• Director of the Centre of Patristic Research (UvT-VU)
• Full Professor of Church History and History of Theology, Faculty of Catholic Theology, Tilburg University
• Professor Graduate School of Humanities at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Tilburg
• Extraordinary Professor of Patristics and Augustinian Studies, Faculty of Theology, VU University Amsterdam

Professional Details

• Full Professor of Church History and History of Theology, Faculty of Catholic Theology, Tilburg University
• Full Professor Economy and Theology, Faculty of Philosophy, Erasmus University Rotterdam
• Visiting Professor, Faculty of Theology, Catholic University Leuven

Posts and Previous Posts

• 2014 – 2019 Director Graduate School of Theology, Tilburg University
• 2013 – ... Expert, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (Holy See)
• 2013 – 2018 Distinguished lecturer ESAA (Erasmus School of Accounting and Assurance), Erasmus University
• 2013 – 2019 Vice-dean, (pro-decanus) Faculty of Catholic Theology, Tilburg University
• 2012 Visiting Professor, Villanova University (Penn.)
• 2012 – 2014 DepartmentChair, Biblical Studies and Church History, Tilburg University
• 2010 Visiting Professor, Faculty of Theology, Institute for Augustinian Studies, University of Malta
• 2008 – ... Founder and director of the Centre of Patristic Research, University of Tilburg and VU University Amsterdam
• 2007  – ... Professor of Church History and History of Theology, University of Tilburg
• 2007 – 2014 Professor Graduate School of Humanities at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Tilburg
• 2005 – 2018 Endowed Professor of Augustine Studies at the Faculty of Theology, VU University Amsterdam
• 2003 Visiting professor Lampeter University, Wales
• 2001 – 2007 Extraordinary Professor of Augustine Studies, Catholic Theological University Utrecht
• 1997 – 2002 Senior Research Fellow (Postdoc) The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO)
• 1998 – 2001 Lecturer in Spirituality, Catholic Theological University Utrecht
• 1997 – 1998 Lecturer Systematic Theology, Catholic Theological University
• 1997 – 2002 Pastoral referee in Rotterdam-Oost.
• 1997 – 1998 Director Ethics Department The Hague University of Applied Science (interim)
• 1997 – 1998 Business Consultant Dutch Quality Schools
• 1995 – 1998 Research fellow, Project? Pilgrimage places in The Netherlands? (P.J. Meertensinstituut, KNAW)
• 1991 – 1994 PhD student; junior research fellow Titus Brandsma Institute, Faculty of Theology, Catholic University Nijmegen

Senior Administrative Roles in University

• 2023 – … Member team Zero Poverty Lab, Tilburg University
• 2022 – ... Member curatorium Van den Tweel Chair ‘Geschiedenis van het Nederlands Katholicisme’, Tilburg University
• 2018 Visiting Professor Pontificia Università San Anselmo, Roma
• 2017 – 2019 Member Beoordelingscommissie VICI (NWO, Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research)
• 2016 Member and chairman Beoordelingscommissie voor het programma Promoties in de geesteswetenschappen (NWO, Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research)
• 2015 – ... Member Council of the Association Internationale d?Etudes Patristiques (AIEP);
• 2015 Member Valorization Board, Tilburg University
• 2015 – ... Member Beoordelingscommissie voor het programma Promoties in de geesteswetenschappen (NWO, Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research)
• 2015 – ... Member Valorization Board, Tilburg University
• 2014 – ... Member Curatorium Goldschmeding Foundation
• 2014 Member Beoordelingscommissie voor het programma Vrije Competitie (NWO, Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research)

Senior Administrative Roles in University

• 2015 – ... Member Council of the Association Internationale d’Etudes Patristiques (AIEP)
• 2013 – ... Member scientific council journal Chiesa e Storia (Rivista dell'Associazione Italiana dei Professori di Storia della Chiesa)
• 2009 – ... External Participant, advisor Erasmus Happiness Economics Research Organisation (EHERO), Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR)
• 2018 – ... Member Raad van Advies, Tilburg University Society
• 2018 – ... Member Sounding Board Scientific Integrity, Tilburg University

(International scholarly) editorships

• 2020 – ... Member advisory board: Studia Bordonica. International Journal of Studies on the House of Bourbon
• 2020 – ... Editor Journal of Economics, Theology and Religion (EUR)
• 2017 – ... Member advisory board: Chiesa e Storia. Rivista dell'Associazione Italiana dei Professori di Storia della Chiesa
• 2017 – ... Editor M&O. Tijdschrift voor Management en Organisatie (Boom)
• 2015 – ... Editor (co-founder) Brill’s Studies in Catholic Theology (Brill, Leiden-Boston-Köln)
• 2015 – ... Member advisory Board: Brill’s Series in Church History and Religious Culture (Brill, Leiden-Boston-Köln)
• 2012 – 2021 Editor-in-Chief Christendemocratische Verkenningen
• 2010 – ... Editor Dutch Lectures in Patristics (Brill, Leiden-Boston-Köln)
• 2009 – ... Editor Brill Series in Church History (Brill, Leiden-Boston-Köln)
• 2009 – ... Editor-in-Chief Brill’s Encyclopedia of Early Christianity (Brill, Leiden-Boston-Köln)
• 2009 – 2012 Editor Christendemocratische Verkenningen
• 2009 – ... Member advisory Board: Matrturia. Een e-magaine van het Evangelische College over de betekenis van de Vroege Kerk voor Vandaag
• 2007 – 2019 Editor Late Antique History and Religion (Peeters, Leuven)
• 2007 – ... Mitarbeiter Augustinus-Lexikon; Zentrum für Augustinus- (Forschung; Universität Würzburg)
• 2005 – ... Editor Augustiniana. Revue pour l’Étude de Saint Augustin et de l’ordre des augustins (Leuven: KUL-Augustijns Historisch Instituut)
• 2005 – 2013 Co-editor After Augustine project (Oxford University Press; St. Andrews University Scotland)
• 2004 – 2016 Editor series Ad fontes. De bronnen van het vroege christendom (Meinema, Zoetermeer)
• 2000 – 2009 Editor Herademing. Tijdschrift voor Spiritualiteit en Mystiek (Uitgeverij Kok, Kampen)

Co-responsible in advisory reports on behalf of the Dutch government

• Wankele sokkels. Omstreden monumenten in de openbare ruimte. Amsterdam: KNAW, 2023. 186 pp. Samenstelling KNAW-Commissie Omstreden Monumenten: Maria Grever (vz), Paul van Geest, Hans van Houwelingen, Gert Oostindie, Ann Rigney, Jennifer Tosch, Harry Tuban, Ugur Umit Ungor. 
• Advies directie particulieren. Den Haag: Ministerie van Financien, 2023. 10 pp. Samenstelling Adviescommissie Analytics [Ministerie van Financien]: Emile Aarts (vz), E. Bruins, S. Bhulai, P. van Geest, M. van den Hoven, F. van der Jagt, R. van Kan, E. Keymolen, P. Prufer, M. Schafer, A. van Wissen. 
• Advies dienst toeslagen. Den Haag: Ministerie van Financien, 2023. 10 pp. Samenstelling Adviescommissie Analytics [Ministerie van Financien]: zie hierboven.
• Advies Datafundamenten & Analytics. Den Haag: Ministerie van Financiën, 2024. 21 pp. Samenstelling Adviescommissie Analytics: zie boven.
• Advies Datatoepassing volgens de principes van behoorlijk bestuur. Den Haag: Ministerie van Financiën, 2024. 8 pp. Samenstelling: Adviescommissie Analytics: zie boven. Auteurs: E. Bruins, P. van Geest, J. van den Hoven, M. Schäfer.

Honours/Memberships

• 2021 – ... Member European Academy of Sciences and Arts(EASA, Latin: Academia Scientiarum et Artium Europaea), Class VII: World Religions
• 2020 – ... Academicus ordinarius (member) Pontificia Academia Theologica, Città del Vaticano
• 2020 – ... Member Gebiedsbestuur Geesteswetenschappen Koninklijke Nederlandse Academie van Wetenschappen (KNAW)
• 2019 – ... Member de Koninklijke Hollandsche Maatschappij der Wetenschappen (KHMW)
• 2017 – ... Member Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns (Fakulteit Kuns en Geesteswetenskappe)
• 2015 – ... Member Council of the Association Internationale d’Etudes Patristiques (AIEP)
• 2013 – ... Member scientific council journal Chiesa e Storia (Rivista dell'Associazione Italiana dei Professori di Storia della Chiesa)
• 2010 – ... Member of the Maatschappij der Nederlandsche Letterkunde
• 2010 – ... Member Institut d’Etudes Augustiniennes 
• 2008 – ... Member of the Association Internationale d’Etudes Patristiques (AIEP)
• 2008 – ... Member of the North American Patristic Society (NAPS)
• 1998 – 2014 Member NOSTER (The Netherlands School for Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion)

Academic Assessment Committees

• 2024 – ... President Board endowed chair ‘Christelijke Filosofie’ (Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam).

External Roles

• 2024 – ... Member selection committee chairman executive board Ons Middelbaar Onderwijs (governing body of 34 secondary schools, located mainly in the province of North Brabant)
• 2023 – ... Member ‘Adviescommissie’ Analytics (Ministry of Finance, the Netherlands; appointment by the minister of finance with approval council of ministers, the Netherlands (Publication: ‘Besluit van de Minister van Financiën van 7 april 2023, nr. 80552, houdende instelling van de Adviescommissie Analytics’, in: Officiele uitgave van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden sinds 1814, 20 april 2023, nr. 11469
• 2023 – ... Columnist Trouw (‘Theologisch Elftal’)
• June 20 2023 – ... President of the historical commission for the additional diocesan process for the beatification and canonisation of the Servant of God Joannes Jacobus Maria Witte. Sworn in by the Bishop of Den Bosch: 23 June 2023
• 2022 – ... Member Curatorium Stichting SBI. (Landgoed Zonneheuvel)
• 2022 – ... Member SEP: Studiegezelschap Economische Politiek (Wassenaar)
• 2019 – ... Member of the committee of recommendation: ‘Ludgerkring’
• 2019 – ... Member Raad van Toezicht Ons Middelbaar Onderwijs (OMO), (Association of 34 secondary schools located mainly in the province of North Brabant.
• 2020 – ... Member Onderwijscommissie Ons Middelbaar Onderwijs (OMO)
• 2019 – ... Wetenschappelijke Raad Compazz (Institute for Sustainability, Innovation and Development)
• 2018 – ... Member Board Adrianusstichting
• 2018 – ... Member advisory board Stichting Joodse kindergemeenschap Cheider
• 2017 – ... Member ‘comité van aanbeveling’ Stichting Gidsnetwerk
• 2016 – ... Member Klankbordgroep Levensbeschouwing en Ondernemen (KLO) - VNO-NCW (Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers)
• 2016 – ... Member ‘comité van aanbeveling van de Stichting Vrienden van de Kerk in Windesheim’

Click here for my courses.

 Postdoctoral research fellows

• José van Aelst, The Fifteenth Century Versions of the Hundred articles of the Passion by Henry Suso (VENI, with Paul Wackers, finished may 2011: Vruchten van de passie. De laatmiddeleeuwse passieliteratuur verkend aan de hand van Suso?s Honderd artikelen. Hilversum: Verloren: 2011; Middeleeuwse Studies en Bronnen 129)
• Hans van Loon, The Mystagogy of the Pascal Homilies of Cyrillus of Alexandria (Private Foundation)
• Liuwe Westra, Early Christian Creeds (Private Foundation)
• Marten van Wilgen, The mystagogy of Ambrose (Stichting Vroege Kerk)
• Arnold Smeets, The mystagogy of Gregory the Great (KRO)
  
  

Former PhD students

• Ken Becker, From the Treasure-House of Scripture: An Analysis of Scriptural Sources in De imitatione (defence: Lampeter University, Wales, 14 december 2003) Thesis published in Instrvmenta patristica et mediaevalia. Research on the Inheritance of Early and Medieval Christianity 44; Turnhout: Brepols, 2004)
• Elisabeth Boddens Hosang, Establishing Boundaries. Christian Jewish Relations in Early Council Texts and the Writings of Church Fathers (defence: Tilburg University, 10 september 2008, with Gerard Rouwhorst). Thesis published in Jewish and Christian Perspectives 19; Leiden, Brill, 2010
• Daniel Napier, From the Circular Soul to the Cracked Self: A Genetic Historiography of Augustine?s Anthropology from Cassiciacum to the Confessiones (defence: VU University Amsterdam, 26 november 2010). Thesis will be published in Late Antique History and Religion (Leuven: Peeters)
• Martin Claes, Exercitatio Mentis als Casus. (defence: UvT, 22 december 2011). Thesis published as: Exercitatio Mentis als Casus. Een onderzoek naar Augustinus als Pegagoog (Almere: Parthenon, 2011).

Current PhD students

• Peter van Egmond, The libellus fidei of Pelagius: text, context and theology (defence: VU, 2012)
• Jannes Hoekman, The metaphor of the Dies Dominicus in the works of St. Augustine (VU)
• Bernard ten Hove, The metaphor of area in the works of St. Augustine (VU)
• Laela Zwollo, The Human Mind as Reflection of a Divine Image: Augustine, Plotinus and a Gnostic author (UvT, with Rudi te Velde)
• Frank Bosman Byzantinisches Christentum: Dadaïst Hugo Ball herleest Johannes Climacus, Dionysius de Aeropagiet en Simon de Styliet(UvT, with Theo Salemink)
• Nathan Witkamp, Tradition and Innovation: a Critical Comparison of the Baptismal Rites of Theodore of Mopsuestia and Narsai of Nisibis (VU, ETF, with G. Vleugels)
• Herbert Batt, The pagan sources of Augustine?s Hermeneutic (UvT)
• Cees van Halem, De perceptie van het Joodse volk in de na-oorlogse preken in de protestantse traditie (UvT, with M. Poorthuis)
• Francesco Celia, (VU)