David Brakke, degree in theology from Harvard University (1983), earned his doctorate at Yale University (1992). Until 2011 he was professor of religious studies and history at the University of Indiana; He is currently professor of Christian history at the University of Ohio.

His studies focus on the history and literature of ancient Christianity, from its origins to the V century, with a special interest in asceticism, monasticism, Gnosticism, biblical interpretation and Egyptian Christianity. He is editor of the Journal of Early Christian Studies and president of the International Association for Coptic Studies.

In addition to editing and translation of early Christian texts, he has published Athanasius and the Politics of Asceticism, 2nd ed. 1998; and Demons and the Making of the Monk: Spiritual Combat in Early Christianity, 2006.