The Society of Biblical Literature was founded in 1880 to foster biblical scholarship.
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Welcome to The SBL



 

SBL Events


For a list of events related to biblical scholarship, see our online calendar.

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About SBL

Mission, Visions, and Values
The following Mission Statement and Strategic Vision Statements were adopted by the SBL Council May 16, 2004, and revised October 23, 2011.

Mission Statement:
Foster Biblical Scholarship

Strategic Vision Statement:
Founded in 1880, the Society of Biblical Literature is the oldest and largest learned society devoted to the critical investigation of the Bible from a variety of academic disciplines.* As an international organization, the Society offers its members opportunities for mutual support, intellectual growth, and professional development through the following:

  • Advancing academic study of biblical texts and their contexts as well as of the traditions and contexts of biblical interpretation
  • Collaborating with educational institutions and other appropriate organizations to support biblical scholarship and teaching
  • Developing resources for diverse audiences, including students, religious communities, and the general public
  • Facilitating broad and open discussion from a variety of critical perspectives
  • Organizing congresses for scholarly exchange
  • Publishing biblical scholarship
  • Promoting cooperation across global boundaries

 

Core Values

 Accountability

 Openness to Change

 Collaboration

Professionalism

 Collegiality

 Respect for Diversity

 Critical Inquiry

Scholarly Integrity

 Inclusivity

Tolerance

*SBL has been a member of the American Council of Learned Societies since 1929.


SBL History

The eight founders of The Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis first met to discuss their new society in Philip Schaff's study in New York City in January of 1880. In June the group had their first Annual Meeting with eighteen people in attendance. The new society drew up a constitution and by-laws and discussed several papers. Membership dues were set at three dollars. By the end of the year, membership had grown to fourty-five and publication of the meeting proceedings were in the planning stages. The Journal was launched the following year.

For more information on the history of the Society see:

Searching the Scriptures: A History of the Society of Biblical Literature, 1880-1980 Ernest W. Saunders

Also available on-line >>       


SBL works with many different organizations and institutions.These affiliations enrich and broadened the spectrum of resources that the society can offer members. SBL values the relationship with these organizations whether they are ongoing, due to a confluence of mission, or if they are a temporary joint focus on one project.

Peer Organizations

American Academy of Religion (AAR)
Association of American University Presses  (AAUP) 
American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) 
American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR)
Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)
Catholic Biblical Association of America (CBA) 
Coalition on the Academic Workforce (CAW)
Council of Independent Colleges (CIC)
Eugene A. Nida Institute for Biblical Scholarship at the American Bible Society
International Organization for Masoretic Studies 
The Fund for Theological Education (FTE)
International Organization for Septuagint & Cognate Studies (IOSCS)
National Association of Professors of Hebrew 
National Humanities Alliance (NHA)
Pontifical Biblical Institute (PIB) 
Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion


Project Partnerships

Codex Sinaiticus Digitalization Initiative
Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards   
International Organization for Standardization       
Open Scriptural Information Standard Project
Text Encoding Initiative
Online Cultural Heritage Research Environment

Society Facts and Figures

Society Governance

The Presidential Address
The Presidential Address, presented at every Annual Meeting, is transcribed and published in the first Journal of Biblical Literature (JBL) issue of the following year. To read the transcription of these recordings, go to the JBL page where you will see additional instructions. 
You will need the latest version of Flash for optimal viewing of videos.


2011 Presidential Address (video)
Carol Newsom, Emory University
Models of the Moral Self: Hebrew Bible and Second Temple Judaism (62 min)
John Dominic Crossan, DePaul University, Presiding


2010 Presidential Address (video)
Vincent L. Wimbush, Claremont Graduate University
Interpreters—Enslaving/Enslaved/Runagate (45 min)
Carol Newsom, Emory University, Presiding


2008 Presidential Address (audio)
Jonathan Z. Smith, University of Chicago
Religion and the Bible (45 min)
David J. A. Clines, University of Sheffield, Presiding

Past Presidents of SBL



The Luce Center on the Campus of Emory University
 
Financials
  • Fiscal 2011-2012            
  • Fiscal 2010-2011            

  • Fiscal 2009 - 2010            

  • Fiscal 2008 - 2009            

  • Fiscal 2007- 2008 

    The Society Report

    The Society Report is published yearly and gives an overview of the organization. It is made available to members at the Annual Meeting and electronically.

    Society Report 2012
    Society Report 2011
    Society Report 2010
    Society Report 2009
    Society Report 2008
    Society Report 2007
    Society Report 2006 
    Society Report 2005
    Society Report 2004
    Society Report 2003
    Society Report 2002

    Annual Business Meeting

    ABM 2012

    Program Affiliates

    SBL meets with many different organizations and institutions.By affiliating with the SBL Annual, International, or Regional Meetings these groups agree to participate in an open academic discussion guided by a common standard of scholarly discourse that engages their subject through critical inquiry and investigation. For more information on program affiliates click here

    Academy of Homiletics
    Adventist Society for Religious Studies
    African Association for the Study of Religion
    Anglican Association of Biblical Scholars
    Bethsaida Excavations Project
    Christian Theological Research Fellowship
    Ethnic Chinese Biblical Colloquium
    Evangelical Philosophical Society
    GOCN Forum on Missional Hermeneutics
    Institute for Biblical Research
    Institute for Religion and Civic Values
    International Organization for Septuagint and Cognate Studies
    International Syriac Language Project
    Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion
    Karl Barth Society of North America
    Korean Biblical Colloquium
    Masoretic Studies (Affiliated with IOMS)
    National Association of Professors of Hebrew
    Nida Institute for Biblical Scholarship at the American Bible Society
    North American Association for the Study of Religion
    Novum Testamentum Graecum: Editio Critica Maior
    Society for Ancient Mediterranean Religions
    Society for Pentecostal Studies
    Society for the Arts in Religious and Theological Studies
    Søren Kierkegaard Society
    Subject Centre for Philosophical and Religious Studies
    Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion

 
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