Karen L. King is a prominent scholar in the field of early Christianity and women's studies. She is known for her research on the role of women in the early church and her work on ancient texts, including the Gospel of Mary and the Gospel of Jesus' Wife. King has contributed significantly to the understanding of how gender and power dynamics shaped early Christian communities. King is a professor at Harvard Divinity School, where she teaches courses on the history of Christianity and feminist interpretations of religious texts. Her publications have sparked discussions about the historical context of early Christian writings and the implications for contemporary religious practices.