Across the Pond: Navigating the Experience of Doing a PhD in Biblical Studies from a Distance

There is a long history of US based students earning PhDs in the field of biblical studies from universities located in the United Kingdom. In recent years, this is being done in an increasingly non-traditional way: from a distance. This book helps both prospective and current students navigate this experience. It provides insights from three friends, colleagues, and scholars who completed their PhDs in this non-traditional way. The authors share from their own experiences to help prospective and current students navigate their own pursuit of a PhD in biblical studies from a UK institution while researching and writing from across the pond. So, if you’re looking to earn your PhD in biblical studies from a distance, this is the book for you.

Nickolas A. Fox, PhD (London School of Theology) is the Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Ministry and Assistant Professor of New Testament at Crown College, just outside the Twin Cities in Minnesota. His Doctoral work focused on Social Identity Formation among God-fearers in Luke-Acts, published as The Hermeneutics of Social Identity in Luke-Acts. In 2025 he released The Heroic Christ: The Hero's Journey in the Gospel of Luke, an intersection of his love of Luke's Gospel and narrative critical schemas, like that of Joseph Campbell. He has contributed to The Baker Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words and the Dictionary of Paul and His Letters (2nd ed.). He currently has several writing projects in process, including two books: Across the Pond: Navigating the Experience of Doing a PhD in Biblical Studies from a Distance (with co-authors Ryan Heinsch and Justin Winzenburg) and Theology, Philosophy and Severance, where he serves as the editor. Dr. Fox lives in the Twin Cities with his wife, Angela and their daughter AJ.

Nickolas A. Fox, PhD (London School of Theology) is the Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Ministry and Assistant Professor of New Testament at Crown College, just outside the Twin Cities in Minnesota. His Doctoral work focused on Social Identity Formation among God-fearers in Luke-Acts, published as The Hermeneutics of Social Identity in Luke-Acts. In 2025 he released The Heroic Christ: The Hero's Journey in the Gospel of Luke, an intersection of his love of Luke's Gospel and narrative critical schemas, like that of Joseph Campbell. He has contributed to The Baker Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words and the Dictionary of Paul and His Letters (2nd ed.). He currently has several writing projects in process, including two books: Across the Pond: Navigating the Experience of Doing a PhD in Biblical Studies from a Distance (with co-authors Ryan Heinsch and Justin Winzenburg) and Theology, Philosophy and Severance, where he serves as the editor. Dr. Fox lives in the Twin Cities with his wife, Angela and their daughter AJ.

J. Brian Tucker is Professor of New Testament at Moody Theological Seminary-Michigan and teaches in the area of NT and theology. He completed his PhD at the University of Wales, Lampeter in 2009 on the topic of Paul and his approach to identity formation in 1 Corinthians 1-4. He has authored two books on the Pickwick imprint: You Belong to Christ and Remain in Your Calling. He has been a church planter, senior pastor, teaching pastor, and worship leader during his twenty years of local church pastoral work. He has been teaching at Moody since 2005.