 Stanton was born on 9 July 1940 in Christchurch, New Zealand.He came to Cambridge in 1966 to study under C. F. D. Moule (at Westminster College and as a member of Fitzwilliam College), his dissertation was completed in 1969 and published in 1974.From 1970 to 1998 he served as lecturer and (from 1977) as Professor of New Testament at King's College, London.