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2024 International Meeting
Meeting Begins: 7/28/2024
Meeting Ends: 8/1/2024
Call for Papers Opens: 11/29/2023
Call for Papers Closes: 2/13/2024
Requirements for Participation
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Program Units
Allusions in the Gospels and Acts
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: For the 2023 Amsterdam Meeting, the Allusions in the Gospels and Acts section requests paper proposals on inter-textual approaches to the canonical and extra-canonical gospels and acts of the apostles and their terms, motifs, ideas, traditions, typologies, characterizations, contextualizations, narrative orders, literary skills, and/or rhetorical tactics. Priority shall be given to proposals for allusions to the Hellenistic Jewish literature in gospel passages and apostle narratives.
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Ancient Near East
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 Unit in 2024 will have two sessions: 1) an open call session; and 2) a joint session with the Bible and Empire Unit on the topic of imperial language politics in the ancient Near East, especially, but not exclusively, in the Neo-Assyrian, Neo-Babylonian, Persian, and Hellenistic periods, and reflections of imperial language politics in biblical texts. Papers may investigate questions of lingua franca, administrative languages, colonial language negotiation, imperial cultic language and more. The frameworks engaged in this session may include, but are not limited to, empire studies, postcolonial/decolonial studies, diaspora studies, migration studies, sociolinguistics, comparative analysis, and inscriptional studies.
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))
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Ancient Near Eastern Iconography and the Bible
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: 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.
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Apocalyptic Literature
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 program unit will host three sessions for the 2024 ISBL meeting. Our first session is a joint session with the Dead Sea Scrolls program unit on Józef T. Milik's contributions to the study of Enochic literature, in anticipation of the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of his The Books of Enoch. While some papers have been invited for this session, we welcome strong proposals from scholars of any stage. Our second session is for a panel on 1 Enoch. Proposals on any aspect or text on 1 Enoch are welcome. Our third session is a completely open session. We encourage papers that explore a diverse range of methodologies and approaches to texts relevant for understanding apocalyptic literature.
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Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha
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: The Section invites papers that delve into the literary, religious, and societal dimensions of extra-canonical texts. This includes literary and philological analysis, historical insights into religious practices and theologies, and examinations of socio-symbolic constructions of traditions, particularly through the prisms of class and gender. The section encourages interdisciplinary approaches and comparative studies, aiming to broaden the understanding of these texts beyond their canonical counterparts.
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Apostolic Fathers and Related Early Christian Literature
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: 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.
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Bible and Empire
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: The Bible and Empire unit plans to offer three sessions. First, a themed session on the economics of empire. Among the motivations for modern colonialism – God, glory, gold – Biblical Studies has paid less attention to the economics of colonialism. Proposals are invited for papers that explore the role biblical texts and interpretative traditions play in the facilitation of colonialism, its spread, and continuation. Papers that draw upon economic theories of international development, racial capitalism, economic globalization, imperialism as late-stage capitalism, among others to illuminate biblical texts and histories related to biblical themes or biblically inspired practices whether political, economic, or social are welcome. Selecting texts/themes that fall within any period of ancient empires whether directly represented in texts or the historical contexts of the formation of these texts to illustrate aspects of modern colonialism in its global expressions in different parts of the world captures the essence of the session. Second, a joint session with the Ancient Near East unit on the language of empire. This session explores the topic of imperial language politics in the ancient Near East, especially, but not exclusively, in the Neo-Assyrian, Neo-Babylonian, Persian, and Hellenistic periods, and reflections of imperial language politics in biblical texts. Papers may investigate questions of lingua franca, administrative languages, colonial language negotiation, imperial cultic language and more. The frameworks engaged in this session may include, but are not limited to, empire studies, postcolonial/decolonial studies, diaspora studies, migration studies, sociolinguistics, comparative analysis, and inscriptional studies. Third, an open call for papers on various themes in the relationship between Bible and empire at different points in the development of the Bible and/or imperial development, as well as the reception of biblical texts in imperial contexts.
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Bible and Its Influence: History and Impact
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: 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.
Tags: History of Interpretation (Interpretive Approaches)
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Bible and Visual Culture
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: One session will be open. For the second session, papers focused on the visual reception of the Bible (and especially the Hebrew Bible) in Dutch and Flemish visual art and those which engage with the work of Mieke Bal on the visual reception of the Bible are especially welcome.
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Bible Translation and AI (locally sponsored unit)
Description: This unit deals with questions relating to AI and Bible Translation. In the field of Bible translation, we see two recent developments that work in opposite directions. On the one hand growing awareness of interpretative plurality: translation implies interpretation and interpretation is inherently contextual. On the other hand a great increase of digital developments and applications, in particular AI, that come to ever better translation results and new possibilities. All this changes the role of the translator. Questions to be addressed in relation to this theme:
• What are the possibilities of AI for Bible translation and what are the risks?
• What are the ethical, theological, epistemological challenges?
• Can the two developments (mentioned above) be brought together?
• How can humans maintain their say on what is ‘quality translation’ in an era of AI?
Call for papers: Call for papers: We are inviting paper proposals on the topic Bible Translation and AI, dealing with questions such as:
• What are the possibilities of AI for Bible translation and what are the risks?
• What are the ethical, theological, epistemological challenges?
• Can the two developments (mentioned above) be brought together?
• How can humans maintain their say on what is ‘quality translation’ in an era of AI?
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Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Law
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: 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.
Tags: Law (Comparative Religion / History of Religion), Law Codes & Legal Documents (Ancient Near Eastern Literature - Genre)
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Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Wisdom
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: The unit seeks to encourage discourse on new ideas and methodologies in the study of Wisdom Literature. The primary focus is Biblical wisdom -- Proverbs, Job, and Qohelet. We also welcome papers on extra-biblical wisdom from Mesopotamia, Egypt, and other areas of the ancient Near East, as well as post-biblical wisdom materials, such as Ben Sira and Wisdom of Solomon.
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))
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Biblical Characters in Three Traditions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam)
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: This seminar examines the life of biblical characters in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles and beyond, in reception history of late antiquity, the Qur’an and Islamic tradition, and all the way to contemporary times. For the 2024 meeting, we welcome papers discussing diverse aspects of biblical characters in the three traditions — and in particular (though not exclusively), papers focusing on biblical characters, one or more, in the context of a divine encounter.
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Biblical Hebrew Language and Linguistics
Description: This unit focuses on Biblical Hebrew language and linguistics. We welcome papers on all
aspects of Biblical Hebrew, such as grammar, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, linguistic theory
etc. We are also interested in papers that emphasize the contribution of the analysis of Biblical
Hebrew to the understanding of the biblical text and exemplify the importance of linguistic
analysis as an exegetical tool.
Call for papers: This unit focuses on Biblical Hebrew language and linguistics. We welcome papers on all aspects of Biblical Hebrew, such as grammar, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, linguistic theory etc. We are also interested in papers that emphasize the contribution of the analysis of Biblical Hebrew to the understanding of the biblical text and exemplify the importance of linguistic analysis as an exegetical tool.
We invite paper proposals for open sessions on any topic pertaining to Biblical Hebrew, and for thematic sessions on the linguistics of poetry, including parallelism, the Masoretic accentuation system and prosody, metaphor and imagery.
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Biblical Interpretation in Early Christianity
Description: This program unit explores the interpretative structures, methodologies, and concerns of patristic exegesis and the various assumptions underlying it.
Call for papers: This program unit explores the interpretative structures, methodologies, and concerns of patristic exegesis and the various assumptions underlying it.
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Contextual Interpretation of the Bible (Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and New Testament)
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: This Seminar underlines the significance of contextual interpretation and its contribution to biblical studies. We invite contributions to 2-3 open sessions on the interpretation of a biblical text from within a reader's explicitly articulated context, personal as well as communal, while firmly anchored in clear methodology. We are particularly interested in the contextual counter readings/subversions of the same character or narrative by “ordinary” readers on the margins. We also invite papers that propose critical and creative readings of a biblical text about a minoritized (“number 2”) biblical character. We will warmly consider proposals that are also queer, cross-scriptural and/or dip into the flows of orality.
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Early Christianity and the Ancient Economy
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 examines economic aspects of early Christian groups from the first to the fifth century CE, understood within the context of the economies of the Roman Empire and its provinces. “Economy” is understood broadly to consist of the production, transmission, and consumption of goods and services, as well as the social, political, and ideological conditions associated with economic systems. We invite papers exploring aspects of the economic organization of early Christian assemblies as well as Rome and its provinces, in addition to those critically assessing the theoretical frameworks (e.g., economic anthropology, régulation theory, New Institutional Economics) and concepts (e.g., class, exploitation, wealth and poverty, gender, ethnicity, and movements of human and material resources) used in the study of the economic history of the Mediterranean basin in antiquity. In recognition of the 2023 International Meeting’s host city, Amsterdam, papers on any aspect of the economy of Amsterdam, including religious responses to or appropriations of it, are also welcome.
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Eep Talstra Centre for Bible and Computer (Locally Sponsored Unit)
Description: This unit deals with the intersection of biblical studies and digital corpus analysis, with a main focus on the work of the Eep Talstra Centre for Bible and Computer (ETCBC). It will include presentations by ETCBC members and its international partners, but also other work that builds upon the ETCBC Hebrew database, and its Greek NT syntax project and its Syriac data or one of its other tools and datasets (e.g. Text-Fabric, SHEBANQ, Qoroyo).
Call for papers: This unit deals with the intersection of biblical studies and digital corpus analysis, with a main focus on the work of the Eep Talstra Centre for Bible and Computer (ETCBC). It will include presentations by ETCBC members and its international partners, but also other work that builds upon the ETCBC Hebrew database, and its Greek NT syntax project and its Syriac data or one of its other tools and datasets (e.g. Text-Fabric, SHEBANQ, Qoroyo).
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Families and Children in the Ancient World
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: 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.
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Gospel of Mark
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 Gospel of Mark Section is a forum for scholars and graduate students exploring all aspects of and approaches to research and interpretation of the Gospel of Mark, including (but not limited to) historical, exegetical, theological, and literary studies, but especially the investigation of new questions, new areas of inquiry, and new strategies for reading Mark.
For the 2024 international meeting in Amsterdam, the Gospel of Mark Section is soliciting proposals in three areas: (1) Mark in Context, either the context/s of production (e.g., Judaism, Galilee vs. Rome, etc.) or the antique context/s of reception (e.g. particular locations or groups); (2) an open session on any aspect of the Gospel of Mark consistent with the Section’s mission; and (3) the Synoptic Gospels and Gospel of Mark program units also invite papers for a joint session on "The Teaching of Jesus in Dutch and Flemish Art." Works that depict either Jesus’ teachings (e.g. parables, Sermon on the Mount/Plain) or Jesus as teacher may be less common than nativity or passion scenes, but they are no less evocative and challenging. This session will offer opportunities for the exploration of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke as represented in, experienced through, and illuminated by the rich tradition of Biblical themes in Dutch and Flemish art.
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Healthcare and Disability in the Ancient World
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 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.
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Heeding the Hidden Voices in Second Temple Jewish Literature
Description: This unit will explore the unspoken suffering of marginalized individuals,
such as widows, orphans, children, divorcees, trafficking victims, forced
laborers, and military conscripts during the 2nd Temple period, shedding
light on their untold emotional struggles.
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Hellenistic Greek Language and Linguistics
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. Linguistic, grammatical and lexical studies are particularly encouraged.
Tags: Greek - Attic (Philology / Linguistics (incl. Semiotics)), Greek - Koine (LXX, NT, Patristics) (Philology / Linguistics (incl. Semiotics))
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International Organization for Targumic Studies
Description: The International Organization for Targumic Studies is constituted for the study of the Targumim, ancient Jewish translations of Hebrew Bible into Aramaic, from any academic approach, methodology or purpose. It also includes the study of subjects related to research into the Targumim.
Call for papers: Call for Papers
It is a pleasure for the executive committee of the International Organization for Targumic Studies (IOTS) to invite you to the eleventh IOTS meeting that will be held in connection with the international SBL conference: 28 July—1 August 2024. The conference will be held in the buildings of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The IOTS meeting hopes to include at least the topics
• Manuscript traditions of the Targums
• The role of the Targums in Biblical Studies
• The relationship between Targum Onkelos and Targum Jonathan
• The relationship between the Pentateuchal Targums
but papers on other topics within Targumic or Aramaic studies are also welcome.
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International Syriac Language Project
Description: All papers are presented as contributions to the International Syriac Language Project (ISLP), the aim of which is to redefine ancient-language lexicography for the 21st century, and to lay the foundations for a new comprehensive Syriac-English lexicon. The group and its invited contributors is interdisciplinary and collaborative, and therefore includes specialists in related fields.
Call for papers: All papers are presented as contributions to the International Syriac Language Project (ISLP), the aim of which is to redefine ancient-language lexicography for the 21st century, and to lay the foundations for a new comprehensive Syriac-English lexicon. The group and its invited contributors is interdisciplinary and collaborative, and therefore includes specialists in related fields.
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Intersectional Feminism(s)
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: Our call for papers this year aims to invigorate our unit to reflect a more inclusive feminism(s). In this, our first panel will be answering the question (1) “What is feminist criticism and its future?” We are looking for critiques, call-ins, and even hopes and dreams for what this unit and this sub-section of the field could be. Papers to be considered for this panel can involve discussion of transnational feminism in the world, feminism in the academy, and feminism within biblical studies. Our second panel will focus on (2) interdisciplinary approaches to biblical texts; given that intersectional feminism can and should entail gender-centered, queer, de-colonial, and post-colonial approaches, this call seeks to explore what are other approaches from across academia could and should be highlighted by future feminist engagements with biblical material? This call for papers looks to feature trans-disciplinary approaches to the biblical text as we broaden the unit, the field, and our proverbial horizons. Our final panel will be an open call regarding all aspects that our unit encapsulates – (3) intersectional feminist approaches to the biblical text. We especially encourage historically minoritized voices and early career/emerging scholars to submit to all calls as we desire our unit to be shaped by those too often denied space to highlight their work.
Tags: Gender and Sexuality Criticism (incl. Feminist, Womanist, Masculinity Studies, Queer Theory) (Interpretive Approaches)
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Johannine Literature
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 are inviting paper proposals for one session on the topic of "Peace and Reconciliation in John for Today" as well as paper proposals for two other open sessions.
Tags: Gospels - John (Biblical Literature - New Testament)
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Judaica
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:
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)
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Loneliness in the Biblical World
Description: The unit "Loneliness in the Biblical World" studies ancient portrayals of life
alone and brings them into conversation with contemporary social and
psychological research.
Call for papers: For the 2024 conference, we warmly invite paper proposals for one session on lonely characters from across the biblical world and for one open session.
As the unit title indicates, we would be delighted to receive proposals that relate to the biblical world in the broadest sense and that interact in some capacity with contemporary definitions and discourses around loneliness. For any queries, feel free to reach out to the unit chairs at any time.
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Nag Hammadi and Gnosticism
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: 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.
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Paul and Pauline Literature
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)
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Pentateuch (Torah)
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: 1) We invite proposals on the Pentateuch / Torah from multiple angles, including historical-critical, comparative and more contemporary methodologies (One or more open sessions).
2) In addition, we invite proposals for a special session dealing with intertextuality and compositional links between the book of Genesis and the books of Judges, Samuel, and Kings.
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))
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Performance Criticism of the Bible: Texts, Tradition, and Identity
Description: The Performance Criticism of the Bible: Texts, Tradition, and Identity unit seeks to provide a creative space for scholarly discussion that focuses on performance as a formative dynamic that shaped biblical texts. The insights from the various socio-cultural settings of the International SBL meetings will provide contexts for explorations of performance from arenas disparate, yet relatable to the context of biblical and other ancient texts.
Call for papers: The Performance Criticism of the Bible: Texts, Tradition, and Identity unit seeks to provide a creative space for scholarly discussion that focuses on performance as a formative dynamic that shaped biblical texts. The insights from the various socio-cultural settings of the International SBL meetings will provide contexts for explorations of performance from arenas disparate, yet relatable to the context of biblical and other ancient texts.
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Peshitta Institute Projects (Locally Sponsored Unit)
Description: This unit deals with the research done by the Peshitta Institute. In addition to a presentation of its own projects, it is open for presentations by collaborators of the Peshitta Institute (e.g. those who are involved in translation of the Peshitta into English for the Bible of Edessa project), as well as any other Peshitta related research.
Call for papers: This unit deals with the research done by the Peshitta Institute. In addition to a presentation of its own projects, it is open for presentations by collaborators of the Peshitta Institute (e.g. those who are involved in translation of the Peshitta into English for the Bible of Edessa project), as well as any other Peshitta related research.
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Place, Space, and Identity in the Ancient Mediterranean World
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: The PSIAM unit accepts proposals for the 2024 international meeting, focusing on the theme "Space for Memory and Memory for Space." We are particularly interested in exploring the heritage of World War II in the unique location of ISBL, Amsterdam. The discussion topics will include dark tourism and its effect on expanding the horizons of visitors, the historical dynamics of tensions and conflicts in territorialization, de-territorialization, and re-territorialization of memory, especially concerning traumatic collective memory from various national and international outbreaks of violence, and the diverse power groups' efforts on making rhetoric on the events. These topics should be related to a new interpretation of biblical passages and spatial theories. Thus, intertextual and intersectional Bible readings are welcome. In summary, the PSIAM unit is looking for proposals that suggest how the spatially sensitive reading of the Bible can contribute to reshaping the space of remembrance in our time.
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Political Biblical Criticism
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: Given that this year we are meeting in a former metropoli, we welcome papers that address empires as centers of knowledge and/or the legacies of empires in the Bible and biblical studies. We also welcome papers that address broader issues in politics and biblical studies.
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Postcolonial Pedagogy for Biblical Studies
Description: For the field of Biblical Studies, the postcolonial project calls us to address all aspects of our teaching methods, assessment strategies and curricula that inadvertently promote a Northern-grounded system of education as the gold standard. Students from a diversity of ethnic and cultural backgrounds should not be diecast into a certain way of thinking, writing and reasoning. Our concept of academic achievement must be broadened to accommodate the innate values and strengths of diverse cultures. The goal of this programme unit is to create a space where Biblical Studies stakeholders can exchange knowledge and share experiences, with the aim of fostering an inclusive pedagogical practice that will result in contextually relevant learning outcomes.
Call for papers: We welcome papers that explore issues related to curriculum design and delivery, or other questions relevant to Biblical studies pedagogy. We are interested in hearing from academics who serve in the majority world, or from those who teach in multicultural settings in Europe or North America.
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Postcolonial Studies
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: 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.
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Prophets
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: The Prophecy 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. One session will focus on the "The Function of the Reader in the Formation and Reception of the Book of Isaiah" and will consist of invited papers. Papers are also accepted for open sessions on any topic relevant to ancient Israelite prophecy.
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))
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Psychological Hermeneutics of Biblical Themes and Texts
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: Abstracts for papers are now invited for the conference in 2024 with the following theme: "How personality traits condition one to be more or less of a particular biblical character trait such as sharing, generosity and trusting (of God), or perfectionist, etc. Included is also what function dystopian and utopian images in biblical texts serve for the ego. The scope is obviously quite wide in order to gauge which biblical character traits turn out as psychologically resonant with certain personality traits of the reader. Crucial, however, is that both a clear psychological theory and biblical text should explicitly be stated.
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Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls
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: The Qumran and Dead Sea Scrolls program unit will host three sessions at the 2024 ISBL meeting. Given our conference location in Amsterdam, Netherlands, our first session will focus on the Cave 11 scrolls in honor of the crucial role played by Dutch scholars. Our second session is a joint session with the Apocalyptic Literature program unit on Józef T. Milik's contributions to the study of Enoch, in anticipation of the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of The Books of Enoch. While some papers have been invited for both of these special themed sessions, we welcome strong proposals from scholars of any stage. Our third session is a completely open session. We welcome papers that explore a diverse range of methodologies and approaches to the texts relevant for understanding the Dead Sea Scrolls.
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Quran and Islamic Tradition in Comparative Perspective
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 ISBL invites you to submit proposals for papers or pre-arranged panels at the upcoming 2024 international meeting. We are particularly interested in exploring the Quran and Islamic traditions' profound historical relationships with biblical and rabbinic traditions within the Near Eastern context.
Suggested topics might include, but are not limited to, the Quran and Islamic tradition in the wider context of its history from Late Antiquity to the Modern period.
In the spirit of fostering a vibrant academic exchange, we embrace different methods of comparative inquiry and are very inclusive to the diverse approaches ranging from traditional to revisionist. It is imperative that all papers have some comparative approach with biblical literature.
Please note that membership in the Society of Biblical Literature is required in order to submit a paper proposal. For more information please contact the program unit chair.
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Rethinking Biblical Written Tradition through Slavonic Interpretations
Description: Some of the lost Second Temple texts have been found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, but, for reasons still unknown, a number have been preserved only in Slavonic version, from centuries later. These Slavonic manuscripts have been used to restore the lost Greek originals and to fill in the gap in the textual tradition. While welcoming these classical text critical approaches, this program unit focuses more strongly on the appropriation and adaptation of these texts in the Slavic cultures that received them and looks for papers that study the Vorlage and transmission of Slavonic versions as well as Slavic interpretations of the Bible.
Call for papers: We are calling for the presentations of the Slavonic biblical literature as in the description of our unit. Papers on traditional interpretations in ecclesiastical context are always welcome. Amsterdam, as the world-famous center of intellectual and religious tolerance, has traditionally promoted diversity and attracted radical intellectuals. Those papers that focus on underrepresented groups and historically neglected opinions are especially welcome. This year we will dedicate a session to the interpretations on who uses and how biblical citations. Slavic medieval authors often composed their work with favorite biblical quotations in specific topoi and allusions easy to remember by ordinary faithful. We look at the context of their chosen biblical citations in their compositions and try to explain why and how the authors have used them in Slavonic texts, visual art, architecture, and music. Also, we plan a session on the Slavonic manuscripts wherein we raise the ethical issues about the fate of museum collections worldwide and have a look on their digitization and accessibility to the wider audience.
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Return Migration in Biblical Literature
Description: Return is a literary trope and social phenomenon in the Hebrew Bible, Intertestamental, Dead Sea Scrolls, New Testament, and other literary cultures. In Homer’s Iliad, Odysseus returns home. As a new field (1980s), return migration studies offer new critical insights on historical, literary, and sociological matters related to biblical and extra-biblical studies.
Call for papers: In 2024, our unit is seeking papers that deal with the concept of "return" without returning. In other words, what might such an idea look like in biblical and extra-biblical literature. For example, would it be a spiritual or "in-spirit" return without leaving. Migrant communities remained (and flourished) even when the chance or opportunity to return was offered. Papers from HB, NT, and other works are encouraged.
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Ritual in the Biblical World
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: The thematical session in Amsterdam, Netherlands, treats aspects of «Ritual and Warfare». We invite papers on the use and abuse of ritual preceding war, carried out in combat, and leading to an eventual termination of conflict and purification after war, as enacted in the Biblical World and Literature.
We also invite papers for an open session on all aspects of ritual activities in the larger context of their cultural and religious functions in the ancient Near East and in the ancient Mediterranean, including their textual, archaeological and iconographical expressions. We invite all who are interested in participating in either session to submit their proposal.
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Septuagint Studies
Description: This unit is open to all papers devoted to the Septuagint and related versions.
Call for papers: We welcome all proposals related to Septuagint research.
All abstracts are expected to name the most important source texts, methodology, and a concrete research question. In addition, the abstract should explain how the proposed paper is connected with previous research and current developments in the field of Septuagint studies.
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Status of Women in the Profession
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: 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.
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Stylistics and the Hebrew Bible
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 the Amsterdam meeting in 2024 we will organize one thematic session and one open session. The thematic session will focus on the Amsterdam school and its contribution to biblical scholarship from its inception to the present. The school is named after a group of Dutch theologians, working at the University of Amsterdam in the 1960s, including M. Beek, Karel Deurloo, and Frans Breukelman. They are known, among others, for their interest in the biblical text as a text and in its stylistic peculiarities. Possible questions to be addressed include but are not limited to the relevance of the school’s interpretive insights and the relationship between current-day stylistic approaches and that of the Amsterdam school. The session will consist of a mix of invited papers and those submitted through a call of papers. The second session will be an open one, inviting contributions in line with the unit’s general interest in how the Bible’s style affects its reading.
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Synoptic Gospels
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: Call for papers: Scholarship on the Synoptic Gospels as a coherent unit has often focused on the “Synoptic problem” and given special attention to source and redaction criticism with a view to sorting through the relationship(s) between Matthew, Mark, and Luke. While that discussion is certainly still active, including recent discussion of the relationship of the Synoptic Gospels to John, there are also important historical, rhetorical, and canonical approaches to these three texts. In addition, there is a large body of scholarship carried on by “Matthean,” “Markan,” and “Lukan” specialists. For 2024 we invite papers in two areas: (1) a general call for papers on any aspect of the study of the Synoptic Gospels. While papers that focus entirely on one gospel are welcome, we especially encourage papers that address topics that interact with at least two of the Synoptic Gospels; (2) The Synoptic Gospels and Gospel of Mark program units also invite papers for a joint session on "The Teaching of Jesus in Dutch and Flemish Art." Works that depict either Jesus’ teachings (e.g. parables, Sermon on the Mount/Plain) or Jesus as teacher may be less common than nativity or passion scenes, but they are no less evocative and challenging. This session offers opportunities for the exploration of the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke as represented in, experienced through, and illuminated by the rich tradition of Biblical themes in Dutch and Flemish art.
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Textual Criticism: Manuscripts & Methods
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: The SBL-International program unit “Textual Criticism: Manuscripts & Methods” is calling for submissions of papers for the July 2024 meeting scheduled for Amsterdam, Netherlands. Papers will be considered that are devoted to the textual criticism of early Jewish and early Christian writings, including 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). Papers can investigate different types of material witnesses related to the text of this literature—tablets, manuscripts, ostraca, inscriptions—or consider the textual forms 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.
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The Language of Pain in Ancient Israel and Early Judaism
Description: This program unit intends to research how pain was experienced,
conceptualized, expressed, and related to in ancient Israel and early
Judaism, by investigating linguistic expressions of pain in all Jewish
sources at our disposal from prior to ca. 200 CE.
Call for papers: In "The Culture of Pain," David Morris argued that "Pain emerges only at the intersection of bodies, minds, and cultures" (p. 3). For the 2024 SBL International Annual Meeting, we are accepting proposals on these three aspects of the human experience of pain and their entanglement in Second Temple Judaism literature. We also welcome proposals on the representation of the divine through images of somatic suffering. To be considered, abstracts must contain the following elements: scope, main thesis, case study, methodology, and relevance of the proposal.
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Ugarit and Its World
Description: The unit explores the ancient city of Ugarit, its culture, cult, texts, history, and material culture.
We also have interest in research that uses Ugaritic Studies to shed new light on different
aspects of the Hebrew Bible and other ancient Near Eastern texts.
Call for papers:
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Writings (including Psalms)
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: Papers are welcome on ANY part of the Writings, especially research applying newer interpretive lenses, methodologies, and discoveries to specific passages or books.
In 2024, we also welcome papers specifically considering animal imagery within the Writings. Previous work on animal imagery has been dominated by identifying what the imagery signifies. Less attention has been paid to how these images affect other aspects of the biblical literature, such as the use of space, and relationships between people or objects within the texts themselves. We are seeking to explore the roles and functions of zoological metaphors within the Writings, with specific attention to how these images impact other aspects of the texts that contain them. The Writings section invites papers that will lead this conversation concerning the role and function of animal imagery within the Writings of the Hebrew Bible.
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