The theologian Andrew Ollerton is probably best known for presenting Christian theology in an accessible and engaging way and his work as a pastor and author centres on making the Bible accessible to modern audiences without sacrificing intellectual rigour.

He grew up in a Christian home where The Bible was 'part of the furniture' but when he hit his teens, he pushed back, sometimes, like Peter, publicly, despite having a father who worked at the nearby church.

But from around eighteen he began to show a renewed interest in Christ's teaching, going on to study Geography then moving onto Theology, and completing a PhD in Historical Theology.

Despite his academic credentials, Ollerton has intentionally focused on communicating theology in clear and practical ways for churches and the general public and his most significant contribution to this is “The Bible Course” an eight-session guide to the whole story of Scripture, developed in partnership with Bible Society.

Ollerton has also written several books aimed at making The Bible understandable to modern audiences, including The Bible: A Story That Makes Sense of Life, Romans: A Letter That Makes Sense of Life, and God’s Book: An Honest Look at the Bible’s 7 Toughest Topics.

In this episode of The Profile he talks to Premier Christianity magazine editor Sam Hailes about making Scripture as clear as you can and how companionship is transformational when it comes to understanding it.

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Released on 4 Jun 2026