Search SBL
 







Congresses

2016 International Meeting in partnership with the Korean Society of Old Testament Studies, The New Testament Society of Korea, and the Society of Asian Biblical Studies

Seoul, South Korea

Meeting Begins7/2/2016
Meeting Ends7/7/2016

Call for Papers Opens: 10/28/2015
Call for Papers Closes: 2/2/2016

Requirements for Participation

Program Units

 

Allusions in the Gospels and Acts

Dennis R. MacDonald
Wooil Moon
Description: This unit is to foster literary-critical and inter-textual approaches to the canonical and extra-canonical gospels and acts of the apostles. The approaches include: (1) uncovering allusive fragments of Greco-Roman, Hellenized-Jewish, and Christian texts in gospel passages and apostle narratives; (2) discussing whether the fragments reflect accidental confluences, non-opposite appropriations of poetic langue, or Christian emulations against anterior texts and traditions; (3) interpreting Christian meanings generated by resonances between anterior and posterior contexts of those allusions.

Call for papers: The Allusions in the Gospels unit anticipates three sessions and one special reception for the meeting in Seoul. (1) The first session will be co-hosted with the Families and Children in the Ancient World unit, and will include both invited papers and an open call. We welcome papers that address (a) how representations of marriage, childbirth, childhood, and family in the Gospels draw upon, reflect, alter, and/or undermine constructions of marriage, childbirth, childhood, and family in the literature of the Hebrew Bible, of late ancient Judaism, and of the Greco-Roman world, and (b) how such intertextual connections function in a context of imperial domination. (2) The second session is open for all paper proposals related to echoes and fragments of previous texts in the Gospels. (3) The third session will feature an invited panel reviewing Dennis R. MacDonald’s forthcoming book “John and Euripides: The Dionysian Gospel.” The panel includes Dennis MacDonald, Mark G. Bilby, Jayhoon Yang, Richard Miller, and Chan Sok Park. (4) Allusions in the Gospels Reception invites the participants in the program sessions and their friends and colleagues from all streams and countries. We will meet for a social dinner at the LG Convention Hall in Ewha Womans University on Wednesday July 6th from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The reception is sponsored by the Steering Committee that comprises New Testament scholars of Ewha Womans University, Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary, Chongshin University, Claremont Graduate University and School of Theology, and Seoul Theological University. To place a reservation for dinner, please email Wooil Moon (woeil@naver.com) by June 26, 2016.

Tags:

Ancient Near East

Stephen C. Russell
Description: The ancient Near East section explores the texts and material culture of the ancient world, especially Egypt, the Levant, Anatolia, and Mesopotamia from the birth of writing through the Hellenistic period. Our aim is to study the ancient world with a variety of methods and from a variety of perspectives—anthropological, archaeological, art-historical, economic, legal, literary, philological, sociohistorical, etc. We welcome work that reads the literature or material culture of one region against another, as well as work that is more limited in scope. Each year, we anticipate hosting two panels: one devoted to any aspect of the study of the ancient Near East, and one focussing on a more narrowly defined theme, region, approach, or time period.

Call for papers: The ancient Near East section explores the texts and material culture of the ancient world, especially Egypt, the Levant, Anatolia, and Mesopotamia from the birth of writing through the Hellenistic period. Our aim is to study the ancient world with a variety of methods and from a variety of perspectives—anthropological, archaeological, art-historical, economic, legal, literary, philological, sociohistorical, etc. We welcome work that reads the literature or material culture of one region against another, as well as work that is more limited in scope. Each year, we anticipate hosting two panels.

Tags: Anatolian (Hittite, Luwian, Hurrian) (Ancient Near Eastern Literature - Region), Ancient Near East - Bronze Age (History & Culture), Ancient Near East - Hellenistic Period (History & Culture), Ancient Near East - Iron Age (History & Culture), Ancient Near East - Late Antiquity (History & Culture), Ancient Near East - Neo-Assyria (History & Culture), Ancient Near East - Neo-Babylonia (History & Culture), Aramaic (Philology / Linguistics (incl. Semiotics)), Comparative Approaches (Interpretive Approaches), Egyptian (Philology / Linguistics (incl. Semiotics)), Hebrew (classical) (Philology / Linguistics (incl. Semiotics)), Latter Prophets - Ezekiel (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Northwest Semitic - Canaanite (Phoenician, Punic, Moabite, Ammonite) (Ancient Near Eastern Literature - Region), Social-Scientific Approaches (Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology) (Interpretive Approaches), Torah/Pentateuch - Genesis (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint))

Ancient Near Eastern Iconography and the Bible

Christopher B. Hays
Izaak J. de Hulster
Description: This section, formerly titled Iconography and the Bible, examines the ways that ancient pictorial material informs interpretations of biblical texts and vice-versa. We welcome papers that explore the relationships between iconographic and textual materials as well as papers that deal exclusively with iconographic issues.

Call for papers: For the SBL IM in Seoul, the section plans one open session and invites papers relating ancient Near Eastern iconographic material with the Hebrew Bible.

Tags:

Apocalyptic Literature

Lorenzo DiTommaso
Description: The Apocalyptic Literature Section provides the International Meeting’s only general forum for studies related to apocalyptic literature. The Section welcomes papers that engage the wide range of apocalyptic texts, that provide analysis of the history and conventions of apocalyptic literature, and that employ diverse methodological perspectives.

Call for papers: The Apocalyptic Literature Unit invites papers on any topic relating to the study of early Jewish or early Christian apocalyptic literature. Papers on the interpretation of this literature through the Middle Ages are also welcome. In addition, we are planning two sessions: 1. One is a joint session with the Dead Sea Scrolls program unit. This is an invited session that will explore how the Dead Sea Scrolls contribute to our understanding of sapiential and apocalyptic traditions. 2. The second session is an open session on the topic of apocalyptic writings and movements in S.E. Asia, particularly in their modern/contemporary forms including popular culture and new media.

Tags:

Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha

Julia Snyder
Tobias Nicklas
Description: The Section fosters ongoing study of extra-canonical texts, as subjects of literary and philological investigation; as evidence for the history of religion, theology, and cult practice; and as documents of the socio-symbolic construction of traditions along lines of class and gender.

Call for papers: This year the section will have at least two open sessions devoted to fresh analyses of extra-canonical literature, based on creative proposals received. Papers can relate to either Jewish or Christian texts, and we are especially interested in papers that relate to ongoing personal research projects. Papers from members who live in Asia/Oceania are particularly welcome, as we hope the sessions will provide an opportunity to learn from one another about research and teaching on extra-canonical texts around the world. NB: Please indicate in your submission if you have submitted the same proposal to any other section (e.g., Nag Hammadi, Qumran).

Tags:

Apostolic Fathers and Related Early Christian Literature

Paul A. Hartog
Description: This unit fosters academic discourse focused upon the “Apostolic Fathers” and supplemental literature, as transmitters of earlier traditions; as reflections of theology, ethics, and worship; as means of identity and community formation; and as subjects of literary and social-theory investigations.

Call for papers: The unit especially invites papers concerning Christology and the early worship of / to Jesus within the Apostolic Fathers and related literature. Papers may address these and corollary issues through historical, theological, liturgical, socio-cultural, or comparative religious lenses. Beyond this particular focus, the unit also welcomes other proposals that critically examine any topic within the so-called “Apostolic Fathers” and related early Christian literature (up to the year 250).

Tags:

Archaeology and Diaspora Judaism

Nóra Dávid
Description: This unit augments archaeology-related sessions organized at the International Meeting by providing focus on diaspora Judaism.

Call for papers: This unit augments archaeology-related sessions organized at the International Meeting by providing focus on diaspora Judaism.

Tags:

Authority and Influence in Ancient Times

Jan G. van der Watt
Description: The aim of this seminar is to investigate the nature of authority and leadership language as it is used in Biblical documents (both Old and New Testament). Since definitions of what leadership really is vary widely, the seminar uses a functional approach. Contributors will be asked to focus on the texts of the Old and New Testaments (each according to his or her expertise) and to investigate how authority is expressed and handled, but also how a group is convinced to move along with a leader to a common goal. Especially the dynamics of language, expression, rhetorics, etc. will be focused on.

Call for papers: The aim of this seminar is to investigate the nature of authority and leadership language as it is used in Biblical documents (both Old and New Testament). Since definitions of what leadership really is vary widely, the seminar uses a functional approach. Contributors will be asked to focus on the texts of the Old and New Testaments (each according to his or her expertise) and to investigate how authority is expressed and handled, but also how a group is convinced to move along with a leader to a common goal. Especially the dynamics of language, expression, rhetorics, etc. will be focused on.

Tags:

Bethsaida Excavations Project

Richard Freund
Rami Arav
Description: The Bethsaida Excavations unit reports on the current progress of the dig and on topics related to the history and traditions of Bethsaida.

Call for papers:

Tags:

Bible and Empire

Christopher M. Hays
Matthew J.M. Coomber
Description: A unit examining the influence of imperial political powers on the development of the Bible in its historical context as well as the Bible’s use and reception throughout subsequent history.

Call for papers: At the 2016 International SBL Meeting, the Bible and Empire group will take advantage of the meeting’s location in Seoul in order to discuss on Asian and post-colonial issues. To that end, we will host a session entitled “Reception of the Bible in Asia”. This session will be an occasion for focus on Asian reception history. We invite proposals that explore the ways in which the Bible has been received and utilized in or against the empires of Asia (e.g. Chinese or Japanese imperialism), or the way the Bible has played a role in other forms of imperialism in Asia (e.g. Western missions and theological imperialism, US economic or cultural imperialism in Asia, etc.). In addition, papers are invited for an open session focusing on empires and imperialism in the texts of the Hebrew Bible, the Septuagint, and the New Testament. Analyses of the ancient texts from any number of critical and interpretive perspectives are welcome and encouraged. A third session will be held focusing on the impact and use of the Bible in the first and second millennia CE. This session welcomes papers on all aspects of biblical reception history and empire and is not limited to topics pertinent to Asia. Potential contributors are encouraged to contact the session organizers with any questions. Matthew J.M. Coomber: coombermatthewjm@sau.edu Christopher M. Hays: cmhays@gmail.com

Tags:

Bible and Its Influence: History and Impact

David Tollerton
Andrew Mein
Description: This unit offers a forum for papers on both the theory of reception studies and critical analysis of historical and contemporary case studies related to the Bible’s use and influence, in spheres ranging from art, literature and music to religion, society and culture.

Call for papers: In Seoul we aim to have at least one open session: proposals are welcome on any aspect of the Bible's reception history. For the open sessions our preference is for papers that do not focus on the narrower history of scholarship, but explore wider aspects of the Bible's impact on religions, society and culture, art, literature and music. In addition to this we would particularly welcome papers that take advantage of our location to explore the use and influence of the Bible in East Asia: Korea of course, but also the wider region as well.

Tags: History of Interpretation (Interpretive Approaches)

Bible and Syriac Studies in Context

Cornelia Horn
Description: This unit offers a forum for scholars of Syriac and related languages and literatures (including Arabic) to explore the intimate connections between Syriac biblical interpretation, historiography, hagiography, and culture in Oriental Christianity, Judaism, Manichaeism, Zoroastrianism, and Islam.

Call for papers: For 2016, we invite papers that focus on Syriac Studies and its intersection with Biblical Studies, especially the reception of the Bible, through the lens of contextual hermeneutics. What can Syriac Studies learn from and contribute to the study of the Bible in the Asian cultural context? What are important questions we should ask, and what might be strategies we could develop to address them, when we consider the impact of material, intellectual, social, cultural, religious, or political contexts, and their intersections on the formation processes of individual and social identities among speakers of Syriac? What similarities and/or differences can we discern in these processes in the Asian realm? What can Syriac Studies as a discipline learn from and/or contribute to the study of Christianity in Asia and the study of interreligious relations on the Asian continent? How do speakers of Syriac and/or adherents of religions in Asia shape their multi-cultural and/or multi-religious societies? How are they shaped by them? We invite papers on these and any other new and challenging questions that engage with the potential for fruitful dialogue and interaction between Syriac Studies and Biblical Studies in the Asian context.

Tags:

Bible and Visual Culture

Rev. Michael Patella, OSB
Description: The Bible and Visual Culture is premised on the recognition that some of the most engaging and creative interpretations of biblical texts are to be found in visual media from antiquity to the present. Further encouragement to attend to visual interpretations of the Bible is offered by our awareness that such readings have often captured the collective and especially popular imagination to a far greater extent than have many written interpretations and in doing so, these visualizations have shaped and influenced our reading and understanding of the biblical texts themselves. The section offers an academic space for the critical exploration and discussion of biblical texts, characters, motifs and themes as they are represented in visual media including (but not limited to) painting, sculpture, print making, illustration, moving pictures (including film, television and gaming), advertising, street art and other expressions of visual culture. The section welcomes efforts to situate visual interpretations of the Bible within a wider hermeneutical context and to explore the ways in which such interpretations challenge or support other non-visual readings of biblical texts. The nature of the subject explored in this section demands an openness to the insights of a range of different approaches and disciplines beyond biblical studies, including (but again, not limited to) art history, psychology, film, theatre as well as studies in gender and postcolonialism.

Call for papers: Some of the most engaging and creative insights into biblical narrative are found in paintings, film, and other media. These various genres are a reminder that frequently our reading and understanding of biblical stories are influenced by our encounter with and response to the cultural, especially artistic, representations of a passage. One of the aims of the section, Bible and Visual Culture, is to locate distinctive and representative appropriations of biblical representations and themes, draw parallels between ways in which biblical texts and themes engage the reader and non-biblical genres the viewer, and to create methodologies that ensure that these artistic interpretations of the Bible play a central role in the 21st century in challenging (or supporting) traditional readings of biblical characters and plots. The Bible and Visual Culture Section also encourages explorations of the Bible and its influence in other visual media, such as sculpture, book illustration, film, advertising, street art and other aspects of popular culture. The benefit of such a research area is that it is multidisciplinary and makes use of insights from a range of disciplines including art history, psychology, gender studies, and postcolonial studies.

Tags:

Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Law

Reinhard Achenbach
Description: The purpose of the Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Law Section is to promote interdisciplinary research on ancient Near Eastern, biblical, and post-biblical law. Methodological perspectives include historical-critical, literary, legal-historical, feminist, and social-scientific approaches.

Call for papers: This unit will sponsor one or two open sessions at the 2016 meeting in Seoul, South Korea. Scholars and well-qualified graduate students may present papers on a range of topics affecting the interpretation of particular biblical laws and law collections or relate such laws and law collections to (other) legal corpora from the ancient Near Eastern world.

Tags: Law (Comparative Religion / History of Religion), Law Codes & Legal Documents (Ancient Near Eastern Literature - Genre)

Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Wisdom

Nili Shupak
Description: The unit seeks to encourage an ongoing discourse on new ideas and methodologies in the study of Wisdom Literature. The primary focus is on Biblical wisdom - Proverbs, Job, Qoheleth, the Wisdom Psalms and other texts influenced by wisdom ideas, as well as Ben Sira and Wisdom of Solomon. The section is also concerned with the relationship between biblical wisdom literature and cognate texts of the ancient Near East.

Call for papers:

Tags: Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) (Biblical Literature - Deuterocanonical Works), Wisdom (Ancient Near Eastern Literature - Genre), Wisdom and Philosophical Literature (Early Jewish Literature - Jewish Pseudepigrapha), Wisdom of Solomon (Biblical Literature - Deuterocanonical Works), Writings - Ecclesiastes (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Writings - Job (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Writings - Proverbs (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint))

Biblical Characters in Three Traditions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam)

John Tracy Greene
Description: This seminar approaches biblical literature through its most famous and pivotal characters, for it is around them that the subsequent biblical story is organized and arranged. Moreover, these characters have come to enjoy a life and fame that extends well beyond the basic Old Testament, Miqra, and New Testament, and even into the Qur’an and Islamic oral and written texts. As was demonstrated at the recent Tartu seminar, Samaritan texts and traditions (unfamiliar to many) have a contribution to make to the seminar as well. Our work seeks, among other goals, to facilitate a meaningful and informed dialogue between Jews, Christians, Muslims and Samaritans—foregrounded in the academic study of the treatment of characters across texts and traditions—by providing both an open forum at annual conferences, and by providing through our publications a written reference library to consult. A further goal is to encourage and provide a forum in which new scholarly talent in biblical and related studies may be presented.

Call for papers: Biblical literature is obsessed with how humans are able to access the non-human realm of existence and how to communicate (and negotiate) with it. This is not to broach the subject of prophecy, a subject we discussed during the Vienna Seminar, and which John T. Greene (The Role of the Messenger and Message in the Ancient Near East, Brown Judaic Studies [Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1988]) has excluded Israel's prophets as having been understood as messengers--especially when compared with the region-wide understanding of this term and function. We are thus challenged to understand the biblical distinction between messenger(s) of God and prophet(s) of that deity.
The names Gabriel and Michael appear in both the Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament (Dan. 8:16, 9:21 [Gabriel]; Dan. 10:13, 10:21, [Michael]) and New Testament (Luke 1:19, 1:26 [Gabriel]; Jude 9, Rev. 12:7 [Michael]). Within traditional Judaism, a representative piece, The Bedtime Shema’ liturgy, mentions four angels, Gabriel, Michael, Uriel, and Raphael. Sanhedrin 95b of the Talmud references Gabriel, also. There are a plethora of rabbinic references available, also.
One of the trajectories traceable during the 7th century and beyond in the phenomenon of Islam is also found in the Qur'an. Both Gabriel (Jibril) and Michael (Mika’al) figure there prominently in Sura al-Baqarah 2.97, 2.98, 66.4, as well. As such, they are deserving, biblical characters worthy of being researched and discussed.
In essence, there is no dirth of literature available to the scholar to craft profound and meaningful essays concerning these two plus individuals designated messenger/angels in the literature produced by biblical, Jewish and Christian-Apocalyptic writers, rabbinical, and Islamic scholars in an attempt to explain the presence and function of these messengers/angels/communicators so named.

Tags:

Biblical Interpretation in Early Christianity

D. Jeffrey Bingham
Description: This program unit explores the interpretative structures, methodologies, and concerns of patristic exegesis and the various assumptions underlying it.

Call for papers: This unit especially welcomes paper proposals on biblical apocalyptic material in early Christian interpretation, but will also consider proposals which contribute to our understanding of the structures, methodologies, concerns and assumptions functioning within patristic readings of other biblical texts.

Tags:

Biblical Theology

Carey Walsh
Stephen E. Fowl
Description: The unit explores the hermeneutical innovations and theological implications of the location of critical biblical interpretation within the confessional communities of the various traditions. Particular attention is given to the relationship between systematic theology, practical theology, philosophical theology, and biblical studies, with respect to their nature and status as discrete disciplines.

Call for papers: For the 2016 conference, 1) one session will focus on various themes in biblical theology, such as covenant, hesed, promised land, law and gospel. Papers may be constructive, theological examinations into a biblical theme or a study of a noted biblical theologian(s) on a theme. 2) A second session is devoted to Asian perspectives on biblical theology and the field of biblical studies. Papers on Asian hermeneutics and contrasts between East and West in biblical interpretation are welcomed. 3) The third session will explore the differences between biblical theology and Theological Interpretation of Scripture and where they challenge each other.

Tags:

Catholic Epistles

Dr. Darian Lockett
Felix H. Cortez
Description: This unit provides a forum for sharing original research regarding all aspects of and approaches to the interpretation of the Catholic Epistles (James, 1–2 Peter, 1–3 John, and Jude) as a collection or individual letters, including a variety of critical methodologies and especially welcome studies demonstrating interdisciplinary approaches.

Call for papers: The Pastoral and Catholic Epistles Section considers research on these letters that contributes to understanding them in their social, literary, and theological contexts. Papers that use various (especially cross-disciplinary) approaches to interpret these texts are welcome.

Tags: Hebrews and Catholic Epistles (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Hebrews and Catholic Epistles - 1 John (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Hebrews and Catholic Epistles - 1 Peter (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Hebrews and Catholic Epistles - 2 John (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Hebrews and Catholic Epistles - 2 Peter (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Hebrews and Catholic Epistles - 3 John (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Hebrews and Catholic Epistles - Hebrews (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Hebrews and Catholic Epistles - James (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Hebrews and Catholic Epistles - Jude (Biblical Literature - New Testament)

Contextual Interpretation of the Bible (Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and New Testament)

Athalya Brenner-Idan
Archie C. C. Lee
Gale A. Yee
Description: The goal of this Seminar is to explore the interest in Contextual Biblical Interpretation, its different strategies (including "inculturation", inter(con)textualization, and reading with "ordinary" readers), its methodological justifications, and the extent to which all interpretations are contextual. We are especially interested in seemingly "marginal" (from the geographical, gender, faith, class, age, communal, and so forth) aspects of Biblical interpretation.

Call for papers: The aim of this Seminar is to underline the significance of contextual interpretation and the contribution of contextual awareness to biblical studies. Issues of different strategies (including “inculturation,” inter(con)textualization, and reading with “ordinary” readers) and methodological justifications are to be seriously explored. We are especially interested in the “marginal” (from the geographical, gender, faith, class, age, communal and so forth) aspects of interpretation of the Bible. Three sessions are planned: 1. On the Books of Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah. 2. On the Megillot (the Five Scrolls) and, 3. On any books of the New Testament. The sessions will be a combination of solicited and proposed papers. We welcome papers that examine the biblical text from within a reader’s explicitly articulated context, personal as well as communal, while firmly anchored in clear methodology. While the 2016 International Meeting of SBL will be held in Seoul, Korea, papers that focus on the Asian contextual are encouraged. Acceptance of papers for the sessions is a first step toward, but does not guarantee, publication in the corresponding volume of the ongoing contextual series Texts@Contexts (Now at Sheffield Phoenix Press).

Tags:

Digital Humanities in Biblical, Early Jewish, and Christian Studies

David Hamidovic
Daniel Machiela
Description: The unit focuses on the transformations of Biblical, Early Jewish and Christian studies in the emerging digital culture. We propose to study interactions between Digital Humanities and Biblical, Early Jewish and Christian studies (literature, manuscripts, art, archaeology, epigraphy, methodology).

Call for papers: The unit focuses on the transformations of Biblical, Early Jewish and Christian studies in the emerging digital culture. We wish to organize sessions about visualization of data with a special interest for teaching.

Tags:

Early Christianity and the Ancient Economy

David Hollander
Thomas R. Blanton IV
Description: The unit is the foundational component of an international, interdisciplinary project that seeks to delineate the relationship between early Christianity and the ancient economy in the period from Jesus to Justinian, demonstrating both similarities and differences in attitudes, approaches to problems, and attempted solutions.

Call for papers: The Early Christianity and Ancient Economy program unit sponsors three projects: The first project involves a study of all the major aspects of the economy in the ancient world, especially the Roman Empire. The second project examines first-century early Christianity both in relationship to the ancient economy and in regard to its own economic aspects. The third project does the same for Christianity in the second to the fifth centuries. Both synchronic and diachronic studies are encouraged, as are contributions focused on specific issues (such as money, texts, authors, themes, and events). The unit welcomes papers addressing the economy in its broadest sense, including both mercantile and non-mercantile transactions; proposals involving gift exchange and other extra-mercantile modes of transmission of goods and services are solicited. Paper proposals for all three projects are welcomed, especially those that make use of papyri, inscriptions, and other realia. Those submitting a proposal should designate in the Abstract the project for which the paper should be considered. In recognition of the SBL IM’s host country, the program unit also welcomes proposals treating themes of capitalism, neoliberalism, and economic injustice, particularly with regard to the effects of the economic restructuring plan first implemented in South Korea in 1997.

Tags:

Engaging Asia-Pacific Art (SABS)

Jione Havea
Description: *

Call for papers: We invite papers that present Asia-Pacific art (visual, performance, rhythmic, slam or mixed) as form of engagement, and how that might play out in the reading of biblical, Asian and/or Pasifika scriptural texts. Proposals should indicate the (1) art form, (2) artist(s), (3) tone of engagement (opposition, protest, sanction, appreciation), (4) scriptural texts, (5) proposed readings and (6) equipment needed to exhibit the artwork(s) (CD, DVD, projector, exhibition stand, performance floor or stage, etc).

Tags:

Epigraphical and Paleological Studies Pertaining to the Biblical World

Annalisa Azzoni
Robert Deutsch
Description: The unit focuses on inscriptions and icons bearing on the Bible world, with special concentration on the meaning and analysis of seals, ostraca, magic bowls, inscriptions, and scripts from the ancient Near East.

Call for papers:

Tags:

Epistle to the Hebrews

David M. Moffitt
Eric F. Mason
Description: This unit is designed to encourage conversation about the historical, hermeneutical, and theological issues raised in Hebrews. Special attention will be given to papers that engage topics relevant to the portion of the Epistle under consideration each year.

Call for papers: This unit is designed to encourage conversation about the historical, hermeneutical, and theological issues raised in Hebrews. For the 2016 meeting we especially invite papers that address the provenance and context of Hebrews.

Tags:

Expressions of Religion in Israel

Prof. Dr. Antje Labahn
Jeffrey Stackert
Description: Formerly titled "Israelite Religion," this program unit focuses on the broad scope of Israelite religion and cult beginning with the first temple period. It provides a forum for scholars to explore rapidly expanding conceptions of "Israelite religion." Contributors interpret biblical traditions and artifactual discoveries in Israel in the light of comparable traditions and material evidences in neighboring countries.

Call for papers: The research unit “Expressions of Religion in Israel“ invites papers to be offered on the broad issue of “Exclusive Yahwism and Its Alternatives”. Under this heading, various methodological approaches as well as divergent material to be investigated in particular will be welcome. As such, we encourage papers on ancestor worship/memorial ritual, necromancy, afterlife, popular syncretism (e.g. pagan deities, "high places"), divination and prophecy. We are interested in a wide range of different forms of religious practices as they are perceived either in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible or in contextual material of the ancient world in literacy as well as in material culture. If your paper will predominantly focus on the Persian Period this would be quite welcome though it is no precondition.

Tags:

Families and Children in the Ancient World

Louise Tsui-yuk Liu
Mikael Larsson
Description: This unit provides a forum for presenting and discussing issues related to families, children and biblical literature. The section is open to presentations on the Hebrew Bible, the Christian Testament and early Christian, Rabbinic and Greco-Roman material from a variety of perspectives and using a variety of methods.

Call for papers: Families and Children in the Ancient World For the 2016 meeting we are planning two sessions. The first will be a session co-hosted with the "Allusions in the Gospels" and will include both invited papers and an open call. We welcome papers that address (a) how representations of marriage, childbirth, childhood, and family in the Gospels draw upon, reflect, alter, and/or undermine constructions of marriage, childbirth, childhood, and family in the literature of the Hebrew Bible, of late ancient Judaism, and of the Greco-Roman world, and (b) how such intertextual connections function in a context of imperial domination. The second will be an open session. We encourage paper proposals on a broad range of topics relating to families and children in the Hebrew Bible, the Christian Testament, early Christianity, or the Greco-Roman world in general. Submissions from a variety of perspectives, such as gender, medicine, archaeology and literature, are welcome.

Tags:

Gospel of Mark

Elizabeth Shively
Geert Van Oyen
Description: Our aim is to provide a forum for scholars and graduate students to explore all aspects of and approaches to the research, hermeneutics, and interpretation of the Gospel of Mark, including (but not limited to) historical, exegetical, theological, methodological, and literary studies. We are especially interested in the investigation of new questions, new areas of inquiry, and new strategies for reading Mark.

Call for papers: The Mark section is planning two open sessions. The first will address a variety of Markan topics. The second will address "time" in the Gospel of Mark. Jesus' announcement of the nearness of the Kingdom of God creates a tension between the time that is fulfilled (Mark 1:15) and the "time that will come" (13:33). For this session, different aspects of time in the story world can be considered, for example, the role of the past (the Jewish Scriptures), the presence of the Kingdom now, the eschatological expectation, the concrete indications of time (the day, the Sabbath, the hour, euthus), or the narrative aspects of time (sequence, repetition, duration, chronology). We welcome proposals for either session.

Tags:

Healthcare and Disability in the Ancient World

Laura M. Zucconi
Description: The unit seeks to foster scholarship related to disability in all fields of biblical studies. Major areas of concern include medical history of the Ancient Near East and Greco-Roman worlds; the religious, legal, and cultural status of people with disabilities in the biblical and formative Jewish and Christian periods; the representation of disability in biblical and cognate texts, biblical theology of the same, and disability in the history of biblical interpretation.

Call for papers: The unit plans to have several sessions at the 2016 meeting. Paper proposals are welcome on any aspect of the study of healthcare and disability related to the ancient Near East and Greco-Roman worlds. Major areas of concern include medical history; the religious, legal, and cultural status of people with disabilities or healthcare providers; the representation of disability in biblical and cognate texts, and biblical theology.

Tags:

Hellenistic Greek Language and Linguistics

Albert L. Lukaszewski
Peter Spitaler
Description: Hellenistic Greek forms the basis of studies relative to both testaments as well as much of the ancient world. This section welcomes papers on any aspect of the Greek found in the Septuagint, New Testament, or other Hellenistic literature. Linguistic, grammatical and lexical studies are particularly encouraged.

Call for papers: Hellenistic Greek forms the basis of studies relative to both testaments as well as much of the ancient world. This section welcomes papers on any aspect of the Greek found in the Septuagint, New Testament, or other Hellenistic literature of the Biblical Period (prior to 150 CE). Linguistic, grammatical and lexical studies are particularly encouraged.

Tags: Greek - Attic (Philology / Linguistics (incl. Semiotics)), Greek - Koine (LXX, NT, Patristics) (Philology / Linguistics (incl. Semiotics))

Hellenistic Judaism

Ljubica Jovanovic
Stephen Herring
Description: This section is dedicated to the study of all aspects of Judaism related to Hellenistic times. The Hellenistic period includes its chronological, cultural, and linguistic dimensions.

Call for papers: In the light of the many religious traditions that exist in South Korea we call for specific papers on life and worship in the context of diverse religious expressions, e.g., papers that address the coexistence and interaction of religions in a multi-religious society. Of course, papers on any aspect of Hellenistic Judaism in the South Korean context are welcome and, as always, we will welcome proposals on any topic related to Hellenistic Judaism.

Tags:

Intersectional Feminism(s)

Lilly (SJ) Nortje-Meyer
Description: The aim of this unit is to generate collaborative insights within a broad understanding of intersectional feminism(s). Its purpose is to be inclusive and to challenge hegemonic paradigms and structures (including within feminism). This unit prides itself on championing interdisciplinarity, positionality, and recognition that the personal is political. We particularly welcome papers which reflect the breadth of voices and experiences that comprise global feminisms and encourage contributors from all contexts.

Call for papers: The Feminist Interpretations unit will organize the following sessions. 1) Open call: We invite papers on methodological and hermeneutical issues specifically relating to exegesis in feminist and gender studies. In this session papers are invited to focus on different methodologies (e.g., historical critical, narratology, intertextuality, postcolonial, interreligious and transnational studies …) and their relevance for gender studies. 2) Invitations will comprise a session on feminist exegesis and cultural studies, specifically on the reception history of gender relevant themes and texts of the Bible. 3) Open call: Junior section of gender relevant exegesis of biblical texts. In this section we expect papers of young researchers presenting their research. We welcome papers that examine the biblical text from a gender perspective, firmly anchored in clear methodology. While the 2016 International Meeting of SBL will be held in Seoul, South Korea, papers discussing theory and practice in the Asian context are encouraged.

Tags: Gender and Sexuality Criticism (incl. Feminist, Womanist, Masculinity Studies, Queer Theory) (Interpretive Approaches)

Johannine Literature

Dirk G. van der Merwe
Richard K. Min
Description: The unit promotes the study of the Johannine literature, a major component of the Christian Scripture; addressing the issues and concerns having to do with the analysis and interpretation of the literature.

Call for papers: We invite submission of papers of any topic related to Johannine literature, encompassing the Fourth Gospel and the three Johannine letters. A session also encourages the proposals focusing on the theme and the role of the theology of peace and reconciliation in Asia, the Asian perspective(s) and contextualization, and the Asian contributions in biblical interpretation of the Johannine literature.

Tags: Gospels - John (Biblical Literature - New Testament)

Judaica

Mayer I. Gruber
Description: The unit draws together scholars from around the world to explore diverse issues that are related to Hebrew Scripture in its relationship to ancient, medieval, and modern Judaisms: medieval lexicography and poetics, musical exegesis, philosophy, and the study of the Talmud in the Far East.

Call for papers: The Judaica Unit of the 2016 SBL International Meeting in Seoul, South Korea welcomes papers dealing with any and all aspects of post-Hebrew Scripture Judaisms especially but not exclusively in relationship to Hebrew Scripture. Multi-disciplinary papers referring to art, music, and literature are very especially encouraged.

Tags: Ancient Near East - Iron Age (History & Culture), Apocalyptic Literature and Related Works (Early Jewish Literature - Jewish Pseudepigrapha), Art, Film, Music, and Literature (History of Interpretation / Reception History / Reception Criticism), Babylonian Talmud (Early Jewish Literature - Rabbinic Literature), Biblical Interpretations (Early Jewish Literature - Dead Sea Scrolls), Biblical Texts (Early Jewish Literature - Dead Sea Scrolls), Comparative Approaches (Interpretive Approaches), Dead Sea Scrolls (Early Jewish Literature - Dead Sea Scrolls), Expansions of the Old Testament and Other Legends (Early Jewish Literature - Jewish Pseudepigrapha), Hebrew (classical) (Philology / Linguistics (incl. Semiotics)), Hymns and Prayers (Early Jewish Literature - Dead Sea Scrolls), Jerusalem Talmud (Early Jewish Literature - Rabbinic Literature), Jewish (Ideology & Theology), Jewish Pseudepigrapha (Early Jewish Literature - Jewish Pseudepigrapha), Josephus (Early Jewish Literature - Other), Legal Writings (Early Jewish Literature - Dead Sea Scrolls), Lexicography (Text and Translation), Literary Criticism (incl. poetics, new criticism, formalism, close reading, narratology) (Interpretive Approaches), Mishnah (Early Jewish Literature - Rabbinic Literature), Nonliterary Texts (lists, contracts) (Early Jewish Literature - Dead Sea Scrolls), Other Jewish Compositions (e.g., 1 Enoch) (Early Jewish Literature - Dead Sea Scrolls), Other Rabbinic Works - Exegetical Midrashim (Early Jewish Literature - Rabbinic Literature), Other Rabbinic Works - Haggadic Midrashim (Early Jewish Literature - Rabbinic Literature), Other Rabbinic Works - Halakic Midrashim (Early Jewish Literature - Rabbinic Literature), Other Rabbinic Works - Homiletical Midrashim (Early Jewish Literature - Rabbinic Literature), Other Texts (Early Jewish Literature - Other), Philo (Early Jewish Literature - Other), Prayers, Psalms, and Odes (Early Jewish Literature - Jewish Pseudepigrapha), Rabbinic Literature (Early Jewish Literature - Rabbinic Literature), Rule Documents (Early Jewish Literature - Dead Sea Scrolls), Sectarian Texts (Early Jewish Literature - Dead Sea Scrolls), Targumic Texts (Early Jewish Literature - Rabbinic Literature), Testaments (Early Jewish Literature - Jewish Pseudepigrapha), Tosefta (Early Jewish Literature - Rabbinic Literature), Wisdom and Philosophical Literature (Early Jewish Literature - Jewish Pseudepigrapha)

Korean Biblical Colloquium

John Ahn
Description: The object and purpose of this organization shall be to promote scholarship in the Bible and related subjects among Koreans as well as fellowship and networking among the Korean scholars in those fields. Members of KBC shall be Koreans and others who are engaged in reasearch in Biblical and related fields and interested in developing Korean perspective in those fields as well as sharing their scholarly experiences with fellow Korean scholars.

Call for papers: The object and purpose of this organization shall be to promote scholarship in the Bible and related subjects among Koreans as well as fellowship and networking among the Korean scholars in those fields. Members of KBC shall be Koreans and others who are engaged in reasearch in Biblical and related fields and interested in developing Korean perspective in those fields as well as sharing their scholarly experiences with fellow Korean scholars.

Tags:

Nag Hammadi and Gnosticism

Lautaro Roig Lanzillotta
Description: The Nag Hammadi and Gnosticism Section provides a forum for current international research on the Coptic codices discovered at Nag Hammadi, Egypt, in 1945. Research areas include: issues of text and translation; analysis and interpretation of the tractates; codicological analysis; background and provenance of the manuscripts; studies relevant to the larger social and religio-historical contexts of the Nag Hammadi texts, especially their relation to Jewish, Christian and Greco-Roman religious traditions.

Call for papers: At the cross roads of East and West, Egypt was for centuries the meeting point of Oriental and Occidental cultures. Alexandria’s strategic position increased the traditional import and export of cultural innovations to such an extent that during the Hellenistic period it already radiated the whole Mediterranean with new ideas regarding science, religion, philosophy, astronomy, astrology, and magic. In this stimulating environment Gnosticism found its natural habitat: Greek philosophy at Alexandria and Egyptian religion provided the innovative and traditional aspects that transpire this dynamic revolutionary worldview. We invite contributors to the SBL IM in Seoul to present papers exploring the role Egypt played in the genesis of Gnostic thought and the manifold aspects that may have influenced its development and the formation of the Nag Hammadi library: namely Egyptian religion, Greek philosophy at Alexandria, the archeological findings of Nag Hammadi, the Corpus Hermeticum and its relationship to Nag Hammadi, the Coptic language of the manuscripts, papyrology, etc.

Tags:

Paul and Pauline Literature

Kar-Yong Lim
Kathy Ehrensperger
Description: The unit provides a forum for presentation and discussion of original scholarly research on all facets of the interpretation of the Pauline Corpus in the New Testament. This includes consideration of exegetical, socio-historical, history of religions, theological, literary, history of interpretation, and methodological questions.

Call for papers: The unit provides a forum for presentation and discussion of original scholarly research on all facets of the interpretation of the Pauline Corpus in the New Testament. This includes consideration of exegetical, socio-historical, history of religions, theological, literary, history of interpretation, and methodological questions.

Tags: Pauline Epistles (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Pauline Epistles - 1 Corinthians (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Pauline Epistles - 1 Thessalonians (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Pauline Epistles - 1 Timothy (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Pauline Epistles - 2 Corinthians (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Pauline Epistles - 2 Thessalonians (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Pauline Epistles - 2 Timothy (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Pauline Epistles - Colossians (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Pauline Epistles - Ephesians (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Pauline Epistles - Galatians (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Pauline Epistles - Philemon (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Pauline Epistles - Philippians (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Pauline Epistles - Romans (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Pauline Epistles - Titus (Biblical Literature - New Testament)

Pentateuch (Torah)

Michael Hundley
Stephen Herring
Description: The unit provides a forum for presentation and discussion of research on the Pentateuch / Torah, with a particular focus on transmission-historical issues and linkage of that area of inquiry with other more synchronic methodologies.

Call for papers: The unit provides a forum for presentation and discussion of research on the Pentateuch / Torah, with a particular focus on transmission-historical issues and linkage of that area of inquiry with other more synchronic methodologies.

Tags: Torah/Pentateuch (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Torah/Pentateuch - Deuteronomy (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Torah/Pentateuch - Exodus (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Torah/Pentateuch - Genesis (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Torah/Pentateuch - Leviticus (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Torah/Pentateuch - Numbers (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint))

Persian Period

James Nogalski
Description: This seminar focuses on the history and literature of Yehud in the context of the Persian period, 539-333 BCE. We have particular interests in imperialism and its effects, pluralism within the period, practices of religion within the household, and the development of temple, cult, and canon.

Call for papers: This year we will have an invited session on the changing role of temples in the Persian period and another on the Persian Period shaping of the Book of the Twelve. Additionally, we will have at least one session of open topics related to the Persian Period for which we are accepting proposals.

Tags:

Place, Space, and Identity in the Ancient Mediterranean World

Gert T. M. Prinsloo
Karen Wenell
Description: Investigates the inherent spatiality of human existence and how it affects human behavior, ideology, identity, and orientation. Ancient Mediterranean texts and societies are studied from a decidedly spatial perspective. Different approaches to spatiality will enrich investigations, e.g. narratological space, critical spatiality, sociological theories on space, space and identity, space and body.

Call for papers:

Tags:

Political Biblical Criticism

Fernando F. Segovia
Jeremy Punt
Description: The unit seeks to pursue, on the one hand, the task of criticism, its vision and mission, in the contemporary world and, on the other hand, the development of a political approach, globalsystemic in orientation, to focus on major crises of the world—migration, inequality, climate—bringing together thereby, in interdisciplinary fashion, Biblical Studies and such other fields as Migration Studies, Economic Studies, and Climate Studies.

Call for papers: In 2016 the unit will continue the project on Biblical Criticism in the Global South, which seeks to examine the meaning and task of contemporary biblical criticism in the Global South. We will focus on Asia and the Pacific. Presentations are welcome.

Tags:

Postcolonial Studies

Mark G. Brett
Monica J. Melanchthon
Philip Chia
Description: This unit explores the diversity of postcolonial studies and their relevance in particular contexts, encompassing critical accounts of reception history, postcolonial theory, and fresh proposals for reading biblical texts.

Call for papers: Postcolonialism, Nationality and Decolonization: In the postcolonial era, political attention has often been focussed on the development of national identity and solidarity. Nationalism in various forms consolidates the nation yet, in many contexts, recolonizes the people at the same time. Decolonization in Asia remains a struggle in various modes, 70 years since the geopolitical changes brought by WWII. This session invites papers in biblical interpretations that engage Asian contexts, in theory and practice, in their various struggles with politics, economics, ideology, national identity, democracy, gender and social equality, migration, refugees and public policy.

Tags:

Prophets

Johanna Erzberger
Tyler Mayfield
Description: This unit aims to provide an open forum for scholars to present papers on a variety of topics germane to the study of ancient Israelite prophecy and prophetic literature.

Call for papers: This unit aims to provide an open forum for scholars to present papers on a variety of topics germane to the study of ancient Israelite prophecy and prophetic literature.

Tags: Former Prophets (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Former Prophets - 1-2 Kings (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Former Prophets - 1-2 Samuel (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Former Prophets - Judges (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Former Prophets -Joshua (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Latter Prophets (not including The Twelve) (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Latter Prophets - Ezekiel (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Latter Prophets - Isaiah (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Latter Prophets - Jeremiah (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Latter Prophets - The Twelve (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Latter Prophets - The Twelve - Amos (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Latter Prophets - The Twelve - Habakkuk (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Latter Prophets - The Twelve - Haggai (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Latter Prophets - The Twelve - Hosea (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Latter Prophets - The Twelve - Joel (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Latter Prophets - The Twelve - Jonah (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Latter Prophets - The Twelve - Malachi (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Latter Prophets - The Twelve - Micah (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Latter Prophets - The Twelve - Nahum (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Latter Prophets - The Twelve - Obadiah (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Latter Prophets - The Twelve - Zechariah (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint)), Latter Prophets - The Twelve - Zephaniah (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint))

Psychological Hermeneutics of Biblical Themes and Texts

Linda Joelsson
Eben Scheffler
Description: Psychological Criticism complements approaches that consider texts and their impact/s from the perspective of the reader, alongside literary, rhetorical and theological approaches, identifying how texts operate within the minds of their readers, or portray thoughts and motivations of the characters in their narratives.

Call for papers: Psychological Hermeneutics of Biblical Themes and Texts hereby calls for papers for the 2016 meeting in Seoul. The psychological aspects of human life are integral, but they represent an under-examined area in Biblical studies. Biblical authors show great interest in people's capacity to cope psychologically with their circumstances, in their interpretations of life situations, and in how to effect change – both internal and external. This section invites papers on the psychological aspects of the biblical themes and texts, since psychological interest may be found behind the texts, in the texts themselves, and in their reception up to the present day. It intends to explore what the potential would be of an examination of Biblical texts to the promotion of psychological health in society today. This year we especially welcome papers on trauma, psychological coping, the psychological components of exile, and encouragement. This may be achieved by exploring symbols and archetypal images, unconscious factors in biblical motifs and practices, psychodynamic factors, biblical personalities, religious experience, and the psychology of biblical ethics. We prefer papers that make explicit use of existing psychological theories. The intersection between biblical theology and psychology is a meeting between two disciplines in their full right – each with their specific questions and areas of expertise, but very much complementary to each other.

Tags:

Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls

Jutta Jokiranta
Matthew Goff
Description: The unit provides forum for presentation and discussion of views relating to the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Qumran settlement, and the people of that place and of those documents.

Call for papers: We are planning three sessions. One is a joint session with the Apocalyptic Literature program unit. This is an invited session that will explore how the Dead Sea Scrolls contribute to our understanding of sapiential and apocalyptic traditions. The theme of the second session is "The Dead Sea Scrolls: Thinking about the Relationship between Texts and Embodied Experiences." Some papers have been invited for this session. We welcome papers that engage methodological questions about embodied experiences in general and experience, emotions, and cognition in light of the Dead Sea Scrolls and literature associated with them. What specific role do texts have in mediating, solidifying, conceptualizing, prescribing, or describing embodied experiences? The session is especially interested in considering how cognitive- and neurosciences can help scholars formulate new questions about the study of the Scrolls. Speakers may also consider other material and contemporary textual evidence for the study of experience. In addition, for a third session we invite papers on any subject related to Qumran texts and the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Tags:

Quran and Islamic Tradition in Comparative Perspective

Zohar Hadromi-Allouche
John Kaltner
Description: This unit seeks to foster comparative research on the Quran and Muslim culture, discourse, and devotional life. We encourage papers and panels that examine the Quran and Islamic tradition in the wider context of the history of the Western monotheisms; explore Islam’s profound historical relationships with Judaism, Christianity, and the biblical heritage; and promote comparative inquiry and intercommunal dialogue more generally.

Call for papers: The Quran and Islamic Tradition in Comparative Perspective unit of the SBL welcomes proposals for both individual papers and pre-arranged panels at the international meeting in Seoul, July 3-7, 2016. Proposals for pre-arranged panels should be emailed to the program unit chairs. Individual papers must be submitted through the online system. Suggested topics include, but are not limited to, the Quran and Islamic tradition in the wider context of the history of the Western monotheisms; Islam’s profound historical relationships with Judaism, Christianity, and the biblical heritage; and comparative inquiry and intercommunal dialogue more generally.

Tags:

Ritual in the Biblical World

Ada Taggar Cohen
Daniel Belnap
Description: The Ritual in the Biblical World Section focuses on the nature, meaning and function of ritual found in textual sources (HB, NT, non-canonical) in the larger context of the material culture of the ancient world, employing insights and methods of the field of ritual theory and ethnography.

Call for papers: 1) We invite papers for an open session on all aspects of ritual activities, with their textual, as well as archaeological and iconographical expressions, in the larger context of their cultural and religious functions in Ancient Israel and Late Antiquity. 2) Proposals are most welcome to a session devoted to the topic "Ritual Failure: What Happens when Rituals go Wrong?" At times the performance and expected procedures of the ritual do not work out as planned. Other times, failing communication between ritual experts and lay participants, or disparate perceptions of the situation lead to unexpected interpretations of the message and form of the ritual. And sometimes the ritual is unsuccessful in the sense that it does not have the intended effect. Questions that can be addressed: What does the risk of failure tell us about perceptions of ritual efficiency? How can studies of ancient literacy, media cultures, social history studies and archeology bring new perspectives to (re-) presentations of rituals and failing rituals in biblical texts? How do biblical and related texts describe and discourse the risks and outcome of rituals that go wrong?

Tags:

Septuagint Studies

Kristin De Troyer
Description: This unit is open to all papers devoted to the Septuagint and related versions.

Call for papers: This unit is open to all papers devoted to the Septuagint and related versions.

Tags:

Society for Pentecostal Studies

Adam White
Description: The Society for Pentecostal Studies began in 1970 and is an organization of scholars dedicated to providing a forum of discussion for all academic disciplines as a spiritual service to the kingdom of God. The purpose of the society is to stimulate, encourage, recognize, and publicize the work of Pentecostal and charismatic scholars; to study the implications of Pentecostal theology in relation to other academic disciplines, seeking a Pentecostal world-and-life view; and to support fully, to the extent appropriate for an academic society, the statement of purposes of the World Pentecostal Fellowship. http://www.sps-usa.org/

Call for papers: For the second year the Society for Pentecostal Studies will hold a parallel program unit at the Society of Biblical Literature international meeting. We are giving presenters the option of presenting papers in both English and Korean. As it is a Pentecostal program unit, the topic must be something related to Pentecostalism, but otherwise there is no specific “theme” to the sessions. We are particularly interested in papers that address the intersection of Pentecostalism and biblical studies. Being that it is in Korea, papers that take into consideration the social and geographical context of the meeting will certainly be fitting, but again, this is not essential for a proposal.

Tags:

Society of Asian Biblical Studies (SABS)

Tat-siong Benny Liew
Monica J. Melanchthon
Description: *

Call for papers: We welcome paper proposals on any book of the Bible as well as on any topic that deals with the Bible. However, one of the main objectives of this society is to foster biblical scholarship and research in Asia that takes seriously the Asian context—its cultures, religions, and methodologies. It is therefore strongly desirable that papers presented at this meeting attempt to understand the Bible from various Asian perspectives. For this year, we are especially hoping for papers that deal with our theme: "Moving Margins: Biblical Studies in 21st century Asia."

Tags:

Status of Women in the Profession

Dr. Mignon R. Jacobs
Description: The Committee holds sessions each year exploring the nature of the profession as experienced by women biblical scholars. The goal of the sessions are to provide a forum for open discussion, networking, and the sharing of ideas.

Call for papers:

Tags:

Stylistics and the Hebrew Bible

Elizabeth R.Hayes
Karolien Vermeulen
Description: The unit will offer a forum for scholars interested in stylistics and the Hebrew Bible. The goal is to explore the relation between form and meaning of the text drawing on a variety of approaches (rhetorical, narratological, cognitive, ideological…).

Call for papers: For ISBL 2016, the unit Stylistics and the Hebrew Bible will organize two sessions on the stylistics of the book of Judges. One session will consist of invited local and non-local scholars; the other session will be open to all. Papers may deal with one or more of the narratives within the book. What is the impact of their stylistic composition on the audience and its perception of the message(s)? Are there any recurring features? Does the same feature fulfill the same function in all the narratives? What can different stylistic methodologies teach us about the way in which meaning is formed by the stories?

Tags:

Synoptic Gospels

J. R. C. Cousland
Sakari Häkkinen
Description: The Synoptic Gospels, which have formed a coherent unit since antiquity, have played an important role in modern scholarship. This section provides an open forum for the presentation of papers, from a variety of perspectives and using a variety of methods, on these seminal religious texts.

Call for papers: Study of the Synoptic Gospels is critical for a literate understanding of religious discussions and imperatives in today's world. This year, three sessions will be organized, and proposals are welcome for each one of them. The themes of the sessions are: 1. Orality, Memory and Literacy in the formation process of the Synoptic Gospels. Since there is no special session on Q, we invite proposals in two categories: a) one specializing in Q and b) the other on the Synoptic Gospels. 2. The Synoptic Problem Reconsidered. Intertextual relations between the Gospel of John and the Synoptic Gospels are especially welcome. 3. Special Themes on the Synoptic Gospels. All topics are welcome. We especially invite Asian approaches to the Gospels and their interpretation. Please indicate in your proposal which session your paper would fit best.

Tags:

Textual Criticism: Manuscripts & Methods

Ronald van der Bergh
Timothy B. Sailors
Description: This program unit is devoted to the textual criticism of early Jewish and early Christian writings: This includes the Jewish Bible, early Jewish literature, and the Old Testament (in Hebrew and Aramaic, Greek, and other ancient languages), as well as early Christian literature and the New Testament (in Greek, Latin, and other ancient languages). We offer a forum for the investigation of all types of material witnesses related to the text of this literature—tablets, manuscripts, ostraca, inscriptions—and for the consideration of the textual form of this literature reflected in its citation and use by ancient authors and in writings from antiquity through the Middle Ages. This consists not only of contributions that deal with the Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin textual witnesses, but also those that engage evidence in Ugaritic, Arabic, Syriac, Ethiopic, Coptic, Armenian, and other linguistic traditions. A wide variety of additional issues related to textual criticism are also addressed, including epigraphy, manuscript studies, papyrology, codicology, paleography, scribal habits and the production of texts, the history of transmission (and its cultural, social, and religious settings), the practice of textual criticism from antiquity to modern times, restoration and conservation, the use of modern technology in studying this material, the production of critical editions, and discussions of particular passages.

Call for papers: Papers concentrating on any aspect of textual criticism are welcome, particularly those that deal directly with manuscripts, i.e., papers that work with material witnesses to the text—tablets, ostraca, inscriptions, papyri, majuscules, minuscules, lectionaries.

Tags:

Writings (including Psalms)

Donald R. Vance
Description: The aim of the unit to promote all aspects of and approaches to the study of the texts commonly referred to as the Writings (Ketuvim) in the Hebrew Bible.

Call for papers: Our section continues to grow at the international meeting and once more we invite papers on any work included in the Writings of the Hebrew Bible. We particularly seek papers from scholars from our host country of South Korea and the entire region. We need submissions for our normal Psalms session, and, of course, papers on other books in the Writings. We encourage papers on wisdom, apocalyptic, historiography in Chronicles/Ezra-Nehemiah, etc., particularly those that come from a non-Western perspective (though such papers are also encouraged).

Tags:

ztest3

Description: test

Call for papers: test

Tags: Autobiographical Criticism (Interpretive Approaches), Disability Studies (Interpretive Approaches), Historical Criticism (Interpretive Approaches)
 


JOIN   |  DONATE   |  CONTACT   |  SBL TWITTER   |  BIBLE ODYSSEY TWITTER   |  PRIVACY POLICY

© 2024, Society of Biblical Literature. All Rights Reserved.