning Star Catholic Seminary, Barrackpore, West Bengal, India (2003): Towards a Spirit-Centered Biblical Theology: The ‘From Below’ Aspects of the Holy Spirit.
• Faculty Research Department of Serampore College, Serampore, Hooghly, West Bengal, India (2003): Woman-Power’ in the Canonical Gospels: A Paradigm for Modern Patriarchal Societies.
• Faculty Research Department of Serampore College, Serampore, Hooghly, West Bengal, India (2002): Important Issues in the Translation of the Bible in the Indian Context.

References

External links

• Johnson Thomaskutty – Academia.edu
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