Chance's research interests are situated around early Christian literature, slavery studies, and Roman imperialism. He is currently working on a dissertation on the Shepherd of Hermas, an second-century visionary and exhortatory narrative, analyzing how the text depicts God as an enslaver and believers as enslaved to God. He also works more broadly on late ancient apocryphal literature. Chance holds an AM from Harvard University, an MAR from Yale Divinity School, and a BA from St. Olaf College.