People

Role at SMBC:

As a Research Fellow, Katy serves the SMBC and wider Christian community with evangelical research and scholarship. She also contributes to the devotional and pastoral activities of the college community.

Prior to SMBC:

Before joining the SMBC community, Katy has served in a variety of roles including as Principal of Mary Andrews College and the Old Testament Lecturer/Director of Postgraduate Studies at Bible College SA. She completed her doctoral work focusing on Leviticus at Trinity College Bristol (University of Bristol), while also being part of the Tyndale House community in Cambridge, UK.

Academic Interests:

Katy is currently researching and writing in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Hermeneutics, Rhetorical Criticism, and in the area of biblical violence.

Publications and Research:

Commentaries

• Davis, Katherine. Exodus, ZECOT, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, forthcoming.
• Davis, Katherine. Leviticus, Hodder Bible Commentary, England: Hodder & Stoughton, 2025.
• Davis, Katherine. Leviticus, Pillar Old Testament Commentary, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2029.

Book Chapters

• Davis, Katherine. 'Jesus's Teachings and Hebrew Bible Influences' in Jesus as Teacher in Matthew's Gospel, eds. C. L. Quarles and C. N. Ridlehoover (London: T&T Clark, 2023), 17–31.
• Davis, Katherine. "The Theological Purpose of Wisdom Elements in Exodus 1–2" in Honoring the Wise: Wisdom in Scripture, Ministry, and Life: Celebrating Lindsay Wilson's Thirty Years at Ridley, eds. J. Firth and P. A. Barker (Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2022), 3–14.
• Smith, Katherine. ‘Transformation of Israel’s Social Identity in Exodus’ in Grounded: in the Body, in Time and Place, in Scripture, eds. J. Firth and D. Cooper-Clarke, ACT Monograph Series, Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2021, 79-91.
• Smith, Katherine. ‘Belonging to God in Relational Wholeness: A Conservative Perspective on the Old Testament’s View of Marriage and Same-Sex Intimate Relationships’ in Marriage, Same-Sex Marriage and the Anglican Church of Australia: Essays from the Doctrine Commission, ed. M. Stead, Mulgrave: Broughton, 2019, 105-122.
• Smith, Katherine. ‘Ordered Relationships in Leviticus’ in Marriage, Family, and Relationships: biblical, doctrinal and contemporary perspectives, eds. T. A. Noble, S. K. Whittle, and P. J. Johnston, London: IVP, 2017, 30-39.
• Smith, Katherine. ‘The Culpability of Sexual Offence: Understanding Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 in Context’ in Sexegesis: An Evangelical Response to Five Uneasy Pieces on Homosexuality, eds. M. F. Bird and G. Preece, Sydney: Anglican Press Australia, 2012, 40-51.

Journal Articles

• Davis, Katherine. ’The Metaphor of Sexual and Physical Violence as a Speech Act in Ezekiel 16’ in Journal for the Study of Bible and Violence 2 (2023), 21–33.
• Smith, Katherine. ’Should the Local Church Resist Texts in Scripture that Clash with Western Culture? The Test Case of Leviticus 21:16–24’ in Themelios 45.1 (2020).
• Smith, Katherine. ’The Persuasive Intent of the Book of Leviticus’ (dissertation abstract) in Tyndale Bulletin 70.1 (2019), 145-148.
• Smith, Katherine. ’Biblical Purity and Worldview: Understanding and Living Our Story’ in When Women Speak, vol. 2, May 2018.

Speaking Ministry:

• Ridley College Annual Preachers Conference (Melbourne, 2024)
• Evangelical Theological Society (San Antonio, 2023)
• Tyndale Fellowship (Cambridge, 2022)
• Evangelical Theological Society (Denver, 2022)
• Tyndale Fellowship (Cambridge, 2021)
• Institute for Biblical Research/Society of Biblical Literature Annual Conference (November 2020)
• Anglican Deaconess Ministries Annual Public Lecture (October 2020)
• Society of Biblical Literature (November 2020)
• Society of Biblical Literature (San Diego, 2019)
• Trinity Network Terrace Studies (August 2019)
• Evangelical Women in Academia Conference (August 2019)
• Society of Biblical Literature (Denver, 2018)
• Evangelical Women in Academia Conference Keynote (July 2018)
• Tyndale Fellowship (Cambridge, 2018)
• Society of Biblical Literature (Boston, 2017)
• Tyndale Fellowship (Cambridge, 2017)
• Trinity College Bristol Research Conference (June 2017)
• Tyndale Fellowship (Cambridge, 2016)
• Trinity College Bristol Research Conference (June 2016)
• Tyndale Fellowship (Cambridge, 2014)
• Tyndale Fellowship (Cambridge, 2013)