Edward William Grinfield (1785–1864) was an Oxford graduate and Anglican clergyman. Grinfield’s work on the text of the New Testament led him to believe that the Septuagint—the collection of Greek translations of the Hebrew Bible carried out by Jewish translators between c. 250 BCE-100 CE, mostly in Egypt—was for Christians the most authoritative and inspired version of Scripture. In 1861, therefore, a Lecturership was endowed in his name funding three lectures in each academic year “on the LXX version of the Hebrew Scriptures, its history, its philological character, its bearing on the criticisms of the New Testament, and its value as an evidence of the authenticity of the Old and New Testaments.” Over the course of the last 150 years, Grinfield Lectures have been presented by many highly regarded scholars, and subsequently published (however, Edward Grinfield would not always approve of the findings!).
Traditionally, the lectures have been presented in the Examination Schools at Oxford, though in recent years additional venues in the University have been used. In 2021, restrictions due to the pandemic meant that the Grinfield Lecturer, Dr James Aitken of Cambridge University, gave his lectures online via Zoom. However, this proved to be an exciting opportunity for Septuagint studies: the lectures reached a global audience averaging over 100 each time, and are now available through the OCHJS for many more to view.
To watch recent recordings of the Grinfield Lectures, given by Dr James Aitken (Cambridge), please click here.
Hilary Term 2023
Week 6
Sébastien Morlet
Professor of Greek language and literature, Sorbonne Université
‘The plurality of the biblical text–past and present’
(First Series)
In person and online via Zoom
Monday 20 February, 2:30–4 pm UK time
1. ‘The linguistic plurality of the Bible: Ancient Jewish views’
Oriel College, Harris Seminar Room (Hebrew Bible seminar)
In order to participate in this lecture via Zoom, please register at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcsf-CuqjwpE9ed9WaFtbsv5SguRHrbPZE5
Tuesday 21 February, 2–3:30 pm UK time
2. ‘The linguistic plurality of the Bible: Ancient Christian views’
Oriel College, Harris Lecture Theatre (Jewish Studies seminar)
In order to participate in this lecture via Zoom, please register at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctf-2pqjkoGdZhUrnc9mh8_4caFCiruXAw
Thursday 23 February, 4–5 pm UK time
3. ‘The views of ancient Greek Christian commentators on the ‘other’ translations of the Bible’
Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies, Walton Street, Lecture Theatre
In order to participate in this lecture via Zoom, please register at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZckf-yhpjwsEt3OiPbv5Sna4EEBF79qwoml