Recovering Female Interpreters of the Bible

Call For Papers: SESSION 1. “PROPHETS, PROPHETIC LITERATURE, AND WOMEN BIBLICAL INTERPRETERS (ca. 100 CE – ca. 1920 CE).” We invite proposals for 20-minute papers on women biblical interpreters active prior to the early twentieth century who dealt with prophets, prophecy, or prophetic literature. Possible topics include women who claimed prophetic authority to interpret the Bible, women who wrote about biblical prophets, or women who commented on prophetic literature in scripture. Examples of women who engaged prophetic biblical literature or claimed prophetic authority to interpret scripture include New Prophecy (Montanist) women; the martyr Perpetua (d. 203); Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179); Margery Kempe (1373-1438); Nonconformist prophetic women of the English Civil War; Jane Leade (1624-1704); Mother Ann Lee (1736-1784); African-American preacher Zilpha Elaw (1790-1893); and countless others. Though biographical introductions to women thinkers may be helpful, especially when introducing historical figures unfamiliar to audiences, papers should focus primarily on the women’s work as biblical interpreters. SESSION 2: “WOMEN BIBLICAL INTERPRETERS THROUGH THE AGES (ca. 100 CE – ca. 1920)." We invite proposals for 20-minute papers on any topic related to women who interpreted scripture prior to the early twentieth century. Topics can include women who interpreted the Bible through their writing, teaching, preaching, speaking, art, music, or other mediums. Papers may deal with individual women; or may compare several women writing on the same theme or biblical passage; or may deal with some other aspect of women's scriptural interpretation through the ages.

Program Unit Chairs

Propose a Paper for this Program Unit

Questions About Membership?

• Call 866-727-9955 Toll Free in the US
• Call 404-727-9498 Outside the US
• Fax us at 404-727-2419
• Email us at sblservices@sbl-site.org