The Bible is a challenging book. Its literature comes

• through different languages,
• at different times,
• to different audiences, and
• in different contexts.

As we read this literature, we encounter various kinds of difficulties. But some texts present more or especially difficult challenges.

The Project

This year, the Scripture and Hermeneutics Seminar continues its examination of “difficult texts” and the nature of the challenges these texts present. The series began with Leviticus and will conclude next year by considering the Sermon on the Mount. In this middle year, the series continues by examining the books of Joshua and Judges.

The Sessions

Throughout the year, the seminar’s treatment of these difficult texts includes three online events. These events focus on three distinct but overlapping dimensions of the difficulties that Joshua and Judges present. The seminar’s 2026 program concludes with an in-person discussion in Denver at the annual Society of Biblical Literature meeting.

Hermeneutics

In the year’s first webinar, we focused on hermeneutical considerations and heard from

• Dave Beldman, who, until recently, served as Academic Dean and Professor of Old Testament at Missional Training Centre in Phoenix, Arizona, and a co-chair for the Scripture and Hermeneutics Seminar. Dave is now a Scholar in Residence with the Surge Network. Dave’s PhD focused on Judges, and his Reading the Pentateuch as Christian Scripture (co-authored with Michael Rhodes) is scheduled for publication later this year. Dave’s presentation was “Reading Judges as Christian Scripture: Hermeneutics for a Troubling Book.”
• Paul Béré, who teaches at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. His research focuses on the interpretation of the Hebrew Bible, especially from the perspective of aural criticism. Paul is the editor of the forthcoming conference volume The Bible and Its Worlds (Analecta Biblica). Paul’s presentation was “Joshua in Christian Hermeneutics: Wrestling with a Difficult Book.”

If you missed the session or want to refer back to it, you can watch the recording below.

Reception

In this year’s second webinar, we considered reception history and heard from

• Grant LeMarquand, who is Emeritus Professor of Biblical Studies at Trinity Anglican Seminary (Ambridge, PA) and retired Anglican Bishop of the Horn of Africa. Grant is the author of numerous studies on the intersection of the Bible and Africa and the Bible and mission and is a member of the Scripture and Hermeneutics Seminar steering committee. Grant’s presentation was “Jesus and Canaanites in Matthew’s Gospel.”
• Don Springer, who is Lecturer in Theology and Patristics at McMaster Divinity College. Don specializes in the study of early Christian spirituality and Irenaeus of Lyons. Don’s presentation was “Violence in the Bible: The Second-Century Response.”

If you missed the session or want to refer back to it, you can watch the recording below.

Formation

In this year’s third webinar, we’ll think about reading Joshua and Judges for Christian formation. We’ll hear from

• Helen Paynter, who is a tutor in biblical studies at Bristol Baptist College, a Baptist minister, and the founder and executive director for the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence. Helen’s main research interests now lie in narrative hermeneutics and the intersection between Christian Scripture and violence. She is coming to the end of writing the Bible in God’s World commentary volume on Numbers (Wipf & Stock). Helen’s presentation will be “From ‘They Did’ to ‘We Ought’? How Do the Biblical Stories of War and Violence Shape Us?”
• Edwina Murphy, who is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) of the Australian University of Theology. Her area of expertise is early North African Christianity, particularly Cyprian of Carthage and his use of Scripture. With Bart Koet and Murray Smith, Edwina has recently finished editing the volume Presbyters in Early Christianity and Its Contexts (WUNT 2; Mohr Siebeck). Edwina’s presentation will be “Meditate upon It Day and Night: Cyprian’s Use of Joshua and Judges in Christian Formation”

The Invitation

For the Webinar

If you have interests in Joshua, Judges, or how interpreters cope with these challenging texts, we’d encourage you to join us for any of the sessions you can.

The next session on Christian formation will be

The session’s free to attend on Zoom, but you do need to register in advance.

You can register via this form provided by the seminar’s parent organization, the Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology in Cambridge.

For SBL

There will also be an in-person discussion in Denver during SBL. If you’ll be there, we’d welcome you to join us then too.

The preliminary SBL schedule has this session slotted for 20 November at 3:30–5:30 pm (US Mountain). During this time, we’ll hear from J. Richard Middleton (Northeastern Seminary and Roberts Wesleyan University) and Jim Neumann (Prairie College). Richard and Jim will offer responses to and prompt further discussion of this year’s presentations.

Hope you can join us as we consider how to handle these texts, the challenges they raise, and the resources they provide!