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 next webinar, we’ll focus on reception history and hear 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 will be “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 will be “Violence in the Bible: The Second-Century Response.”

The Invitation

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 reception history will be 10 June at 3:00 pm (US Central), or 9:00 pm (UK). The session is free to attend on Zoom, but you do need to register ahead of time. You can do so on this form provided by the seminar’s parent organization, the Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology in Cambridge.

Looking ahead, you may also want to mark your calendar for the session on spiritual formation formation on 9 September at 3:00 pm (US Central; Zoom). For this session, we’ll be joined by Helen Paynter (Bristol Baptist College) and Edwina Murphy (Australian University of Theology). I’ll provide fuller details for their presentations once they’re available.

There will also be an in-person discussion in Denver during SBL. 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!

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