Torrey Seland

Studied theology in Oslo from 1969 and received the degree of cand. theol. in 1976 at The Norwegian School of Theology, Oslo. Ordained as a pastor in the Church of Norway on June 19, 1977, and served as a Military Chaplain in 1977-78, then as a Pastor in Bakklandet Parish, Church of Norway, in Trondheim July 1. 1978 – Dec. 31. 1984 (as a second pastor in 1978-81, the leading pastor 1981-84). Research fellow at the University of Trondheim 1985-87. In 1991, I obtained the degree of Dr. Artium/PhD at the University of Trondheim. Assistant professor at Volda Regional College 1988; Associate professor 1991-2000, then a professor in Biblical studies at the same place from 2000. Dean at the Department of Social Studies 2000-2005. Professor in New Testament Studies at School of Mission and Theology, Stavanger 2005-2014. Retired 2014.

As a biblical scholar, my fields of interest are the life, ideology, literature, and social world of the Jews and the early Christians in the first-century CE Diaspora settings. More narrowly defined, I am primarily focusing on the life and role of Diaspora Judaism as demonstrated in and by the works of Philo of Alexandria and the light this can throw on the life and theology of the early Christians, especially as witnessed by the First Letter of Peter; and then as witnessed in and by the works of Paul, the Apostle. Most of my recent publications deal with First Peter and/or the works of Philo.

In recent years, I have researched and written a biography of prof. Peder Borgen. The biography was published in Norwegian in Dec 2020, and then translated and published in the United States in Dec 2022).