Lincoln Blumell received a BA with honors in Classical and Early Christian Studies and an MA in Religious Studies, with an emphasis in ancient Christianity, from the University of Calgary. He earned an MSt in Jewish Studies from Christ Church, Oxford, and a PhD in Religious Studies, specializing in early Christianity, from the University of Toronto.

Before joining the faculty at Brigham Young University, Blumell held a visiting assistant professorship in the Department of Classical Studies at Tulane University in New Orleans.

His teaching and scholarship focus on the New Testament, Second Temple Judaism, and the history of ancient Christianity through the Byzantine period. His particular research interests include early Christianity in Egypt, ancient Christian letters, and Greek papyrology.

Blumell has taught courses on the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, Second Temple Judaism, the history of ancient Christianity from AD 100–400, persecution and martyrdom in ancient Christianity, Egypt in the Roman Empire, and classical mythology.

His research draws on several ancient and modern languages. He reads Biblical Hebrew, Sahidic Coptic, Classical Greek, Latin, French, and German.