The PhD program in Biblical Theology assumes that applicants have completed an MA in Theology or a related subject. Advanced knowledge of biblical languages (Biblical Hebrew and Greek), mastery of the methodology of scholarly work in biblical studies and competence in the literary, historical and theological issues of the biblical traditions and their critical study are assumed and required.
A dissertation in Biblical Theology may deal with a variety of topics related to the Old or to the New Testament. It may follow a plethora of methodologies. Using advanced historical-critical approaches, it may seek to reconstruct the literary origins of the Bible or its parts in the context of ancient Near Eastern and Hellenistic history. It may deal with the history and archaeology of a particular biblical period. It may attempt to interpret concepts contained in the Bible, thus venturing into an Old Testament or a New Testament theology. It may trace the processes of transmission, interaction and reception of particular motifs or texts. It may focus on the interpretation of biblical passages and their careers in the intellectual history of humanity.
If the nature of the dissertation project requires it, the student will take an examination in another ancient or medieval language (e.g. Akkadian, Aramaic, Coptic, or Church Slavonic) during the course of his or her study.
Postgraduate doctoral studies in Biblical Theology are guranteed by Petr Sláma, Ph.D.
Petr Sláma, Ph.D., chairman of the board of BIBLICAL THEOLOGY and guarantor of the programme
ThLic. Jaroslav Brož, Th.D., S.S.L. (Catholic Theological Faculty of Charles University, Prague)
Petr Chalupa, Th.D. (Sts Cyril and Methodius Faculty of Theology, Palacký University, Olomouc)
The doctoral seminar in the summer semester 2025/26 is held on monthly basis. Two students present and discuss aspects of their dissertation projects during each 90-minute session. The seminar takes place on Thursdays at 5 pm CET on the following dates:
19 February 2026
12 March 2026
16 April 2026
14 May 2026
Physical attendance is required for students residing in Central Europe; remote participation via Zoom is available for all other participants. Course convenor: .
The doctoral seminar in the winter semester 2025/26 was dedicated to participation in an international Zoom seminar The Ingredients of Love: Song of Songs in an Interdisciplinary Perspective (RET1073), co-hosted with universities in Tel Aviv, Heidelberg, Zurich, and Rome. The seminar was held weekly on Thursdays from 17:00. to 19:00 CET, beginning on 16 October 2025 with the final session on 18 December. For the schedule, all the materials and the Zoom link see the moodle page of the seminar (scroll down to „guest access“ where you don’t need to enter your name but enter only the Key / password: ShirHaShirim25).
Besides the regular attendance, you are asked to submit a paper (5–8 pages), the focus of which must be discussed with Professor in advance and submitted by the beginning of the summer semester.
Both the Partial Exam in the discipline of the Old Testament and the State Doctoral Exam (as defined in § 47, paragraph 4 of Act 111/1998 on Higher Education) are similar in content, differing only in the level of expertise and specialization required.
The exam typically consists of three parts (see below: A - B - C). Prior to taking the exam, at least one semester of participation in a doctoral seminar is usually required (see above, News). No later than one week before the exam date, the doctoral candidate must submit written preparations for part A (working translations of texts, explanatory notes with a summary, list of references) and a list of references for parts B and C.
A. Textual exegesis: Exegesis of two unrelated and genre-different sections of the candidate's choice (approximately 40 verses in total). Requirements comparable to the exegesis for the state final exam at the Master's level (see the Old Testament Department website). Beyond the requirements for the Master's exam, the candidate's overview of the history of research, knowledge of alternative hypotheses, and main variants of interpretive and interpretative approaches are particularly observed and appreciated.
B. Overview of Old Testament theology: Study of one of the comprehensive publications on Old Testament (or "biblical") theology from the post-1990 period; its critical characterization and placement in the context of the current international discourse in the field, placement in trends (critical presentation in context).
C. Individual thematic areas:
1. "Theology" (in the narrower sense; de Deo) of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament - specific features, uniqueness (possibly in contrast to the Christian theological tradition).
2. "Anthropology" of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament (idem).
3. "Ecclesiology" of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament - various concepts of "Israel," "people of the Lord," etc., internal differentiation and external demarcation.
4. Adapted individually according to the focus of the research project
5. Adapted individually according to the focus of the research project
The candidate chooses the literature at their own discretion (the choice of literature is part of the evaluated aspects).
Charles University
Protestant Theological Faculty
Černá 646/9
110 00 Prague 1
Czech Republic
Dean's Office:
(+420) 221 988 216
Office for International Relations:
(+420) 221 988 211
