Contextual Biblical Interpretation

Call For Papers: We welcome papers that examine biblical texts while making explicit the role that a reader’s contemporary context plays/played in the interpretation – whether it is the contemporary context of one’s own interpretation, or the interpreters’ particular contexts (when considering existing interpretations, e.g., by critical exegetes, preachers, etc.). We plan to have (1) two text-centered sessions and (2) two joint sessions. First, in preparation for new volumes of the Text@Contexts Series, we are particularly interested in papers dealing with texts from Revelation, Paul's undisputed letters (other than the Corinthian correspondence), and Paul's disputed letters. Second, in preparation for a methodological volume of the Text@Contexts Series, jointly with the SBL Program Units Asian and Asian-American Hermeneutics, Bible and Cultural Studies, and Islands, Islanders, and Scriptures, we call for papers on “contextual biblical methodologies” – emphasizing either “context-focused methods” (methods particularly shaped by a given context, e.g. the context of Islands and Islanders) or “theory-framed methods” (methods developed on the basis of e.g. epistemological, hermeneutical, socio-cultural, communication theories). Note: Contributors will commit themselves 1) to have drafts of their papers ready for distribution to all participants by early October; and 2) to prepare responses to all the papers in their session. Drafts (from all four sessions) will be shared on a website. At the conference papers will be summarized, not read in full, to leave maximum time for discussion. Acceptance of papers for the session is a first step toward, but does not guarantee, publication in the corresponding volume of the ongoing contextual series Texts@Contexts (Sheffield Phoenix).

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