Ruan Bessa is a Research Fellow in Christian Ethics, working at the intersection of Scripture, practical reason, and ethics, with particular interest in Oliver O'Donovan's moral and political theology. He holds a Ph.D. from Calvin Theological Seminary (Grand Rapids, Michigan), where he served as a research and teaching assistant and as Associate Director of Admissions. He served as contributor and editor of Oliver O’Donovan’s The Courage of Truth (JAMS, 2025), and translator of the upcoming Brazilian Portuguese edition of O'Donovan's Resurrection and Moral Order.
Research Interests
Scripture and ethics, nature and formation of Christian moral thought, and Oliver O'Donovan's moral and political theology.
Research Centres and Projects
He is currently developing The O’Donovan Initiative for Ethics as Theology, as part of the “Christian Moral and Political Thought for British public life” project directed by Revd. Prof Joshua Hordern and funded by the McDonald Agape Foundation.
