Sheffield Centre for Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies

Today! Don’t forget to email for the meeting link.

A green poster with the talk details (see link for text).

The next SCIBS seminar is Monday 17 March 2pm, featuring our current Sir Henry Stephenson Research Fellow, Matt Williams.

Matt will give a paper titled, "Spiting the Land That Feeds Us? Considering an Agrarian Concept of Home."

Abstract & joining details: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

A dark red poster with the title and abstract of the talk

Coming up next week, 2-3:30pm, 10 March:
Ela Nutu Hall (University of Sheffield) will give a paper, "How Salomé Fell for the Baptist, or John the Baptist as L’Homme Fatal: Artistic Interpretations of a Biblical Narrative"

Abstract & how to attend: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

… is cultivated, shaping a more integral understanding of home. This interpretative process is enriched by textual engagement alongside those for whom an agrarian mode of life is normative, namely by conducting contextual Bible studies with the chiTumbuka speaking people of Northern Malawi.

People are increasingly disconnected from their sources of food and their local environment, perpetuating a colonial dynamic regarding natural and human resources. Focusing on certain biblical texts can help to make a connection between where people (and other creatures) dwell and where land …

While a visiting researcher at the University of Sheffield, Dr Williams will undertake a research project examining an agrarian conception of “home”, reading the biblical text against characteristically Western biases that have obscured this element.

New appointee to the Sir Henry Stephenson Fellowship SCIBS is pleased to announce the new appointee to the Sir Henry Stephenson Fellowship: Dr Matt Williams.

Now that he's settled into his new post, we have an announcement: we are pleased to welcome Dr Matt Williams as the new Sir Henry Stephenson Fellow.

www.sheffield.ac.uk/scibs/news/n...

Dr Christine Wallis (University of Sheffield). Online, on Monday 4 November, 2-3pm. Abstract: Spreading the Word? An Old English Homily and its Afterlife The single-page fragment now known as Cologny-Genève, Bibliotheca Bodmeriana, MS Bodmer 2 is all that survives of a manuscript containing an Old English homily for Septuagesima Sunday by Ælfric of Eynsham (c.950 – c.1010). The most prolific named author writing in Old English, Ælfric’s works survive in over thirty manuscripts, of which this fragment is one. The popularity of Ælfric’s writings meant that individual texts were re-copied over the years, for the religious instruction of new audiences. In this talk I will explore the ways in which copyists adapted the homily to make it more suitable for oral delivery, and how this surviving fragment came to be recycled into the binding of another book.

Please join us for the next seminar in our series, featuring Dr Christine Wallis (University of Sheffield).

"Spreading the Word? An Old English Homily and Its Afterlife." Monday 4 November, 2-3pm.

Email m DOT j DOT warren AT sheffield.ac.uk for the link to join.

Coming up this Monday!

ANCIENT ISRAEL, JUDAH, AND GREECE Andrew Tobolowsky (College of William and Mary) Monday 21 October 2024 2:00-3:30pm (UK time), online Andrew Tobolowsky will be talking about his forthcoming book with Sheffield Phoenix Press. He will discuss the history of cross-disciplinary comparisons between Hebrew Bible and the study of ancient Greek traditions, highlighting the flaws of prior efforts, and the challenges that continue to confront contemporary practitioners. He will suggest that a new comparative method, focused on comparing not text to text but approach to approach, holds considerable promise for shedding light on entrenched problems and questions.

Please join us for this upcoming online lecture. On 21 October at 2pm, Andrew Tobolowsky will present material based on his forthcoming book, in a talk titled “Ancient Israel, Judah, and Greece.”

Please email m.j.warren AT sheffield dot ac dot uk for the link to join.

Sir Henry Stephenson Visiting Research Fellow The Sir Henry Stephenson Endowment trust has re-opened applications for its historic fellowship in Biblical Studies at the University of Sheffield.

Call for applications: Sir Henry Stephenson Visiting Research Fellow 💷PAID💷. Application deadline 8 July, to commence position 1 October 2024. Details on our website. www.sheffield.ac.uk/scibs/news/s...

A selection of eggplants, cherries, cucumbers, papayas, peaches, and bananas overlaid with text announcing the new issue of JIBS.

Just published, the first article from our special edition, Seminal Issues in Biblical Genitalia: Sara Parks PhD, "The Greek Hat: 2 Maccabees 4:12 as a Euphemism for Reverse Circumcision." jibs.hcommons.org/volume-5-iss...

The other articles are coming soon!

… The publication of translations of great works of world literature into Scots is a crucial part of demonstrating its continuing vitality as a literary language.”

…Hebrew Scriptures: The Sang o Sangs, Ruth, Lamentatiouns, Qoheleth and Esther. These books, besides being important Jewish scriptures and part of the Christian Old Testament, are fascinating and still relevant examples of ancient literature for those of any religion or none. …

Abstract: “Based on his recent publication, The Sang O Sangs, Ruth, Lamentations, Qoheleth And Esther Owerset frae the Hebrew intil Scots (Handsel Press 2023), this talk will give an overview of Pyper’s translation from the original Hebrew into Scots of five books from the…

A park blue poster advertising the lecture

Our final research seminar of the year will be in person! Please join us on 15 April at 5pm for a lecture by Prof Emeritus Hugh Pyper titled, "The Five Scrolls: Scots Biblical Translation." To book a ticket, visit bit.ly/PyperSCIBS

A pale mauve poster with the details of the talk. Email m.j.warren@sheffield.ac.uk for link to join.

Coming up on Monday 18 March, 2pm: Jamie Broad: *“I don’t play with the Bible”: An Examination of How the Bible is Employed in UK Christian Rap*

All welcome! Online as usual. Please email @drmjcwarren.bsky.social for the link to join. Abstract and details: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Monday!

À taupe poster with the title and details of the event. There is a photo of Prof Yii-Jan Lin smiling.

Our next online research seminar will be on 26 February at 2pm. Prof Yii-Jan Lin (Yale University) will give a paper titled, "The Use of Revelation in American Immigration History"

Please email Dr Meredith Warren for the link to join. For abstract visit docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Coming up on Monday!

Oh fuck, it's February.

A purple poster with the SCIBS rainbow tree logo and the details of the research seminar. Monday 12 February 2–3:30pm Anna Budhi-Thornton, University of Manchester Jesus the Model Man? A Comparison of Ancient Masculinities and the Jesus of the Johannine Passion Narrative Email m.j.warren@sheffield.ac.uk to register. Abstract available at link

Our first research seminar of the semester is coming up on 12 Feb, featuring Dr Anna Budhi-Thornton (Manchester University): “Jesus the Model Man? A Comparison of Ancient Masculinities and the Jesus of the Johannine Passion Narrative.”

Abstract & registration info: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

A purple poster with the SCIBS rainbow tree logo and the details of the research seminar. Monday 12 February 2–3:30pm Anna Budhi-Thornton, University of Manchester Jesus the Model Man? A Comparison of Ancient Masculinities and the Jesus of the Johannine Passion Narrative Email m.j.warren@sheffield.ac.uk to register. Abstract available at link

Our first research seminar of the semester is coming up on 12 Feb, featuring Dr Anna Budhi-Thornton (Manchester University): “Jesus the Model Man? A Comparison of Ancient Masculinities and the Jesus of the Johannine Passion Narrative.”

Abstract & registration info: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Unfortunately this event will not take place due to technical difficulties. Please keep an eye out for a rescheduled date.

A red poster with text: TIME FOR HER TO GET MARRIED FORCED MARRIAGE AS A TROPE IN JEROME BERRYMAN'S COMPLETE GUIDE TO GODLY PLAY Cath Kennedy (Sheffield) Monday 27 November 2023 2-3:30pm (UK time) Online Forced marriage (FM) is an ongoing problem worldwide. Many Christian materials for children encode the characteristics of FM in traditional narrative, thus normalising it and associating it with belonging, virtue, and family life. Given the profound effect of narrative on children's emerging worldview, it would be preferable for church communities and schools to review the materials they use, become skilled at identifying the trope of FM, and adapt their resources accordingly.

This Monday, 27 November from 2-3:30pm, our own Cath Kennedy will present some of her research in a paper titled: ‘Time for her to get married’: Forced Marriage as a Trope in Jerome Berryman’s Complete Guide to Godly Play. Please email Meredith Warren to join our online research seminar.

Light blue poster with meeting info and abstract. In this talk Dr Hobbs will introduce her latest book, which details her first 22 years of life moving through three concentric circles in the Christian Far Right in the United States. Dr Hobbs will then discuss in more detail the book's feminist, autho-ethnographic approach and, through that, what messages about the sacralisation of escalating violence the book aims to convey.

Our next online research seminar is on 13 November at 2pm UK time, featuring Dr Valerie Hobbs (Sheffield).

Please email Dr Meredith J C Warren for the link to join.

Light blue poster with meeting info and abstract. In this talk Dr Hobbs will introduce her latest book, which details her first 22 years of life moving through three concentric circles in the Christian Far Right in the United States. Dr Hobbs will then discuss in more detail the book's feminist, autho-ethnographic approach and, through that, what messages about the sacralisation of escalating violence the book aims to convey.

Our next online research seminar is on 13 November at 2pm UK time, featuring Dr Valerie Hobbs (Sheffield).

Please email Dr Meredith J C Warren for the link to join.

The title page for a book called Good Omens and the Bible

Happy proofs day! 🎉 I’m so excited to see these. Good Omens fans, keep your eyes out for this volume, coming soon to an angelic bookshop near you. @Shaynasheinfeld.bsky.social @neilhimself.neilgaiman.com