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A. R. Pete Diamond Award for Integrative Scholarship

Award Description

SBL member A. R. “Pete” Diamond (PhD Cambridge) specialized in the book of Jeremiah. Though traditionally trained, he embraced innovative methods and approaches to biblical studies. His creative and receptive approach to life led him to embrace new approaches, to champion the changing paradigms in the field, and to support and encourage emerging and innovative work among students. He did much to frame current conversations on Jeremiah research and was the architect of SBL’s Writing/Reading Jeremiah annual meeting program unit. Louis Stulman noted Pete’s integration of approaches old and new: “He was a brilliant theorist who sought interpretation from new spaces opened for reading biblical texts by the postmodern turn, and while he commanded languages and historical-critical methods, he saw these as only some of the tools necessary to achieve more creative and integrative readings.”
 
Pete Diamond embraced creative and innovative methods and approaches to biblical interpretation. This endowed award established in his name is a tribute to that type of scholarship. Jeremiah was his subject, but his capacious approach is a model to the entire field for what scholarship is and should become over the course of a lifetime.
 
As a fitting tribute to these contributions and interests, an annual award has been established as a lasting legacy of his work: The A. R. Pete Diamond Award for Integrative Scholarship. This annual paper and presentation award supports junior scholars demonstrating innovative approaches in biblical studies that advance methodological work at the intersection of historical criticism, critical theory, and cultural studies.
 
2024 Call for Papers

The A. R. Pete Diamond Award for Integrative Scholarship will open for submissions on April 1, 2025.
 
Award
 
There is a $1,000 monetary award. The awarded paper will be delivered at the recipient's meeting of choice (Annual, International, or Global Virtual) in 2026. No one may receive this award more than once.
 
Qualifications for Submission
Any SBL member who has received a Ph.D. or Th.D. in biblical studies or a related field during the last ten years may submit a paper. This paper should be of publishable quality. It must not have been previously published or accepted for publication; however, a paper may be submitted that is under review by a journal or other academic press if a decision to publish has not been reached at the time of submission. If the paper was delivered at an annual or international SBL meeting, it must exhibit significant revision, as demonstrated by submission of both the original draft and the revision.
 
Submission Areas
Submissions may be in any of the textual or contextual areas of SBL’s scholarly and programmatic interests, that is, Hebrew Bible, New Testament, Ancient Near East, Late Antiquity, the history of interpretation, reception history, and the context of interpretation. However, submissions should engage in methods, readings, and interpretive interests that reflect the new spaces opened for reading biblical texts by the postmodern turn. While demonstrating an awareness of traditional linguistic and historical-critical methods, submissions should explore the changing paradigms of the field. As with the work of Pete Diamond, this annual paper and presentation award supports junior scholars demonstrating innovative approaches in biblical studies that advance methodological work at the intersection of historical criticism, critical theory, and cultural studies.
 
Submission Requirements

1. Applicants must submit no later than midnight (GMT -5) on 15 June 2025:

a. A dated CV
 
b. A paper, in English, of no more than 10,000 words including footnotes, and doubled-spaced. A bibliography is not required. If your paper is over the 10,000 word limit it will be automatically disqualified; The paper should be formatted as a PDF and submitted anonymously, that is, an author’s name should not appear after the paper’s title or in any heading; neither should any reference be made to the author within the paper in a manner that would reveal the author’s identity.

2. All materials should be submitted via the SBL Paper Awards Form page. If you do not receive a confirmation of receipt within two (2) business days, please contact Courtney Godwin.
 
3. Applicants may submit to only one SBL Paper Award (Achetmeier, Brooten, De Gruyter, Diamond, and Freedman) in a given year.
 
4. Previous winners of an award may not apply again for that same award.

Failure to follow all submission requirements will result in a paper’s automatic disqualification.
 
Applicants should consult the SBL Handbook of Style. The subject of the paper is open, but it must advance some dimension of biblical scholarship. The paper will be evaluated in accordance with the following criteria.
  1. A persuasive thesis that engages emerging methodologies and changing paradigms, and demonstrates quality of scholarship and significance to the field;

  2. Clarity of expression and thought;

  3. Originality and creativity.
The committee review process is a blind peer review. All submissions are anonymized prior to committee review.

Do you know someone who should apply? Spread the word! Click here for a printable award flyer.


Deadlines
 
1 April 2025
 Call for Papers open
15 June 2025  Submission of all materials
3 October2025  Announcement of Award
TBD   Presentation at 2026 Meeting
  
 
 
 


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