https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Antony_John_BaptistAntony John Baptist - Revision history2026-10-31T00:27:52ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Antony_John_Baptist&diff=486957&oldid=prevRahuljogi: Creating First Bio Added Tags2026-04-25T06:35:16Z<p>Creating First Bio Added Tags</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian Catholic priest and theologian}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2025}}<br />
{{Infobox Christian leader<br />
| image = AJ Baptist.png<br />
| caption = Antony John Baptist<br />
| type = priest<br />
| name = Antony John Baptist<br />
| honorific_prefix = [[The Reverend|The Reverend Dr]]<br />
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1965|4|15}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Tiruvannamalai]], [[Tamil Nadu]]<br />
| title = <br />
| church = [[Catholic Church]]<br />
| diocese = [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Vellore |Vellore]]<br />
| other_post = Director, [[National Biblical, Catechetical and Liturgical Centre]]<br />
| occupation = Priest, biblical scholar, theologian, church historian<br />
| module = {{Infobox academic|embed=yes<br />
| education = [[University of Madras|University of Madras, Chennai]] {{small|(BA, PhD & DLitt)}}<br/><br />
[[Pontifical Biblical Institute|Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome]] {{small|([[Licentiate in Sacred Scripture|Licentiate (LSS)]])}}<br/> [[Annamalai University]] {{small|(MA, History)}}<br />
| alma_mater = [[University of Madras]]<br />
| thesis1_title = Character of Hagar in Genesis 16:1–16: A Narrative Study from the Perspective of Dalit Women {{small|(PhD)}}<br />
| thesis1_year = 2009<br />
| thesis2_title = Biblical Interpretation from the Perspective of Dalit Women {{small|(DLitt)}}<br />
| thesis2_year = 2024<br />
| school_tradition = [[Catholic theology | Catholic]]<br />
| doctoral_advisor = [[Felix Wilfred]]<br />
| era = 21st Century<br />
| discipline = [[Old Testament]]<br />
| sub_discipline = Pentateuch, Biblical Narratives, Dalit Feminist Reading<br />
| workplaces = [[University of Madras]],<br/>[[National Biblical, Catechetical and Liturgical Centre]],<br/> [[Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram|DVK Pontifical Athenaeum]],<br/> [[St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary|St. Peter's Pontifical Institute]] <br />
}}}}<br />
<br />
'''Antony John Baptist''' (born April 15, 1965) is an Indian [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] priest from [[Tamil Nadu]], biblical scholar, theologian and pastor. He serves as the director of the [[National Biblical, Catechetical and Liturgical Centre]] (NBCLC) in Bangalore.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=20 Feb 2021 |title=New directors of the Biblical Departments of the CBF Full Members in India appointed. |url=https://c-b-f.org/en/News/Regions/Asia/South-Asia/Changes-India |website=Catholic Biblical Federation}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Catholic Bishops Conference India, National Centers - NBCLC |url=https://www.cbci.in/nationalcentersdetails?title=national-biblical,-catechetical-and-liturgical-centre-(nbclc) |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=www.cbci.in}}</ref> His academic and pastoral work is focused on contextual theology and the interpretation of biblical narratives, particularly from the perspective of marginalised communities such as Dalit women.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=:: NBCLC :: |url=https://www.nbclcindia.org/johnbaptist.php |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=www.nbclcindia.org}}</ref><br />
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== Education ==<br />
Antony John Baptist holds a [[Doctor of Philosophy]] (PhD) and a [[Doctor Litterarum]] (DLitt) from the [[University of Madras]], where he studied in the Department of Christian Studies. He also earned a [[Licentiate of Sacred Theology|Licentiate in Sacred Scripture]] (LSS) from the [[Pontifical Biblical Institute]] in [[Rome]]. Apart from his theological studies, he has earned a [[Bachelor of Arts|BA in History]] from University of Madras and an [[Master of Arts|MA in History]] from [[Annamalai University]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><br />
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== Career ==<br />
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Baptist served the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Vellore|Diocese of Vellore]] as a member of the College of Consultors, a member of the Priests’ Senate, Secretary to the Diocesan Bible Commission, and Secretary to the Diocesan Vocation Commission. He held academic and formation roles as Vice-Rector of Sacred Heart College, Poonamallee, and later as Rector of St Francis Xavier Inter-diocesan Seminary, Veppoor.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Autor - Editorial Verbo Divino |url=https://verbodivino.es/autores/73906/antony-john-baptist |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=verbodivino.es |language=es-es}}</ref><br />
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Baptist also served as Secretary to the Commission for the Bible of the Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council. Since May 2017, he has been the Executive Secretary of the [[Conference of Catholic Bishops of India]] (CCBI), Bible Commission.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bible Commission |url=https://ccbi.in/commissions-bible/?hl=en-GB |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=CCBI |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=:: Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, Commission for Bible :: |url=https://www.ccbibible.in/new-secretary.html |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=www.ccbibible.in}}</ref> In January 2021, Baptist was appointed as the Director of the National Biblical Catechetical and Liturgical Centre (NBCLC) in Bangalore,<ref>{{Cite web |title="Church has a Major Role in India," says Abp. Machado |url=https://catholicconnect.in/news/church-has-a-major-role-in-india-says-abp-machado |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=Catholic Connnect |language=en}}</ref> under the [[Catholic Bishops' Conference of India]] (CBCI).<ref>{{cite news |title=New directors of the Biblical Departments of the CBF Full Members in India. |url=https://c-b-f.org/en/News/Regions/Asia/South-Asia/Changes-India |work=c-b-f.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 08 30 CBF Executive Committee |url=https://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/news/2022/2022-08-30-comite-executi-fbc.html |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=www.christianunity.va}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=ICM |first=Team |date=2024-11-26 |title=B'luru: Empowering Future Leaders – Deacons Unite for a Synodal Journey at NBCLC Seminar |url=https://www.indiancatholicmatters.org/bluru-empowering-future-leaders-deacons-unite-for-a-synodal-journey-at-nbclc-seminar/ |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=Indian Catholic Matters |language=en-US}}</ref><br />
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Baptist is a member of the Editorial Board of ''[[Concilium (journal)|Concilium]]'' journal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Directors & Editors |url=https://concilium.hymnsam.co.uk/about-us/directors-editors/ |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=concilium.hymnsam.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Board of Editors (2024-25) |url=https://concilium-vatican2.org/en/board-of-editors-2024-25/ |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=Concilium: International Journal of Theology |language=en-GB}}</ref> He also serves on the Translations Committee of the [[Bible Society of India]], and as the Coordinator for the South Asian Sub-region of the [[Catholic Biblical Federation]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 08 30 CBF Executive Committee |url=https://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/news/2022/2022-08-30-comite-executi-fbc.html |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=www.christianunity.va}}</ref><br />
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In addition to his leadership roles, Baptist teaches as adjunct faculty at Vidya Deep College, [[Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram|DVK Pontifical Athenaeum]], [[St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary]] and also at the Department of Christian Studies at the [[University of Madras]], where he has served as a visiting professor.<ref name=":2" /><br />
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== Selected Publications ==<br />
===Books===<br />
* {{cite book |title=Thus Spoke the Bible: Basics of Biblical Narratives |edition=2nd ed., revised and enlarged |publisher=Theological Publications in India |location=Bengaluru |year=2024 |isbn=978-93-95623-94-0}}<br />
* {{cite book |title=Planted by the Stream: Biblical Themes for Today |publisher=ATC |location=Bengaluru |year=2019 |isbn=978-93-86516-77-0}}<br />
* {{cite book |title=Thus Spoke the Bible: Basics of Biblical Narratives |publisher=ISPCK |location=New Delhi |year=2024 |isbn=978-81-8465-565-0}}<br />
* {{cite book |title=Unsung Melodies from Margins |publisher=ISPCK |location=New Delhi |year=2014 |isbn=978-81-8465-378-6}}<br />
* {{cite book |title=Together as Sisters: Hagar and Dalit Women |publisher=ISPCK |location=New Delhi |year=2012 |isbn=978-81-8465-265-9}}<br />
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===Book chapters===<br />
* {{cite book |chapter=Evolution and Sustaining of Covenant Community in Pentateuch and Historical Books |title=Being and Becoming Ecclesia: Biblical Perspectives |series=CBAI Seminar Papers 5 |editor=Joy Philip Kakkanattu and Laurence Culas |pages=23–41 |publisher=Theological Publications in India |location=Bengaluru |year=2022 |isbn=978-81-9523-495-0}}<br />
* {{cite book |chapter=Missionary Ongoing Formation: Biblical, Catechetical, Spiritual, and Theological |title=Faith Working through Love: Evangelization and Its Horizons |editor=Assisi Saldanha |pages=179–190 |publisher=Commission for Bible |location=Bangalore |year=2020 |isbn=978-93-8896-850-8}}<br />
* {{cite book |chapter=Movements from a Triumphantalistic Perspective to a Kenotic Perspective in Deuteronomistic History |title=Call to Self-Emptying: Biblical Perspectives |editor=Prema Vakayil and Laurence Culas |pages=27–38 |publisher=Theological Publications in India |location=Bengaluru |year=2017 |isbn=978-93-83163-77-9}}<br />
* {{cite book |chapter=New Avenues of Biblical Apostolate in India Today |title=Like a Watered Garden |volume=2 |editor=Stanislas Savarimuthu, P. Joseph Titus, M. David Stanly Kumar, and A. Alfred Joseph |pages=421–441 |publisher=Theological Publications in India |location=Bengaluru |year=2017}}<br />
* {{cite book |chapter=Subalterns Speak Up: Dalit Women |title=Baruch Letter of Jeremiah, Wisdom Commentary |volume=31 |author=Marie-Theres Wacker |pages=98–99, 104–105, 110–111, 116, 120 |publisher=Liturgical Press |location=Collegeville |year=2016 |isbn=978-0814681558}}<br />
* {{cite book |chapter=Family as Domestic Church in the Sacred Scripture |title=Word of God, Source of Life in the Family: Proceedings of the Catholic Biblical Federation, South Asia Sub-Region Convocation |editor=Rayanna Govindu |pages=47–59 |publisher=CBF South Asia |location=Bengaluru |year=2016}}<br />
* {{cite book |chapter=The Belief of Early Church on the Resurrection of Jesus in the Light of 1 Cor 15 |title=Riches of His Grace: Studies on Johannine and Pauline Literature: A Festschrift for Professor Dr. Aloysius Xavier |editor=P. Joseph Titus, S. Stanislas, M. David Stanly Kumar, and A. Alfred Joseph |pages=341–357 |publisher=Theological Publications in India |location=Bengaluru |year=2015 |isbn=978-93-83163-37-3}}<br />
* {{cite book |chapter=Encountering the Divine: A Study of Hagar’s Encounter with God in Gen 16 |title=Bible and Mission: Biblical Perspectives for Doing Mission in Contemporary India |editor=P. Joseph Titus and Dexter S. Maben |pages=21–35 |publisher=SBSI |location=Bangalore |year=2015}}<br />
* {{cite book |chapter=Testimonies as Representation of Dalit Women Reality and Their Use in Researches |title=Theology for a New Community |editor=T. K. John and James Massey |pages=173–187 |publisher=Centre for Dalit/Subaltern Studies |location=New Delhi |year=2013 |isbn=978-93-81907-04-7}}<br />
* {{cite book |chapter=Justice in the Bible |title=Christian Ethics |editor=Textbook for M.A. Christian Studies|pages=135–157 |publisher=University of Madras |location=Chennai }}<br />
Apart from these, Baptist has also published numerous academic papers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Antony John Baptist |url=https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=hGJ7zcwAAAAJ&hl=en |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=scholar.google.com}}</ref><br />
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== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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== External links ==<br />
* [http://www.nbclc.org Official website of NBCLC]<br />
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{{Authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Baptist, Antony John}}<br />
[[Category:21st-century Indian Roman Catholic theologians]]<br />
[[Category:Roman Catholic biblical scholars]]<br />
[[Category:Indian Christian writers]]<br />
[[Category:Old Testament scholars]]<br />
[[Category:Indian biblical scholars]]<br />
[[Category:Indian expatriates in Italy]]<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:People from Bengaluru]]<br />
[[Category:People from Chennai]]<br />
[[Category:University of Madras alumni]]<br />
[[Category:Pontifical Biblical Institute alumni]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Indian Roman Catholic priests]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian Roman Catholic priests]]<br />
[[Category:1965 births]]</div>Rahuljogi