About Matthew Ketchum

Matthew is a Lecturer in the Department of Religion at Rutgers University, where teaches classes on Jesus and the New Testament. He has also taught a wide range of courses in Biblical and Religious Studies at Kean University and Drew University. He finished his PhD in New Testament and Early Christianity in the Spring of 2015 in the Graduate Division of Religion at Drew University. Matt is now revising his first book, a study of resurrection and ancient Mediterranean culture, alongside other writing and research projects.

My Teaching
I am currently a Lecturer in the Department of Religion at Rutgers University. While there I have taught classes on the New Testament and Jesus. Previously I was an Adjunct Professor at Kean University teaching World Religions. Before that I taught Exegetical Skills, New Testament, and other courses as an Instructor at Drew University. I have extensive experience in online, hybrid, and traditional classroom settings. My teaching prioritizes active learning, engaging students' personal interests and creativity, and confronting difficult topics.

My Research
My research and writing focuses on the religions, literature, and cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Right now I am revising my doctoral dissertation for publication as a book. Tentatively titled Specters of Jesus: Life, Death, and Resurrection in Early Christianity, it employs theories of haunting and spectrality to explore resurrection stories of Jesus alongside an array of comparable phenomena from the ancient Judeo-Greco-Roman world. I am also working on a new project that explores the roles of animals and spiritual agencies in the New Testament and Early Christianity.