The Early Biblical Interpretation Seminar series runs throughout the academic year. It is focused on the study of texts and considers the vitality of biblical texts, traditions and themes across the ancient world. In this seminar, one might hear research on the theme of wisdom in Greek tragedy, prayer in the Dead Sea Scrolls, biblical and classical commentaries or rabbinic reading strategies. The Bodleian’s incredible collection of Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin and Greek manuscripts are an integral part of this seminar, and it regularly organises group visits to the Weston Library.
Trinity Term 2026
Thursdays 10:00-12:00 **unless otherwise stated
Harris Seminar Room, Oriel College
Convened by Hindy Najman
**Week 1 (Wednesday, 29 April, 10-12:00)
Owen Walker Room (Oriel): Book discussion with Emmylou Grosser (University of the Free State). Readings will be pre-circulated.
Week 2 (Thursday, 7 May)
Nathanael Vette (KCL)
““By Way of Sidon Through the Decapolis” (Mark 7:31): Mark’s Jesus and the Restoration of the Land of Israel”
Week 3 (Thursday, 14 May)
Hywel Clifford (Ripon College Cuddesdon, Oxford)
““God who is one” (Philo, Opif. 100): Presocratic philosophy in early Jewish exegesis”
Week 6 (Thursday, 4 June)
John Ritzema (Oxford)
“Theophany and the Cult”
Week 7 (Thursday, 11 June)
Eshbal Ratson (Tel Aviv University)
“History of the Calendar at Qumran”
Week 8 (Thursday, 18 June)
Céline Debourse (Harvard University)
”‘Doing the Tablet’: Grappling with Ritual Text in First Millennium BCE Mesopotamia”
Consult the Oriel College porter’s lodge for the 4-digit code to enter the Harris Seminar Room.
For any enquiries, please write to ocsb@oriel.ox.ac.uk.
For programme updates, please see the website: https://www.centreforbible.oriel.ox.ac.uk/events/early-biblical-interpretation-seminar/.