The Academic Programme

The President delivered his Presidential Address with the title ‘What is “New Testament Study”? The New Testament and Early Christianity’ at the opening plenary session of the Society.

Main papers in plenary sessions were read by Professor M. Lattke (Australia), ‘Paul de Lagarde on the Jews’; Professor C. Clivaz (Switzerland), ‘Le Nouveau Testament dans la culture digitale: un bibliaridion pris dans la toile du Web?’; Professor P. Trebilco (New Zealand), ‘Creativity at the Boundary: Features of the Linguistic and Conceptual Construction of Outsiders in the New Testament’; Professor R. Bieringer (Belgium), ‘Die johanneische Christologie zwischen Sein und Schein: Die Menschlichkeit Jesu und der vermeintliche ‘Doketismus’ im vierten Evangelium'.

Ten short papers were given in three sessions of simultaneous papers: (1) Professor David Sim (Australia), ‘Matthew and Galilee: A Hypothesis Built upon the Rock or the Sand?’; (2) Professor Petr Mareček (Czech Republic), ‘Der traditionsgeschichtliche Ort der Eucharistie von Did 9f. im Urchristentum’; (3) Dr Jean-Claude Loba-Mkole (Democratic Republic of the Congo), ‘The Rhetoric of Reconciliation in 2 Corinthians 5:20’; (4) Professor Stephen J. Hultgren (Australia), ‘Orality, Social Memory and the Creation of Extended Narrative Structures in the Synoptic Tradition’; (5) Professor Paul Danove (USA), ‘The Active/Middle Distinction with New Testament Verbs of Communication’; (6) Dr David Neville (Australia), ‘Contesting Violent Eschatology in the New Testament: Some Interpretive Issues’; (7) Professor Richard B. Hays (USA), ‘Intertextual Fusions in Matthew's Use of Scripture’; (8) Professor James McLaren (Australia), ‘The Account in Acts of Jewish Actions against the Followers of Jesus within the Context of Roman Rule’; (9) Dr Tat-Siong Benny Liew (USA), ‘Reading Frameworks: Cady Stanton's Woman's Bible as a Case Study (with Examples from Luke and John)’; (10) Professor Robert Brawley (USA), ‘Traces of the People in an Alternative Community in Philippi: A Contribution to the People's History’.

Fourteen seminars, with the following themes and presenters, met three times each during the General Meeting:

1. (1) Christliche Literatur des späten ersten Jahrhunderts und des zweiten Jahrhunderts / Christian Literature of the Late First century and the Second Century (convenors: F. Prostmeier, W. Pratscher, J. Kelhoffer). (a) Wilhelm Pratscher (Austria), ‘Motive paulinischer Theologie im 2. Clemensbrief’; (b) Ferdinand R. Prostmeier (Germany), ‘Geistig-soziale Milieus des Diskurses über “Religion” in der frühen Kaiserzeit’; (c) Vicky Balabanski (Australia), ‘Cosmological Categories and the Writings of Ignatius of Antioch: Reflections on Trallians 5 and Ephesians 19’;

2. (2) The Dead Sea Scrolls in Relation to Early Judaism and Early Christianity (convenors: J. J. Collins, J. Frey). (a) Harry Attridge (USA), ‘The Making of Disciples: Predestination in the Scrolls and the Fourth Gospel’; (b) Hermann Lichtenberger (Germany), ‘Tempel und Tempelmetaphorik in Texten vom Toten Meer und im Johannesevangelium’; (c) John J. Collins (USA) and Jörg Frey (Switzerland) presented reviews of: M. L. Coloe and T. Thatcher (eds.), John, Qumran, and the Dead Sea Scrolls: Sixty Years of Discovery and Debate (SBLEJL 32; Atlanta: SBL, 2011);

3. (3) Inhalte und Probleme einer neutestamentlichen Theologie (convenors: C. Landmesser, M. Seifrid). (a) Brendan Byrne, SJ (Australia), ‘Jerusalems Above and Below: Revisiting the Hagar–Sarah Allegory (Gal 4.21–5.1) and Paul's View of Non-Messianic Judaism’; (b) Dorothy Lee (Australia), ‘Law, Grace and Truth: The Symbolic Role of Moses in Johannine Christology’; (c) Brian Rosner (Australia), ‘Paul and the Law: A Hermeneutical Solution to the Puzzle’;

4. (4) The Johannine Writings (convenors: M. Gruber, Ch. Karakolis). This seminar met jointly with Seminar 2 above;

5. (5) The Jewish World in New Testament Times (convenors: S. Freyne, J. W. van Henten, W. Horbury). (a) John J. Collins (USA), ‘The Law of Moses and Jewish Identity in the Second Temple Period’; (b) Dieter Sänger (Germany), ‘Man ist, was man isst: Speisegebote und jüdische Identität in Joseph und Aseneth’; (c) Roland Deines (United Kingdom), ‘Righteousness in the Psalms of Solomon: Reading the Psalms of Solomon as a Book’;

6. (6) The Rise and Development of Jesus Traditions (convenors: T. Holmén, S. E. Porter). (a) Michael F. Bird (Australia), ‘Why the “Jesus Tradition”? Its Purpose and Preservation’; (b) Craig L. Blomberg (USA), ‘When Occam's Razor Shaves Too Closely: A Necessarily Complex Model of the Development of the Jesus Tradition’; (c) Paul Foster (United Kingdom), ‘Memory, Orality and the Fourth Gospel: Three Dead-Ends in Historical Jesus Research’;

7. (7) The Mission and Expansion of Earliest Christianity (convenors: E. Eung-Chun Park, P. Trebilco, G. Yorke). (a) Eugene Eung-Chun Park (USA), ‘The Itinerant Philosophers in the Cynic Literature and the Galilean Wandering Missionaries in the Gospel of Matthew’; respondent, Manabu Tsuji (Japan); (b) Eric Wong (Hong Kong), ‘Mission: The Reception of Paul in the Synoptic Gospels’; (c) Mark Keown (New Zealand), ‘Paul's Vision of Evangelisation and the Church: Taking the Debate Forward’;

8. (8) Christian Apocryphal Literature (convenors: T. Nicklas, C. M. Tuckett, J. Verheyden). (a) Francis Watson (United Kingdom), ‘Harmony or Gospel: On the Genre of the Diatessaron’; (b) Majella Franzmann (Australia), ‘Johannine Material in the Manichaean Psalm Book’; (c) Claire Clivaz (Switzerland), ‘New Testament Apocrypha and the Emergence of the New Testament Canon: A Research Project by Tobias Nicklas and Claire Clivaz’;

9. (9) Social History and the New Testament (convenors: H. Löhr, M. Öhler, A. Runesson). (a) Albert Harrill (USA), ‘Ethnic Fluidity in Ephesians’; (b) Kathy Ehrensperger (United Kingdom), ‘Shared Culture and Diverse Ethnic Identities: The Pauline Discourse of Israel and the Nations’; (c) Anders Runesson (Canada), ‘The Impact of Ethnic Identity on Theology and Salvation in Matthew's Gospel’;

10. (10) Jewish Theologies and the New Testament (convenors: J. Herzer, G. Oegema). This seminar met jointly with Seminar 5 above;

11. (11) Reconsidering Literarkritik of the Pauline Letters and Its Impact on Their Interpretation (convenors: E.-M. Becker, R. Bieringer). (a) Geoffrey Dunn (Australia), ‘The Letter “Credebamus post” from Boniface I or Leo I?’; (b) Malou Ibita (Belgium/Philippines), ‘The Story of Paul and the Corinthians – On-Going Reconciliation: A Narrative-Critical Reading of 2 Corinthians 1–7’; (c) Sean Winter (Australia), ‘Reframing the Unity Debate: The Rhetorical Situation of Canonical 2 Corinthians’;

12. (12) Matthew in Context: An Exploration of Matthew in Relation to the Judaism and Christianity of Its Time (convenors: M. Konradt, W. Kraus, W. Loader). (a) Boris Repschinski (Austria), ‘Ethics and Law’; respondent, Roland Deines (United Kingdom); b. Edwin Broadhead (USA), ‘Discipleship and Ecclesiology’; respondent, Amy-Jill Levine (USA); (c) Wolfgang Kraus (Germany), ‘Matthew 16.21–18.35’; respondent, David Sim (Australia);

13. (13) Papyrology, Epigraphy and the New Testament (convenors: P. Arzt-Grabner, J. S. Kloppenborg). (a) Peter Arzt-Grabner (Austria), ‘The Date of Jesus’ Birth and of His Death: A Contribution from Papyrology'; respondent, Helen Bond (Edinburgh, United Kingdom); (b) Scott Charlesworth (Australia), ‘A Thoroughly Literary Text: The Greek Papyri of the Gospel of Thomas’; respondent, James Harrison (Australia); (c) Giovanni Bazzana (USA), ‘Legal Terminology and Violence in Q: The Contribution of Documentary Papyri’; respondent, Christina M. Kreinecker (United Kingdom);

14. (14) Reading Paul's Letters in Context: Theological and Social-Scientific Approaches (convenors: W. Campbell, M. Bachmann). (a) William S. Campbell (United Kingdom), ‘Theological and Social-Scientific Perspectives on “Being in Christ”’; (b) Kar Yong Lim (Malaysia), ‘Paul's “Remembering the Poor” as Ritual in the Corinthian Letters’; (c) Andrew Clarke (United Kingdom), ‘The Source and Scope of Paul's Apostolic Authority’'; respondent, Kathy Ehrensperger (United Kingdom).

The Business Meetings

At the two Business Meetings of the Society, members formally elected Professor Udo Schnelle (Germany) to the post of President for the 69th General Meeting in Szeged, Hungary in 2014 (until which time he assumes the office of President-Elect). The Committee intimated the nomination of Professor Judith Lieu (United Kingdom) to the post of President at the 70th General Meeting in Amsterdam, The Netherlands in 2015. As nominee, she becomes Deputy President-Elect until the 2014 General Meeting in Szeged, when her nomination will be voted on by the Society.

Professors Samuel Byrskog (Sweden) and Christian Grappe (France) retired from the Committee at the conclusion of the General Meeting in Perth. Professors Andreas Dettwiler (Switzerland) and Christos Karakolis (Greece) were elected to replace them and will serve on the Committee for a period of three years.

The Society received the Treasurer's Report and formally accepted the statement of accounts as presented by the Treasurer, Dr Helen Bond (United Kingdom). Dr Bond was due to retire as Treasurer on 31 December 2013. The Society elected Dr Kathy Ehrensperger (United Kingdom) as her successor for a term of five years from 1 January 2014.

The Assistant Secretary for International Initiatives, Professor Bernard C. Lategan (South Africa), reported on the work of the various liaison committees (of which there are four: the Eastern European Liaison Committee, the African Liaison Committee, the Asian/Pacific Liaison Committee and the Latin America Liaison Committee), and the SNTS Electronic Library. The main goals of the international initiatives of the Society remain to promote the scholarly study of the New Testament in all parts of the world, to expand the Society's footprint internationally, and to increase its membership in regions where it is underrepresented. Professor Lategan was due to retire as Assistant Secretary for International Initiatives on 31 December 2013. The Society elected Professor William R. G. Loader (Australia) as his successor for a term of five years from 1 January 2014.

The Editor of New Testament Studies, Professor John M. G. Barclay (United Kingdom), reported that 128 articles had been submitted to the Journal over the past year. Twenty-three were accepted for publication. These figures are an index of the very high quality threshold. The queue for publication remains quite short (6–9 months). Professors J.-N. Aletti, B. Byrne, M. Holmes, K. L. King, H. Löhr, G. R. O'Day and H. Roose were due to retire from the Board at the end of 2013. To replace these members, the Editorial Board nominated, and the Society elected, the following members to serve in their place, during the period January 2014–December 2016: A. Harrill (USA); D. G. Horrell (United Kingdom); A. Marjanen (Finland); S. Matthews (USA); H. Omerzu (Denmark); T. Wasserman (Sweden); F. Wilk (Germany). Professor Barclay was due to retire as Editor on 31 December 2013. The Editorial Board nominated Professor Francis Watson (United Kingdom) as his successor for a five-year term from 1 January, 2014. The Society approved this nomination.

The Editor of the Monograph Series, Professor Paul Trebilco (New Zealand), reported that three monographs have been published since the previous General Meeting. Three volumes are in production, two projects have been contracted, and eight manuscripts are under review.

The Society received with regret news of the deaths of the following: Professors Paul Achtemeier, Friedrich Avemarie, Christopher F. Evans, Gerald Hawthorne (ob. 2010), Hans Hübner, Klaus Junack, René Kieffer, Dieter Lührmann, Abraham Malherbe, Ralph P. Martin, Carlo Martini, Frans Neirynck, Eugene Nida (ob. 2011), Alexander Sand, Jacques Seynaeve, Justin Ukpong, Roy Bowen Ward and Nikolaus Walter. Members observed a minute's silence in memory of these scholars.

The following New Testament scholars were elected to the Society: Dr Thomas Johann Bauer (Professor, University of Freiburg, Switzerland); Dr Cornelis Bennema (Associate Professor of New Testament, South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies/Senior Lecturer of New Testament, Wales Evangelical School of Theology, United Kingdom); Dr Lutz Doering (Reader, Department of Theology and Religion, Durham University, United Kingdom); Dr Jonathan Draper (Professor, School of Religion Philosophy and Classics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa); Dr Christian Eberhart (Professor of New Testament Studies, Lutheran Theological Seminary Saskatoon, Canada); Dr Daniel Gerber (Professeur, Faculté de théologie protestante, Université de Strasbourg); Dr Sigurd Grindheim (Professor of New Testament, Fjellhaug International University College, Oslo); Professor Thomas Kazen (Professor of Biblical Studies, Stockholm School of Theology, Sweden); Professor Chris Keith (Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity, St Mary's University College, Twickenham, United Kingdom); Dr Annemarie Luijendijk (Associate Professor, Princeton University, USA); Professor Petri Luomanen (Professor, Faculty of Theology, University of Helsinki, Finland); Dr Robert McIver (Associate Professor, School of Ministry and Theology, Avondale College of Higher Education, Cooranbong, Australia); Dr Simon Mimouni (Directeur d'études de classe exceptionnelle, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Paris); Dr Candida Moss (Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity, University of Notre Dame, USA); Dr Laura Nasrallah (Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity, Harvard Divinity School, USA); Dr Lidija Novakovic (Associate Professor, Baylor University, USA); Dr Charles Quarles (Dean, Caskey School of Divinity, Louisiana College, Pineville, LA, USA); Professor Yann Redalié (Professeur, Faculté vaudoise de théologie protestante, Rome); Professor Joan Taylor (Professor of Christian Origins and Second Temple Judaism, King's College, London, United Kingdom); Dr Korinna Zamfir (Associate Professor, Faculty of Roman Catholic Theology, Babeǵ-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania).

Social Events

Social events at the General Meeting included a State Reception at Government House, a reception at St George's Cathedral hosted by the Combined Churches of Perth and followed by a concert by the Cathedral Consort, and a Farewell Dinner at Scotch College, Swanbourne. There were optional excursions on the Saturday to New Norcia Benedictine Monastery and the Pinnacles Desert.

Future General Meetings

The Society will hold its annual General Meeting in Szeged, Hungary in 2014, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands in 2015, and in Montreal, Canada in 2016.

5.11.2013