Interview with Dr. Elizabeth Corsar

In anticipation of the KEDS Spring Research Seminar, we spoke with Dr. Elizabeth Corsar about her forthcoming presentation.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and describe your main area of work or research?

I serve as the Director of the BTh Programme and Tutor in New Testament at St Padarn’s Institute, an Anglican training college in Cardiff, Wales. My doctoral research explored the relationship between the Gospel of John and the Gospel of Mark, which sparked my wider interest in ancient compositional practices and the use of written sources by authors of early Christian literature, areas in which I continue to research and publish.

What will your session focus on?

My session for this seminar will focus on the fascinating and influential early Christian text known as the Protevangelium of James. The author of this text draws extensively on biblical traditions, reworking them to create his own imaginative narrative. For instance, it is the source of the familiar image of Mary riding to Bethlehem on a donkey. However, I am not going to examine this text in isolation, rather, I will read it alongside the Gospel of John, exploring how the author engages with and reshapes Johannine material in his portrayal of Jesus’ birth. And no, John does not include a birth narrative; thus, the use of the Johannine Gospel in the episode highlights the highly original ways that early Christian authors reshaped and reimagined their source material.

What first sparked your interest in this topic or area of study?

I first encountered this text as an undergraduate in an Advanced Greek module, and its creative use of sources immediately fascinated me; I knew it was something I wanted to return to one day. While the use of John’s Gospel is not a comparison typically made with the Protevangelium of James, the author’s deployment of the uniquely Johannine invitation to “come and see” intrigued me and prompted me to explore more deeply the interconnectedness between these two early Christian texts.

Why do you think this topic matters to the church, the academy, or the wider world today?

I think that “non‑canonical” early Christian texts are of significant importance for the contemporary church, as they offer a window into the developing understandings and beliefs of early Christian communities. Their reinterpretations of biblical material reveal how these communities grappled with Scripture, seeking meaning in light of their own circumstances and the needs of their faith communities – just as we do in our church communities today. Moreover, I believe that studying “canonical” texts alongside “non‑canonical” ones is equally important for contemporary scholarship. The canonical divide remains highly pronounced within the scholarly sphere, a separation that is not, in my view, conducive to a fuller appreciation of early Christianity. I strongly believe that more integrated approaches are needed to understand how these texts interacted, developed, and influenced one another within the broader literary and theological landscape of the early church. To this end, I am currently writing a book for the Cambridge Elements series on the interconnectedness of early Christian gospel literature.

What question, idea, or problem has most shaped your work in this area so far?

In recent years, Prof. Francis Watson has been a valuable academic mentor to me, and his work, particularly his challenge to the canonical divide in contemporary scholarship, has significantly shaped my own thinking.

How has your research or practice changed the way you think, teach, or minister?

The study of non‑canonical gospels has highlighted for me the remarkable diversity of thought, belief, and practice within the early church, diversity that extends far beyond the differences we encounter among the canonical gospels. The training college where I teach forms ordinands from across the Anglican tradition, and I find it deeply encouraging that such diversity was present and valued in the early church, just as it is, and should be, within the church today.

What is the one insight from your work that you hope others will find helpful or challenging?

My work may prove to be both helpful and challenging, for I seek to promote the value of “non‑canonical” gospels and to emphasise that they offer an important means of deepening our understanding of the early Christian church, the heritage from which the contemporary church has grown.

Thank you for your time, Dr. Corsar! You can sign up to Dr. Corsar’s presentation on Monday, 9th March 2026, via Eventbrite.

You can read more about Dr. Corsar’s work by clicking here.