Saturday, September 15, 2007

SBL: Tis the Season for Johannine Studies

I am by trade and by taste largely a Synoptics and Paul specialist who often pines for the exotic and sometimes esoteric jungles of Johannine studies. In looking over this years SBL list of seminars, I am convinced that Johannine studies is the place to be (S17-17; S17-65; S19-22; and esp. S19-71 & S19-117). There are some good papers lined up and I really like the "John, Jesus, and History Group / Johannine Literature Section" which have three sessions planned on The Past, Present, and Future of Johannine Studies. See the SBL website for info here. Of course, Friday afternoon with the "Faith of Jesus Christ" seminar is also a must.

I also suggest that S18-150 on "Books on the Gospel of Judas: An Evening with the Authors" should be renamed "An Evening with Every Man and His Dog" because it seems to me that every man and his dog has written a book about the Gospel of Judas. I am ashamed to attend because I may well be the only member of the audience who hasn't written a book on the subject.

There will be a panel discussion on Scot McKnight's book Jesus and His Death at ETS and a panel discussion on Richard Bauckham's book Jesus and the Eyewitnesses at both ETS and SBL. James Crossley is doing a response to Bauckham at the SBL session and James is always animated if not argumentative when he wants to be (S17-79).
Sadly, this will be the last joint AAR-SBL conference and in keeping with my Johannine theme, I am reminded of 1 John 2.19 which you can read here.

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