The sixty-fifth General Meeting of the Society was held at Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany from 27 to 31 July 2010, under the presidency of Professor Adela Yarbro Collins (USA). About 380 members, spouses and guests were present. On the first evening, Professor Christoph Markschies, the President of Humboldt University, warmly welcomed the Society to Berlin and the University with a reception at the Pergamon Museum.

The Academic Programme

The President delivered her Presidential Address with the title ‘The Female Body as Social Space in 1 Timothy’ at the opening plenary session of the Society.

Main Papers in plenary sessions were read by Prof. Andreas Dettwiler (Switzerland): ‘Mémoire et émergence d'une rhétorique renouvelée: l'exemple de Colossiens et Ephésiens’; Prof. Elizabeth Struthers Malbon (USA): ‘History, Theology, Story: Re-contextualizing Christology and Mark's Messianic Secret’; Prof. Peter Arzt-Grabner (Austria): ‘Gott als vertrauenswürdiger Käufer und Verkäufer. Papyrologische Anmerkungen und bibeltheologische Schlussfolgerungen zum Gottesbild der Paulusbriefe’; and Prof. Loveday Alexander (UK): ‘The Gospel According to Celsus: The Apologetic Agenda and the Acts of the Apostles’.

Eighteen short papers were given in simultaneous sessions by Jean-Claude Loba-Mkole (Kenya): ‘Emergence de l'exégèse interculturelle dans les études néotestamentaires’; Judith Gundry (USA): ‘Why is marriage “Good” and Celibacy “Better”? Bondage and Freedom in 1 Corinthians 7’; Eric C. Wong (Hong Kong): ‘The Externalization of Jesus Christ's Inner World in the Gospel of Matthew: A Contribution towards Historical Jesus Research’; David G. Horrell (UK): ‘“Race,” “Nation,” “People”: Ethnic Identity-Construction in 1 Peter 2:9’; Stephen Hultgren (USA): ‘A Confessional Sitz im Leben for Habakkuk 2:4 in Early Christianity? The Evidence from Hebrews and Paul’; Hermann von Lips (Germany): ‘Das Martyrium des Timotheus und die Entstehung der Pastoralbriefe’; John Cook (USA): ‘Suffering in 1 Peter: Local Anxiety, Empire and the Imitatio Christi’; Hans Kvalbein (Norway): ‘Do Not Trust the Dictionaries: Basileia is Realm, not Rule or Reign’; Adele Reinhartz (Canada): ‘Forging a New Identity: Johannine Rhetoric and the Audience of the Fourth Gospel’; John D. K. Ekem (Ghana): ‘Interpretation and Translation of the Phrase μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἄνδρα (1 Timothy 3:2): An African Perspective’; Thomas Witulski (Germany): ‘Der ἄλλος ἄγγελος ἰσχυρός (Apk 10,1f.5), der Gott Helios und der Koloss von Rhodos’; William S. Campbell (UK): ‘Covenantal Nomism and/or Participation in Christ? E. P. Sanders Reconsidered’; Paul Anderson (USA): ‘Addressing the Riddles of the Fourth Gospel’; Ilaria L. E. Ramelli (Italy): ‘Allusions to the New Testament in the Pseudepigraphical Correspondence Between Seneca and Paul’; Chris Manus (Nigeria): ‘The Call of Matthew/Levi (Matthew 9:9/Mark 2:14/Luke 5:27): A Mistaken Identity or a Change of Name?’; Eberhard W. Güting (Germany): ‘Luke's List of Nations in Acts 2:9-11: Context, Form and Function’; Michael Winger (USA): ‘Good News and Imagination: What Significance did Historical Fact have for the Evangelists (and their Sources)?’; Edwin Broadhead (USA): ‘Jewish Christianity and the Religious Map of Antiquity’.

Fifteen seminars with the following subjects, convenors and presenters were held: (1) ‘Christliche Literatur des späten ersten Jahrhunderts und des zweiten Jahrhunderts/Christian Literature of the Late First Century and the Second Century’ (F. Prostmeier and H. van de Sandt): Stefan Beyerle (Greifswald), ‘Die Anfänge jüdischer Identität am Beispiel von “Propaganda” und “Apokalyptik”’; Judith Lieu (Cambridge), ‘Constructing Judaism/Constructing Heresy in the Second Century’; Markus Lang (Vienna), ‘Zwischen Synkretismus und Polemik. Das Judentum in der Darstellung des Kerygma Petri’. (2) ‘The Dead Sea Scrolls in Relation to Early Judaism and Early Christianity’ (J. J. Collins and J. Frey): Jörg Frey (Zurich), ‘Flesh in the DSS and Spirit in the DSS: Is There Really a Connection Prefiguring the Antithesis in the NT?’; Respondent: Loren Stuckenbruck (Princeton); Thomas Tobin, S.J. (Loyola University Chicago), ‘Flesh and Spirit in the Pauline Literature in light of the DSS’; Respondent: John R. Levison (Seattle); Harold Attridge (Yale), ‘Flesh and Spirit in the Johannine Literature in Light of the Dead Sea Scrolls’; Respondent: John J. Collins (Yale). (3) ‘The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament: Language, Culture, Ideas’ (S. E. Porter and P. Arzt-Grabner; co-adviser L. Rydbeck): Armin Baum (Gießen), ‘The Epilogue (John 20:30–31), the Colophon (John 21:24–25), and the Last Chapter of John's Gospel. Observations against the Background of Ancient Literary Conventions’; Anne Lykke (Guest), ‘Where Did the Jewish Coins Come from? The Beginning of Jewish Coinage in Its Ancient Context’; Michał Wojciechowski (Olsztyn), ‘Vision of God in the Olympic Oration of Dio Chrysostom and in the New Testament’, and Runar M. Thorsteinsson (Guest): ‘Roman Christianity and Roman Stoicism: A Comparative Study of Ancient Morality’. (4) ‘The Greek of the New Testament’ (C. C. Caragounis and J. W. Voelz): Albert Hogeterp (Guest, Nijmegen), ‘New Testament Greek as Popular Speech: Adolf Deissmann in Retrospect’; Respondent: David du Toit (München); James W. Voelz (St Louis), ‘The Greek of the New Testament and Its Place within the Context of Hellenistic Greek’; Respondents: Rollin Kearns (Tübingen) and Jan van der Watt (Nijmegen); Chrys C. Caragounis (Lund), ‘Perfect for Aorist. Subtle Nicety or Indiscrimination?’; Respondent: Jarl Ulrichsen (Trondheim). (5) ‘Inhalte und Probleme einer neutestamentlichen Theologie’ (C. Landmesser and M. Seifrid): Mogens Müller (Copenhagen), ‘Bundesideologie im Matthäusevangelium. Die Vorstellung vom neuen Bund als Grundlage des matthäischen Gesetzesverkündigung’; Andrew Das (Elmhurst, USA), ‘Covenant in Paul’; Knut Backhaus (München), ‘Covenant and Christ. The Christological Redefinition of a Biblical Motif in Hebrews and Early Christianity’. (6) ‘The Johannine Writings’ (M.M. Thompson, R. Zimmermann): James D. G. Dunn (Durham, UK), ‘Paul, John and the Spirit’; Thomas Söding (Münster), ‘Heiligung bei Johannes und Paulus’; Mary Coloe (Victoria, Australia), ‘Temple and Body: Johannine and Pauline Cultic Images of Incorporation into Christ’. (7) ‘New Challenges for New Testament Hermeneutics in the 21st Century’ (B. McLean and O. Wischmeyer): Bernard C. Lategan (Stellenbosch), ‘Recent Tendencies in Anglo-Saxon New Testament Hermeneutics’; B. T. Viviano, O.P. (Fribourg), ‘The Situation in Applied New Testament Hermeneutics in the United States’; Mark Elliott (Guest), ‘New Tendencies for Spiritual Exegesis of the New Testament in British Scholarship’. (8) ‘The Jewish World in New Testament Times’ (S. Freyne, J. W. van Henten and W. Horbury): James McLaren (Australian Catholic University, Melbourne), ‘Josephus as a Critic of Rome’; Respondent: Daniel R. Schwartz (Jerusalem); Helen Bond (Edinburgh), ‘Josephus and Gender Rhetoric: The Depiction of Herod in the Jewish War’; Respondent: Joseph Sievers (Rome, Guest); Jan Willem van Henten, ‘Josephus from a Narratological Perspective: Time and Place’; Respondent: Turid Karlsen Seim (Rome/Oslo). (9) ‘The Reception of Paul’ (C. K. Rothschild and C. Gerber): Christine Gerber (Hamburg), ‘The Reception of Paul in Ephesians’; Richard I. Pervo (Evanston), ‘The Reception of Paul in “The Acts of Paul”’; Ismo Dunderberg (Helsinki), ‘The Reception of Paul in Valentinianism’. (10) ‘History and Theology of Mission in the New Testament: Global Challenges and Opportunities’ (J. Ådna, J. Kanagaraj, and S. Tofană): Göran Lennartsson (Uppsala), ‘Identity and Unity Expressed through the Jerusalem Collection’; Respondent: Eugene Eung-Chun Park (San Francisco, USA); David Sim (Melbourne), ‘Competing Missions in the Early Church’; Respondent: Paul Trebilco (Dunedin, New Zealand); The seminar coordinators, ‘The Missionary Speeches in the Acts of the Apostles’; Report and discussion of results from the consultation at the School of Mission and Theology in Stavanger, Norway, 19–20 May, 2010. (11) ‘Pauline Theology in Galatians and Romans’ (B. Roberts Gaventa, J. M. G. Barclay and M. C. de Boer): Martin Rese (Münster), ‘Abrahambund und/oder Abrahamverheißung im Galater- und Römerbrief’; M. C. de Boer (Amsterdam), ‘The Fulfillment of the Law in Galatians 5:14 (with an Occasional Glance at Corresponding Texts in Romans)’; Troels Engberg-Pedersen (Copenhagen), ‘How Important is “Anthropology” in Paul's Interventions in Galatians and Romans?’. (12) ‘The Acts of the Apostles and Ancient Historiography’ (K. Backhaus, J. Schröter and G. Sterling): Hubert Cancik (Tübingen), ‘Hairesis, Diatribe, Ekklesia. Griechische Schulgeschichten und das Lukanische Geschichtswerk’; Steve Mason (York University), ‘Being Earnest, being Playful: Speeches in Josephus and Acts’; David Moessner (Dubuque), ‘“Witness” Trumping “Eyewitness”: Paul as Guarantee of the Apostolic Gospel in Luke's Hellenistic History Writing’. (13) ‘Christian Apocryphal Literature’ (T. Nicklas, C. M. Tuckett and J. Verheyden): Gesine Robinson (Claremont), ‘An Update on the Gospel of Judas’; Christoph Markschies (Berlin, Guest) and J. Schröter (Berlin), ‘The New “Antike christliche Apokryphen”’; Judith Hartenstein (Leun, Germany), ‘Apokryphe Evangelien und die Entwicklung frühchristlicher Theologie und Christologie am Beispiel der Sophia Jesu Christi’. (14) ‘New Testament Ethics’ (F. W. Horn, D. Horrell and E. Baasland): Friedrich Wilhelm Horn and Ruben Zimmermann (Mainz), ‘Begründungszusammenhänge neutestamentlicher Ethik’; Respondent: Jan van der Watt (Nijmegen); Richard Burridge (London), ‘Using the New Testament to Address Ethical Dilemmas Today: Methodological Reflections Building upon Gustafson and Hays’; Respondent: David Horrell (Exeter); Matthias Konradt (Heidelberg), ‘Reception and Transformation of Ancient Ethical Traditions in Early Christianity’; Respondent: Richard Hays (Duke). (15) ‘Social History and the New Testament’ (H. Löhr, M. Öhler and A. Runesson): Werner Eck (Guest), ‘Sklaven und Freigelassene von Römern in Iudaea und den angrenzenden Provinzen’; Albert Harrill (Indiana University, Bloomington), ‘The Psychology of Slaves in the Gospel Parables: A Case Study in Social History’; Hermut Löhr (Münster), ‘The Status of Slaves in Christian Communities at the End of the First and the Beginning of the Second Century C.E.’.

The Business Meeting

At the Business Meeting of the Society, Prof. Armand Puig i Tàrrech (Spain) accepted the Society's invitation to become President-Elect (to take office as President at the 2011 General Meeting in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, USA), and Prof. Dr Henk Jan de Jonge was invited to become Deputy-President-Elect (to take office as President at the 2012 General Meeting in Leuven, Belgium). Prof. Camile Focant (Belgium) and Prof. Dr Turid Karlsen Seim (Norway) retired from the Committee and Prof. Christian Grappe (France) and Prof. Samuel Byrskog (Sweden) were elected to serve in their places for a three-year term. Prof. M. C. de Boer was appointed to a second five-year term as Secretary of the Society from 1 January 2011.

The Society received the Treasurer's Report and formally accepted the statement of accounts as presented by the Treasurer, Dr Helen Bond.

The Assistant Secretary for International Initiatives, Prof. Bernard C. Lategan, reported on the work of existing liaison committees for Eastern Europe and Africa, on the initiatives being undertaken to establish such committees for Asia and Latin America, and on the progress being made in the establishment of an SNTS Electronic Library.

The Editor of New Testament Studies, John M. G. Barclay, outlined the editorial policy for the journal and gave a report on both the journal and the monograph series. The Editorial Board nominated (and the Society approved) Profs J. -N. Aletti, F. Avemarie, B. Byrne, K. L. King, G. R. O'Day and H. Roose for a three-year term (1 January 2011–31 December 2013) in place of Profs K. Backhaus, I. Dunderberg, J. T. Fitzgerald, M. Y. Macdonald, F. Tolmie and Dr H. van de Sandt who were due to retire at the end of 2010.

The Society received with regret news of the deaths of the following members: Profs E. Earle Ellis; Peter Fiedler; Albert Fuchs; S. Giversen; Michael Goulder; Z. I. Herman; Jakob Kremer; G. Kretschmar; Simon Légasse; Stanislav Pisarek; John Reumann; Joachim Rohde; R. H. Smith; Max Wilcox; Robert (Robin) McL. Wilson (President of the Society in Rome 1981). Members observed a minute's silence in memory of these scholars.

The following nominees for membership were elected to the Society: Dr Ann Graham Brock (Iliff School of Theology, Denver, USA); Prof. Claire Clivaz (Faculté de théologie et de sciences des religions, University of Lausanne, Switzerland); Dr Anders Gerdmar (Livets Ord Theological Seminary, Uppsala, Sweden); Dr Paul Holloway (Sewanee: The University of the South, Tennessee, USA); Dr Gudrun Holtz (Eberhard-Karls Universität Tübingen, Germany); Prof. Reidar Hvalvik (Norwegian School of Theology, Oslo, Norway); Dr Michael Labahn (Kirchliche Hochschule, Wuppertal, Germany); Prof. Lo Lung-kwong (Chung Chi College, Chinese University of Hong Kong); Dr Silvia Pellegrini (Institut für Katholische Theologie der Hochschule Vechta, Germany); Prof. Thomas Phillips (Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, USA); Dr Thomas Popp (Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Germany); Dr Michael Reichardt (Universität zu Köln, Germany); Dr Boris Repschinski (Innsbruck University, Austria); Dr Todd Still (Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA); Prof. Elsa Tamez (Latin American Biblical University, Costa Rica); Dr Mikael Tellbe (Örebro School of Theology, Sweden); Dr James Thompson (Abilene Christian University, Texas, USA); Dr Robert Webb (McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada); Prof. Ansgar Wucherpfennig (Hochschule Sankt Georgen, Frankfurt am Main, Germany); Dr Magnus Zetterholm (Lund University, Sweden).

Social Events

Social events at the conference included a reception and buffet sponsored by Walter de Gruyter in the Berliner Rathaus; a chamber concert by ‘Musica Authentica Berlin’ in the Marienkirche; and a boat trip on the Wannsee, with a reception by the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches of Germany. Optional excursions on the Saturday included ‘Chorin/Angermünde—The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Schorfheide-Chorin’; ‘Neuruppin/ Rheinsberg—Schinkel, Fontane and Frederick the Great’; ‘Potsdam—City of Gardens and Castles’.

Future Meetings

The Society will hold its General Meeting in Annandale-on-Hudson (New York) in 2011, in Leuven (Belgium) in 2012 and in Perth (Australia) in 2013.

30.11.2010