SBL John-Jesus-History Group Homepage

John - Jesus - History

A program unit of the Society of Biblical Literature

Program Overview

Call for papers for 2006 (Nov. 18-21 in Washington, DC) - see below
Group Sessions 2005
Consultation Sessions 2002-2004

Statement of Purpose

The "John, Jesus, and History Group" will highlight issues related to the Johannine tradition and the composition-history of the Fourth Gospel and the Johannine Epistles, with special emphasis on the place of these documents in contemporary study of Christian origins. Dialogue on these issues will be encouraged through the group's annual meetings and through other venues throughout the year.

Call for Papers: Overview

The JJH Group will host two sessions each at the 2005, 2006, 2007 meetings of the Society of Biblical Literature. During these years the outline of our discussion will mostly follow the text of the Fourth Gospel:

for 2005, papers relating to John 1-4;

for 2006, papers relating to John 5-12;

for 2007, papers relating to John 13-21.

Proposals on general methodological issues will be accepted for any session, but it will be most helpful if method papers can connect to the topic for the year in question. Please note also that we welcome proposals reflecting a wide variety of perspectives, including both those that defend and those that reject the "historicity" of the Johannine Literature. All proposals should be submitted to the Chair through the Society of Biblical Literature website, using the appropriate online form (see http://www.sbl-site.org).

Call for Papers: 2006

The John, Jesus, and History Group will host two sessions at the 2006 meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature. One session will be closed (invited papers only); proposals are solicited for the open session. Proposals for 2006 should explore issues of historicity related to John 5-12, including discussion of John's portrayal of Jewish festivals; the Sabbath controversy; the trial motif in chaps. 5 & 9; the Bethesda healing; the miraculous feeding; the dialogues on Bread and Light; Jewish debates over Jesus' identity; the excommunication story of chap. 9; the "Good Shepherd" discourse; the Lazarus story; the plot against Jesus (11:45-53); and, the anointing at Bethany. Topics of interest to the group that fall outside the scope of these chapters will also be considered. Papers may reflect a variety of methodological perspectives, but preference will be given to proposals that interact directly with questions of John's historicity (either in favor of John's historicity or against John's presentation). Please include a detailed abstract, and feel free to contact Tom Thatcher with questions or comments (email tom.thatcher--at--ccuniversity.edu). To submit your proposal, go to http://www.sbl-site.org.

Steering Committee

Tom Thatcher, Cincinnati Christian University - Chair
Paul Anderson, George Fox University
Jaime Clark-Soles, Perkins School of Theology
Mary Coloe, PBVM, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane
Alan Culpepper, McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University
Felix Just, SJ, University of San Francisco
D. Moody Smith, Duke University Divinity School - Senior Advisor

LINKS and RESOURCES:

THE SOCIETY OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE
Homepage of the largest professional association devoted to biblical studies.

See also the Homepage of the JOHANNINE LITERATURE SECTION of the Society of Biblical Literature

THE JOHANNINE LITERATURE WEB
Resources for the academic study of the Fourth Gospel and the Letters of John.

This website is sponsored by the Steering Committee of the John-Jesus-History Group.

For questions about the John-Jesus-History Group, please contact the Chair of the Steering Committee:
Prof. Tom Thatcher, Cincinnati Christian University, tom.thatcher--at--ccuniversity.edu

For comments about this website, please contact Prof. Felix Just, SJ, University of San Francisco, fnjust--at--usfca.edu