Does It Matter Who Wrote the Bible?
The Pastoral Implications for Pseudepigraphy and Anonymity in the New Testament
May 19-21, 2022
It is a pleasure to invite you to the conference and to invite your participation in presenting a paper focused on our very specific conference topics: “Does It Matter Who Wrote the Bible? The Pastoral Implications for Pseudepigraphy and Anonymity in the New Testament.” The conference is sponsored by the Ellis Foundation for Biblical Research (EFBR). The Ellis Foundation for Biblical Research was established in 2005 to promote biblical scholarship and has hosted several conferences focused on the relevance of biblical scholarship to the laity. The conference will take place at the Lanier Theological Library on May 19-21, 2022. We will begin at 4.00 pm on May 19 and conclude at 11.30 am on May 21, 2022.
This conference will consider the implications for practical ministry when certain New Testament books are considered pseudonymous. Over the past two centuries various scholars have questioned whether the named writers of some New Testament letters were in fact responsible for their content and composition. Various theories of and approaches to authorship have been offered. Often these discussions never leave the halls of the academy to touch on parish or congregational life.
This conference will explore the pastoral and ecclesial implications of claims of pseudepigraphy and anonymity related to the New Testament.
When submitting your paper proposal, be sure you are addressing one of the four subjects below. Papers that amount to an argument on the evidence for or against pseudepigraphy in the New Testament will not be considered. Again, the focus is on the effect of pseudepigraphy on local church ministry.
Topics
- Pseudepigraphy, anonymity, and the authority of Scripture
- Ethical considerations of pseudepigraphy and anonymity
- The impact of pseudepigraphy and anonymity on pulpit preaching and local church teaching
- The relevance of pseudepigraphy and anonymity to church governance
Guide for authors
The deadline to submit abstracts is January 31, 2022. To submit your abstract please go to https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/3068/submitter
- Accepted paper award ($500)
- Travel stipends ($1000) available for attending presenters
- Papers will be considered for publication
- Final papers must conform to the SBL Handbook of Style
Important Dates
Deadline for abstract submission: January 31, 2022
Notification of acceptance: March 1, 2022
Deadline for final paper submission: May 1, 2022
For inquiries regarding the program, please contact: David.capes@lanierlibrary.org
We look forward to seeing you at the Lanier Theological Library in May 2022!
The Ellis Foundation for Biblical Research 