Dr Ekaterina Kozlova (London School of Theology) discusses ‘Jonah’s Psalm and the Intersection of Nature, Ritual, and Theology in the Book of Jonah’ in this Biblical Studies Seminar at the University of Edinburgh (September 29, 2020).
Emeritus Professor John W. Rogerson (1935-2018) delivered the Beauchief Abbey Lectures 2017 on “Poet Prophets of the Old Testament” in 2017.
John Rogerson explains why far more attention should be paid to the poetic side of the Old Testament prophets, and to the implications of their poetic language for understanding God and for talking about God. Poets and poetry are needed, he says, not only in our everyday lives; we need them in our worship, in our theology, in our services, because without poetry these will become impoverished.
Lecture 1: The Rediscovery of Hebrew Poetry in the 18th Century
Lecture 2: The Poet Prophets of the Old Testament
Lecture 3: The Forms of Old Testament Prophecy
Lecture 4: The Servant Songs of Isaiah 42-53
Lecture 5: What do the Poet Prophets of the Old Testament have to say to us today?
On May 5, 2017, Wycliffe College (Toronto) hosted a colloquium on Hosea.
Mark S. Gignilliat, With Hosea at Penuel: The Interface of Ontology and Tropology
Raymond Van Leeuwen, Knowing Creation and Knowing God in Hosea
Eugen J. Pentiuc, The Book of Hosea from Iron Age to Digital Age
Donald Collett, The Book of the Twelve as Penitential History
Professor David Noel Freedman (1922-2008) delivered the 1989 Stone Lectures at Princeton Theological Seminary, on the topic of “The Prophets of the Eighth Century, B.C.E.”.
The five lectures are available in mp3 (audio) format:
On February 23, 2016, the Trinity Western University (TWU) Dead Sea Scrolls Institute hosted a series of talks on the Dead Sea Scrolls, “Re-Imagining the Scriptural Past in the Dead Sea Scrolls”.
The Dead Sea Scrolls provide fresh perspective on both the words of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and ancient Jewish world of the New Testament. As the library of a specialized Jewish scribal community, they also reveal how ancient people and communities rendered their religious traditions relevant to their own culture. Many readers of the Bible today face this same task: scripture is at once ancient and sacred, yet its contemporary relevance is not always evident. Through presentations and discussions with four TWU alumni and authors of recently published books on the Dead Sea Scrolls, our evening will explore how the group that penned and preserved the scrolls navigated this dynamic in their own search for meaning. Join authors Dr. Andrew Perrin, Dr. Kipp Davis, Dr. Marvin Miller, Dr. Dongshin Chang, and Dr. Peter Flint as they detail how ancient writers encountered and innovated the biblical past by extending prophecy, claiming revelatory dreams, rethinking covenant theology, and crafting and circulating letters.
Dr. Peter Flint – The Dead Sea Scrolls: What Can They Teach Us?
Dr. Peter Flint (Canada Research Chair in Dead Sea Scrolls Studies at Trinity Western University) provides a fresh introduction to the Qumran texts and archaeology in light of his recently published book “The Dead Sea Scrolls” (Abingdon, 2013).
Dr. Andrew Perrin – History Revealed: The Eras of Empires in Daniel and Beyond
Dr. Andrew Perrin (Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Trinity Western University) explores the rewriting of apocalyptic history in the book of Daniel and ancient Judaism in light of his recently published book “The Dynamics of Dream-Vision Revelation in the Aramaic Dead Sea Scrolls” (Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2015).
Dr. Kipp Davis – Forging Reputations of National Icons: Chuck Norris and the Prophet Jeremiah
Dr. Kipp Davis (Scholar in Residence at Trinity Western University) details the cultural and literary development of famed figures today and in antiquity, with an eye to the prophet Jeremiah’s life beyond the Bible. A detailed treatment of the Jeremiah traditions in the Dead Sea Scrolls may be found in his recently published book “The Cave 4 Apocryphon of Jeremiah and the Qumran Jeremianic Traditions: Prophetic Persona and the Construction of Community Identity” (Brill, 2014).
Professor Robert Alter (UC-Berkeley) discusses the three books of the Bible which might be considered the “most unorthodox: the two books that never mention the word God (the Book of Esther, the Song of Songs) and the book that pushes back against religious nationalism (the Book of Jonah).” The discussion is with Scott Saul in Chapter & Verse, a books-and-arts podcast from UC Berkeley’s Townsend Center for the Humanities.
In the Book of Esther, a story that veers into sex comedy, a beautiful Jewish commoner joins a Persian king’s harem and contrives to save her people. In the Song of Songs, two lovers engage in a dance of mutual seduction that encourages us, as readers, to “be drunk with loving.” And in the Book of Jonah, a man who refuses to preach to his enemies is swallowed by a giant fish — God working in magical as well as mysterious ways.
Over eight videos, Stephen L. Cook (Virginia Theological Seminary) and Robert R. Wilson (Yale Divinity School) discuss Second Isaiah.
The conversation is part of the Yale Bible Study Series presented in cooperation with The Congregational Church of New Canaan in New Canaan, CT.
The videos are accompanied by study materials on Second Isaiah, made available by the Congregational Church of New Canaan.
Isaiah 6:1-9:21: The Prophetic Messenger and his Message
Isaiah 10–12: God’s Felling of Pride, Making Way for New Growth
Isaiah 34—39: Promise in the Context of Renewed Judgment
Isaiah 40:1-31: The Fulfillment of the Divine Word: God’s Faithfulness to Israel
Isaiah 41:1–44:23: God’s Coming Vindication and Deliverance
Isaiah 44:24-48:22: The Agents of God’s Redemption
Isaiah 49:1–52:12: God’s Servant and God’s Bride
Isaiah 2, Isaiah 52:13–55:13: The Arm of God Manifest in Suffering
Professor M. Daniel Carroll, of Denver Seminary, delivers the Old Testament lectures for the 2013 Nils W. Lund Memorial Lecture series, on September 26, 2013, at North Park Theological Seminary:
Lecture 1: “Once a Stranger, Always a Stranger: Immigration, Assimilation, and the Book of Ruth”
Lecture 2: “Probing the Prophets for Social Ethics: Insights from Multiple Perspectives — The Case of Amos”
Prof Hans Walter Wolff provides a series of lectures on the Prophetic Word, delivered in 1980 at the Holden Village. These are available on mp3 audio files:
Robert Henry Charles’s classic edited collection of translations of Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament (1913) is made available by the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL).
Another copy is available on Internet Archive: vol 1 and vol 2.
Although somewhat superseded by James Charlesworth’s Old Testament Pseudepigrapha (1983-85) and Bauckham, Davila, and Panayotov’s Old Testament Pseudepigrapha: More Noncanonical Scriptures 1 (2013), the translations in Charles’s edited volumes are still regularly used and referred to.
Volume 1: The Apocrypha of the Old Testament
Historical Books
Esdras (Cook)
1 Maccabees / William O.E. Oesterley
2 Maccabees / James Moffatt
3 Maccabees (Emmet)
Quasi-historical Books Written with a Moral Purpose
Tobit (Simpson)
Judith (Cowley)
Wisdom Literature
Sirach / George H. Box and William O.E. Oesterley
Wisdom of Solomon (Holmes)
Additions to and Completions of the Canonical Books
1 Baruch (Whitehouse)
Epistle of Jeremy [Jeremiah] (Ball)
Prayer of Manasses [Manasseh] (Ryle)
Additions to Daniel
Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Children (Bennett)
Susanna (Kay)
Bel and the Dragon (Witton Davies)
Additions to Esther (Gregg)
Volume 2: The Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament
Primitive History Rewritten from the Standpoint of the Law
The Book of Jubilees / Robert Henry Charles
Sacred Legends
The Letter of Aristeas (Andrews)
The Books of Adam and Eve (Wells)
The Martyrdom of Isaiah (Charles)
Apocalypses
1 Enoch (Charles)
The Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs (Charles)
The Sibylline Oracles (Lanchester)
The Assumption of Moses (Charles)
2 Enoch, or the Book of the Secrets of Enoch (Forbes and Charles)
2 Baruch, or the Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch (Charles)
3 Baruch, or the Greek Apocalypse of Baruch (Hughes)
Ezra (Box)
Psalms
The Psalms of Solomon (Gray)
Ethics and Wisdom Literature
4 Maccabees (Townshend)
Pirke Aboth (Herford)
The Story of Achikar [Ahikar] (Harris, Lewis, Conybeare)
History
The Fragments of a Zadokite Work [Cairo Damascus Document] (Charles)
University of California Television (UCTV) provides two videos in which Prof. Bart Ehrman discusses the Bible’s explanations for suffering.
In the first video, Ehrman is interviewed by Harry Kreisler (2008):
Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes biblical scholar Bart Ehrman for a discussion of his intellectual odyssey with a focus on how the Bible explains the problem of human suffering. The conversation includes a discussion of the challenges of biblical interpretation when confronting this age old problem of the human condition. Included are topics such as the contribution of the prophets, a comparison of the old and new testaments, the book of Job, and the emergence of apocalyptic writers.
The second video is a UC Berkeley Graduate Council Lecture, “God’s Problem and Human Solutions: How the Bible Explains Suffering” (2008).
The discussions draw on material from Ehrman’s book, God’s Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question – Why We Suffer (2008).
Professor Daniel Fleming, of New York University, presents an introductory course on the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible called “Ancient Israel“, which is available to view on 27 videos (on YouTube).
For additional class materials, see the course page at New York University.
Philip Harland has an ongoing series of podcasts on a wide range of topics relating to religions of the ancient Mediterranean which are available here. These include:
Series 1: Paul and His Communities
Podcast 1.1 Paul in his own words
Podcast 1.2 The situation at Thessalonica
Podcast 1.3 Paul’s response to Jesus-followers at Thessalonica
Podcast 1.4: Paul and the followers of Jesus at Corinth, part 1
Podcast 1.5: Paul and the followers of Jesus at Corinth, part 2
Podcast 1.6: Paul and the followers of Jesus at Corinth, part 3
Podcast 1.7: Paul and the situation in Galatia
Podcast 1.8: Paul’s response to the Galatians
Podcast 1.9: Paul and the situation at Rome
Podcast 1.10: Paul’s response to the Romans
Podcast 1.11: Legacies of Paul – Women’s leadership, part 1
Podcast 1.12: Legacies of Paul – Women’s leadership, part 2
Series 2: Early Christian Portraits of Jesus
Podcast 2.1: Introduction to the Gospels as Portraits of Jesus
Podcast 2.2: Mark’s portrait of Jesus – Suffering Son, part 1
Podcast 2.3: Mark’s portrait of Jesus – Suffering Son, part 2
Podcast 2.4: Matthew’s portrait of Jesus – New Moses, part 1
Podcast 2.5: Matthew’s portrait of Jesus – New Moses, part 2
Podcast 2.6: Luke’s Portrait of Jesus – Prophet Elijah, part 1
Podcast 2.7: Luke’s Portrait of Jesus – Prophet Elijah, part 2
Podcast 2.8: John’s Portrait of Jesus – Son and Word, part 1
Podcast 2.9: John’s Portrait of Jesus – Son and Word, part 2
Podcast 2.10: Hebrews’ Portrait of Jesus – Highpriest Melchizedek, part 1
Podcast 2.11: Hebrews’ Portrait of Jesus – Highpriest Melchizedek, part 2
Series 3: Diversity in Early Christianity: “Heresies” and Struggles
Podcast 3.1: Introduction to Diversity – A Schism in John’s Community, part 1
Podcast 3.2: A Schism in John’s Community, part 2
Podcast 3.3: Docetic and Judaizing Opponents of Ignatius
Podcast 3.4: Docetic and Judaizing Opponents of Ignatius, part 2
Podcast 3.5: Diversity in Asia Minor – A Regional Case Study
Podcast 3.6: Sources for the Study of Diversity – Gnostic, Apocryphal, Patristic
Podcast 3.7: Jewish Followers of Jesus, part 1 – Ebionites
Podcast 3.8: Jewish Followers of Jesus, part 2 – Pseudo-Clement
Podcast 3.9: Marcionites and the Unknown God
Podcast 3.10 Introducing Gnostic Worldviews
Podcast 3.11: Secret Book of John, part 1 – The Spiritual Realm
Podcast 3.12: Secret Book of John, part 2 – Salvation from the Material Realm
Podcast 3.13: The Wisdom of Jesus Christ and Middle Platonism
Podcast 3.14: The Gospel of Philip, part 1 – Ideas of Salvation
Podcast 3.15: The Gospel of Philip, part 2 – Ritual Enactments of Salvation
Podcast 3.16: The Gospel of Mary – Secret Knowledge from the Ultimate Disciple
Series 4: Honouring the Gods in the Roman Empire: Asia Minor
Podcast 4.1: Introduction to Honouring the Gods
Podcast 4.2: A City and Its Patron Deity – Artemis of Ephesus
Podcast 4.3: Salvation from the Gods – Asklepios at Pergamum
Podcast 4.4: Messages from the Gods – Apollo at Claros and Didyma
Podcast 4.5: Justice from the Gods in Lydia
Podcast 4.6: Honouring the Emperors as Gods
Series 5: The Historical Jesus in Context
Podcast 5.1: Studying the Historical Jesus – Sources and Problems, part 1
Podcast 5.2: Studying the Historical Jesus – Sources and Problems, part 2
Podcast 5.3: Studying the Historical Jesus – Sources and Problems, part 3
Podcast 5.4: Scholarly Portraits of the Historical Jesus, part 1 – Crossan
Podcast 5.5: Scholarly Portraits of the Historical Jesus, part 2 – Sanders
Podcast 5.6: Jesus, Galilee, and Israelite History, part 1 – To the Second Temple
Podcast 5.7: Jesus, Galilee, and Israelite History, part 2 – To the Time of Jesus
Podcast 5.8: Jesus, the Galilean and Judean
Podcast 5.9: Jesus in the Context of Educated Groups and Leaders
Podcast 5.10: Jesus and his Mentor, John the Baptizer
Podcast 5.11: Jesus as Teacher, part 1 – Method and Content
Podcast 5.12: Jesus as Teacher, part 2 – Present or Future Kingdom?
Podcast 5.13: Jesus as Healer and Exorcist
Podcast 5.14: Jesus as Prophet
Podcast 5.15: Jesus as Messianic King?
Series 6: Associations in the Greco-Roman World
Podcast 6.1: Introduction to Associations in the Greco-Roman World
Podcast 6.2: Social, Religious, and Burial Activities of Associations
Podcast 6.3: Judean and Christian Groups as Associations
Podcast 6.4: Associations and Greco-Roman Society (The City)
Podcast 6.5: Associations and the Roman Empire
Podcast 6.6: Approaches to Studying Ethnic Associations and Identities
Podcast 6.7: Phoenician Immigrant Associations, part 1
Podcast 6.8: Phoenician Immigrant Associations, part 2
Podcast 6.9: Judean Immigrant Associations, part 1
Podcast 6.10: Judean Immigrant Associations, part 2
Podcast 6.11 Jesus Groups as Associations and Cultural Minorities, part 1
Podcast 6.12: Jesus Groups as Associations and Cultural Minorities, part 2
Podcast 6.13: Cultural Minority Associations and Ethnic Stereotypes, part 1
Podcast 6.14: Cultural Minority Associations and Ethnic Stereotypes, part 2
Series 7: Visions of the End: Origins of Judean Apocalypticism
Podcast 7.1: Visions of the End – What is Apocalypticism?
Podcast 7.2: Origins part 1 – Ancient Near Eastern Combat Myths
Podcast 7.3: Origins part 2 – Zoroastrian apocalypticism
Podcast 7.4: Origins part 3a – Israelite Prophets 1
Podcast 7.5: Origins part 3b – Israelite Prophets 2
Podcast 7.6: 1 Enoch – An Introduction to the Earliest Apocalypse
Podcast 7.7: 1 Enoch – Fallen Angels in Early Apocalypticism
Podcast 7.8: Introduction to Daniel’s Historical Apocalypse
Podcast 7.9: Daniel’s Visions as Veiled History
Series 8: A Cultural History of Satan – Personified Evil in Early Judaism and in Christianity
Podcast 8.1: A Cultural History of Satan – Predecessors of Satan from Mesopotamia
Podcast 8.2: Predecessors of Satan from Canaan and Israel
Podcast 8.3: Predecessors of Satan from Persia
Podcast 8.4: Other Predecessors of Satan from the Hebrew Bible
Podcast 8.5: Fallen Angels in 1 Enoch (ca. 225 BCE)
Podcast 8.6: Mastema in Jubilees and Beliar in the Dead Sea Scrolls (ca. 100 BCE)
Podcast 8.7: The Devil and Beelzebub in Early Biographies of Jesus (70-100 CE)
Podcast 8.8: Internal Functions of the Rhetoric of Satan in Paul and John (ca. 50-110 CE)
Podcast 8.9: A Satanic Empire in John’s Apocalypse (ca. 80-100 CE)
Podcast 8.10: Jealous Satan, the Image of God, and the Serpent in the Life of Adam and Eve
Podcast 8.11: The Jealous Creator and the Serpent of Wisdom in Gnosticism (2nd century CE)
Podcast 8.12: Satan’s Demons and the Greco-Roman Gods in the Church Fathers (2nd-3rd centuries CE)
Videos of Thomas Römer’s 2013 seminars at the Collège de France, entitled The Human Condition: The Ancient Near East and the Hebrew Bible, are available at the Collège’s website, or for download at the links provided below (800mb+). The seminars have been overdubbed by an English translator.
Thomas Römer is Professor of Old Testament at the University of Lausanne (UNIL) and the Collège de France, and author of many works, including Israels Väter (1990) on the Patriarchal traditions in the Pentateuch.
In these seminars, Römer discusses the question of the human condition, drawing on ancient Near Eastern texts such as the Epic of Gilgamesh and, especially, on biblical texts.
07 FEBRUARY 2013, 2:00 pm
Introduction: The Gilgamesh Epic Read as a Reflection on the Human Condition
14 FEBRUARY 2013, 2:00 pm
Man “Image of God” or “Sinner From The Very Beginning”?
21 FEBRUARY 2013, 2:00 pm
Divine Violence, Human Violence
28 FEBRUARY 2013, 2:00 pm
Diversity of Cultures and Languages
21 MARCH 2013, 2:00 pm
Friendship, Love, Sexuality 1/2
28 MARCH 2013, 2:00 pm
Friendship, Love, Sexuality 2/2
04 APRIL 2013, 2:00 pm
Man in the Face of Death
11 APRIL 2013, 2:00 pm
Individual Death and the End of the World – Is Man Able to Imagine an Absolute End?
Videos of Thomas Römer’s 2012 seminars at the Collège de France, entitled The God Yhwh: Origins, cults, transformation into the only God, are available at the Collège’s website, or for download at the links provided below (800mb+). The seminars have been overdubbed by an English translator.
Thomas Römer is Professor of Old Testament at the University of Lausanne (UNIL) and the Collège de France, and author of many works, including Israels Väter (1990) on the Patriarchal traditions in the Pentateuch.
In these seminars, Römer discusses the origins of the Israelite god Yahweh, and his transformation into a single god in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
1:14:09
1:13:13
1:12:38
1:10:19
1:06:47
53:56
1:13:02
1:11:05
1:12:23
1:09:45
1:06:00
1:14:39
59:17
1:09:44
1:00:53
1:12:33
1:09:11
1:10:20
57:25
45:42
1:09:47
44:59
40:31
1:08:44
1:10:19
1:05:40
56:47
Biblical Studies Online 