My research focuses on the shape, strcture and identity of communities in the Christian tradition. This pertains to:

- Research into views of community in early Christianity, with attention to: rituals, political aspects (Roman Empire), questions concerning authority and gender, and the role of holy texts.  

- Research into relations among churches ("ecumenical theology"). This concerns in particular the ecumenical movement, the Anglican Churches, the Roman-Catholic Church, and Eastern Orthodox Churches. Involvement in the NWO project "Blueprints of Hope" on political and ecclesial unification in Europe (1930-1960) also belongs to this focus.

- Research into models of community in Christian tradition in relation to other models of community. This includes attention to questions of ecology and religion and "big society". 

On a regular basis, my research leads to publications (see under "publications") and the completion of doctoral theses, such as:

Dr. Ari C. Troost, Exegetical Bodybuilding Gender and Interpretation in Luke 1–2 Exegetical Bodybuilding: Interpretation and Gender in Luke 1–2, defended on 17 October 2019 (first supervisor; second supervisor: prof. dr. Annette Harder).

Dr. Jorrit Steehouder, Constructing Europe. Blueprints for a New Monetary Order, defended on 14 January 2022; third supervisor, first supervisor: prof. dr. Mathieu Segers, second supervisor: prof. dr. Beatrice de Graaf, cosupervisor: dr. Trineke Palm).

Dr. Clemens van den Berg, European Believers. Ecumenical Networks and Their Blueprints as Drivers of Early European Integration, 1933-1954, defended on 25 February 2022 (first supervisor; second supervisor: prof. dr. Beatrice de Graaf; third supervisor: prof. dr. Mathieus Segers, cosupervisor: dr. Trineke Palm).

Dr. Richard de Beer, Kerkgewaden in de verdrukking: Paramenten in de Republiek als dragers van identiteit, 1580-1650, defended on 9 June 2023 (first supervisor; cosupervisors: dr. Mariken van Roon, dr. Dick Schoon).

Dr. Ruth Nientiedt, Gelebtes Europa. Die Altkatholiken in Deutschland und ihre innereuropäischen Beziehungen zwischen 1945 und 1989, defended on 11 March 2024 (second supervisor; first supervisor:  prof. dr. Martin Kissener - this graduation took place at the University of Mainz, Germany). . 

I also work at Vrije Universiteit (Amsterdam) as professor of Contextual Biblical Interpretation, details about my work there can be found here: https://research.vu.nl/en/persons/peter-ben-smit

• My page at VU University Amsterdam where I serve as professor contextual biblical interpretation
• Publications at academia.edu