Contextual Biblical Interpretation

Call For Papers: We welcome papers that examine biblical texts or discuss methodology while making explicit the role that a reader’s contemporary context plays in the interpretation (whether the contemporary context of one’s own interpretation or the particular contexts of interpreters who are presented). We plan to have three very different sessions. First, we will discuss the book Romans: Three Exegetical Interpretations and the History of Reception: Volume 1: Romans 1:1-32, by Daniel Patte (Bloomsbury T&T Clark, London and New York, 2018). As it contextualizes three significant and significantly different ways of reading Romans 1, the book brings issues of contextual interpretation to the fore. A diverse panel of scholars has been invited to respond to the book, with discussion to follow. Second, we are collaborating with the “Latino/a and Latin American Biblical Interpretation” group in a joint session on the book of Revelation, to be considered from readers’ different contexts or social locations (e.g. geographical, geopolitical, racial/ethnic, socio-political, socio-economic, gendered, spiritual-psychological, etc.). While we have invited some presenters, we also welcome submissions for this session. Third, a session on “Contextualized Readings of Demons and Spirits” (informed by the readers’ contexts): either (a) reading biblical texts with communities for which the spirit world (e.g. ancestors, evil/restless spirits, spirits in the natural world, shamanic contexts) is significant; or (b) contextual approaches (vs. demythologization) of biblical texts on spirits/demons/evil powers. We welcome submissions for this session.

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