Brant Pitre

Brant James Pitre (born 1975) is an American Catholic theologian, New Testament scholar, and author who serves as Distinguished Research Professor of Scripture at the Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology in Denver, Colorado. He is best known for his scholarship exploring the Jewish roots of Christian sacraments and doctrines, particularly the Jewish origins of the Eucharist, the historical Jesus's claims to divinity, and the biblical foundations of Catholic teaching. Pitre is also recognized for his work in bridging academic biblical scholarship with general audiences through accessible books, video series, and public lectures.

Pitre's research often emphasizes the continuity between the Old Testament, Second Temple Judaism, and the New Testament, arguing that understanding the Jewish context of Jesus' life and ministry illuminates key elements of Catholic theology. His prominent works include books that examine how ancient Jewish practices and expectations relate to Christian sacraments and beliefs, presented in a way that combines rigorous exegesis with pastoral application. Through these contributions, he has gained a wide readership among both scholars and lay Catholics interested in deepening their understanding of Scripture's connection to the Church's tradition.

Brant Pitre was born in 1975 in Houma, Louisiana . He spent his early years in Louisiana, where he was raised in a region known for its strong Catholic heritage and cultural traditions. His upbringing in the southern part of the state provided the foundation for his later interest in biblical studies and Catholic theology.

Pitre earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and English Literature from Louisiana State University in 1997. He subsequently pursued studies in biblical archaeology at Tel Aviv University in 1998, which provided foundational exposure to the historical and material context of the biblical world.

He then completed a Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) at Vanderbilt University Divinity School in 1999. Pitre went on to earn his Ph.D. in Christianity and Judaism in Antiquity from the University of Notre Dame in 2004, where his doctoral work was supervised by Fr. John P. Meier, renowned for his scholarship on the historical Jesus. Upon completion of his doctorate, Pitre transitioned to his first teaching role.

Pitre began his teaching career after completing his doctorate, serving as Assistant Professor of Theology at Loyola University New Orleans from 2003 to 2005. There, he taught courses in biblical studies and theology to undergraduate and graduate students.

From 2005 to 2009, Pitre held several teaching positions concurrently, including as the Donum Dei Professor of Word and Sacrament (and assistant professor of theology) at Our Lady of Holy Cross College, where he continued his work in Scripture and sacramental theology. During this period, he also served in other roles, such as adjunct professor at Notre Dame Seminary.

Brant Pitre served as Professor of Sacred Scripture at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans from 2009 to 2018.

In this role, he taught graduate-level courses on the New Testament, biblical theology, and related topics to seminarians preparing for ordination in the Catholic Church. His teaching contributed to the seminary's mission of forming priests through rigorous scriptural study integrated with Catholic tradition.

Pitre's time at Notre Dame Seminary included involvement in the academic and spiritual formation of future clergy, emphasizing the Jewish context of the Scriptures and their application to Catholic doctrine and liturgy. He left the position in 2018 to join the Augustine Institute .

Pitre has served as Distinguished Research Professor of Scripture at the Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology in Denver, Colorado, since 2018.