Call for Papers and Sessions

Saturday, November 22, Public Garden (Fifth Floor) Sheraton, 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Critical Approaches to the Oxford Handbook of Deification (2024)

Presider: Clelia Attanasio, University of Bonn

Presentations: 

Pavel Gavrilyuk, St Thomas University: Deification: Definitional and Methodological Issues

Steven Stapella, Duke University: The Condemnation of the Flesh: Platonic Anthropology and Theosis

Mark Elliott, Highland Theological College: "Friendship with God": A Critical Appreciation of Deification and Its Handbook

Athanasios Antonopoulos, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens: Critical Approach to the Notions of Asceticism and Ascetic Deification in the Oxford Handbook of Deification

Myk Habets, Laidlaw College: Theosis in Recent Christian Thought: Ecumenical Potentials and Pitfalls

Saturday, November 22,  4:00 PM - 6:30 PM, 306 (Third Level) Hynes Convention Center

 Fresh Perspectives on Epicureanism and Early Christianity: Exploring intersections in communities, ethics, and epistles

Presider: Rainer Hirsch-Luipold, Universität Bern - Université de Berne

Presentations: 

Justin Allison, Ouachita Baptist University: Epicurean Piety as a Model for the Corinthian "Wise" (1 Corinthians 8–10)

Maria Pazarski, Supreme Ecclesiastical Academy of Athens: Aphobia for the Divine according to Epicurus and Friendship with God according to Philo of Alexandria as Paths of Piety and Bliss

Eric Brewer, Baylor University: Friendship and Frankness of Speech in Philodemus and Lukan Discipleship

Jeffery Aubin, Cegep St. Lawrence: Carpe Deum: A New Kind of Piety

Nathan Scott, Wycliffe College: Augustine's Mouth Has Two Sides: Augustine's Nuanced Engagement with Epicureanism in His Epistle 118

Travis Niles, University of Bern: What You Unknowingly Revere” – On the Use of εὐσεβεῖν in Acts 17:23
 

Sunday, November 23, Public Garden (Fifth Floor) Sheraton, 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Revelation and Reason: Two Sources of Knowledge? Reconsidering this classical dilemma as it appears in ancient philosophical texts.

Presider: Isidoros Charalampos Katsos, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Presentations: 

Magnus Rabel, University of Zurich: Hidden in Blinding Light: The Unseeable God in 1 Timothy 6:16

Daniel Zimmerman, University of California, Santa Barbara: A Tale of Two Cities: Reading Jerusalem as Plato's Republic

Abraham Wu, University of Cambridge: Within and Without: Revelation and Reason in Late Antique Accounts of Conscience

Stevie Henry, Thomas Jefferson University: Authority and Reason in the Dialogues of Cicero and Augustine

David Baldi, Yale University: Can the Heavens Be Rent? Natural Philosophy in Ibn Kātib Qayṣar's Commentary on Revelation 4

Clelia Attanasio, University of Bonn: From Reason to Unknowing: Gregory of Nyssa’s Mystical Theology in The Life of Moses

Monday, November 24, Back Bay A (Second Floor) Sheraton, 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Book Review of Timothy A. Brookins, Rediscovering the Wisdom of the Corinthians: Paul, Stoicism, and Spiritual Hierarchy

Presider: Paul Sloan, Houston Christian University

Panelist
Michael J. Gorman, St. Mary’s Seminary & University

Panelist
Joshua Jipp, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Panelist
David Moffitt, University of St Andrews

Panelist
Annalisa Phillips Wilson, Cambridge University

Respondent
Timothy Brookins, University of Saint Thomas (Houston, TX)

Saturday, November 23, Indigo 206 (Second Level), 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM

Theme: Notions of Freedom

Joint Session: Religion and Philosophy in Antiquity / Pseudepigrapha

Presiding: Rainer Hirsch-Luipold, Universität Bern - Université de Berne, Presiding

Presentations: 

Maren R. Niehoff, Hebrew University of Jerusalem: Freedom in Epictetus and Philo of Alexandria 
Tag(s): Pauline Epistles - Romans (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Tosefta (Early Jewish Literature - Rabbinic Literature), Other Rabbinic Works - Haggadic Midrashim (Early Jewish Literature - Rabbinic Literature)

Maria Pazarski, Supreme Ecclesiastical Academy of Athens: Freedom in the Light of Philo of Alexandria in the Treatise "Περὶ τοῦ πάντα σπουδαῖον ἐλεύθερον εἶναι"  

Tag(s): Philo (Early Jewish Literature - Other)

Elsa Simonetti, École Pratique des Hautes Études: Freedom and salus in Seneca 
Tag(s): Greco-Roman Literature (Greco-Roman Literature), Latin (Philology / Linguistics (incl. Semiotics)), Roman Empire (History & Culture)

Grant Macaskill, University of Aberdeen: Cosmogony, Astrology, and Determinism in 2 Enoch and Bardaisan of Edessa 
Tag(s): Apocalyptic Literature and Related Works (Early Jewish Literature - Jewish Pseudepigrapha), Syriac (Philology / Linguistics (incl. Semiotics)), Roman Empire (History & Culture)

Sunday, November 24, Convention Center - 11A (Upper Level West), 1:00 PM–3:30 PM

Theme: Fresh Perspectives on Early Christianity and Cynicism

Presiding: Clare Rothschild, Lewis University

Presentations: 

Travis R. Niles, Universität Bern - Université de Berne: Jesus and the Cynics: Criticizing Conventional Religion

Tag(s): Gospels (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Greco-Roman Literature (Greco-Roman Literature), Comparative Approaches (Interpretive Approaches)

Roi Ziv, Hebrew University of Jerusalem: “Become My Imitators”: Paul’s Cynic Philosophy of Education in 1 Cor 1–4 

Tag(s): Pauline Epistles - 1 Corinthians (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Greco-Roman Literature (Greco-Roman Literature), Comparative Approaches (Interpretive Approaches)
Discussion (5 min)

Nelida Naveros Cordova, Spring Hill College: Law and Freedom: Similarities and Differences between Paul and Demetrius the Cynic 

Tag(s): Pauline Epistles (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Religio-Historical Approaches (Interpretive Approaches)

Susan Prince, University of Cincinnati: Anecdotes of Diogenes in Patristic Literature
Tag(s): 1 Esdras (Biblical Literature - Deuterocanonical Works)

Marius Timmann Mjaaland, University of Oslo: Cynicism and Inner Freedom in Evagrios’  Theoria Physiké 
Tag(s): 1 Esdras (Biblical Literature - Deuterocanonical Works) 

Sunday, November 24, Omni - Grand D (Fourth Floor), 4:00 PM–6:30 PM 
Theme: Definitions of Superstition

Presiding: Athanasios Despotis, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn

Presentations: 

Luisa Lesage Gárriga, Universidad de Córdoba (España): Plutarch and the Dread of the Divine 
Tag(s): Greco-Roman Literature (Greco-Roman Literature), Hellenistic Period (History & Culture), Theological Interpretation (Interpretive Approaches)

Constantin-Daniel Cosereanu, University of Halle: Criticism of Superstition in Seneca, Philo, and Clement of Alexandria 
Tag(s): Greece/Greek (Greco-Roman Literature), Early Christian Literature (Early Christian Literature - Other), History of Christianity (History & Culture)

Martin Meiser, Universität des Saarlandes: Deisidaimonia in Ancient Inter-religious Controversies and in Inner-Christian Parenesis
Tag(s): Christian (Ideology & Theology), History of Christianity (History & Culture), Religious Traditions and Scriptures (History of Interpretation / Reception History / Reception Criticism)

Rainer Hirsch-Luipold, Universität Bern - Université de Berne and Stefano De Feo, Universität Bern - Université de Berne: Superstition and Eschatological Ideas in the Early Imperial Philosophy 
Tag(s): Greco-Roman Literature (Greco-Roman Literature), Greco-Roman Period (History & Culture), Greek

Monday, November 25, 28A (Upper Level East), 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM

Theme: Divine Inspiration

Joint Session: Religion and Philosophy in Antiquity / Biblical Exegesis from Eastern Orthodox Perspectives

Presiding: Leslie Baynes, Missouri State University

Presentations: 
Lee McDonald, Acadia Divinity College, The Notion of Inspiration in Classical, Hellenistic Jewish, and Early Christianity
Tag(s): Greco-Roman Literature (Greco-Roman Literature), Early Christian Literature (Early Christian Literature - Other), Philo (Early Jewish Literature - Other)

Najeeb T Haddad, Notre Dame of Maryland University: The Hellenistic Jewish Speculative Tradition: Philo, Paul, and Divine Inspiriation
Tag(s): Philo (Early Jewish Literature - Other), Pauline Epistles (Biblical Literature - New Testament)

Kampotela Luc Bulundwe, University of Geneva: From Authors to Texts: Divine Inspiration (Θεόπνευστος) and the Formation of the Pauline Corpus

Tag(s): New Testament (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Philo (Early Jewish Literature - Other), Pauline Epistles - 2 Timothy (Biblical Literature - New Testament)

Isaac Hedstrom, Saint Louis University: Scripture and the Divine Persons: Inspiration in Nyssian Apophatism
Tag(s): Early Christian Literature (Early Christian Literature - Other)

Hindy Najman, University of Oxford and Elizabeth Stell, Oxford University: Pseudepigrapha and Inspired Aspirations 
Tag(s): Biblical Interpretations (Early Jewish Literature - Dead Sea Scrolls), Apocrypha (Early Christian Literature - Apocrypha), Comparative Approaches (Interpretive Approaches)

Athanasios Despotis, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn: The Logos and Inspiration According to Origen's Commentary on the Gospel of John
Tag(s): Gospels - John (Biblical Literature - New Testament)

Saturday, 18 November, Grand Hyatt - Bonham B (3rd Floor), 9:00 AM–11:30 AM

Theme: Rituals and Philosophy

Presiding: Athanasios Despotis, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn

Presentations: 
Constantin-Daniel Cosereanu, University of Halle: Philo on Material Forms of Religion and Their Relevance for Mosaic Philosophy

Zacharias Shoukry, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz: The Concept of Logike Latreia and the Rituals of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper in Paul 

Ilya Kaplan, University of Bern: Death and Christian Rite in Gregory of Nyssa’s Oratio catechetica

Alexander Angelov, Respondent

Sunday, November 19, Grand Hyatt - Presidio B (3rd Floor), 9:00 AM–11:30 AM

Theme: Intra-textual Exegesis and Reception

Presiding: Gitte Buch-Hansen, Københavns Universitet

Presentations:
Matthew Kraus, University of Cincinnati: On the Margins of Vulgate Leviticus

Michael Graves, Wheaton College (Illinois): The Reception of Vulgate Ps 39:7-9 (Heb 40:7-9) among Latin Christian Hebraists 

Reinhart Ceulemans, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven: The Hexametrical Psalter Metaphrases of Olympia Fulvia Morata (1558): Latin Versions and Tradition

Monday, 20 November, Grand Hyatt - Travis B (3rd Floor), 1:00 PM–3:30 PM

Theme: John and Ancient Greek Philosophy

Presiding: Todd Krulak, Samford University

Presentations:

Gitte Buch-Hansen, Københavns Universitet: “I Do No Longer Call You Slaves” (Jn 15:15): John’s Concept of Righteousness Reconsidered in Light of Aristotle’s Politics

Isidoros C. Katsos, University of Athens: What is the Meaning of John 1:9? Reading the Gospel of John through the Eyes of Philo and Origen

Milan Kostresevic, Universität Rostock: The Motif of Light in the Gospel of John against the Backdrop of Middle Platonism

Michael Jost, Universität Zürich: Pneuma, Daimonion, and Paraclete: Philosophical Implications for the Johannine Spirit and vice versa?

Athanasios Despotis, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn: Rhetorics and Philosophy in John 1–12

Harold Attridge, Yale University, Respondent

Saturday, November 19, Embassy Suites (ES) - Cripple Creek 1 (Second Level), 1:00 PM–3:30 PM 

Theme: “Likeness to God”: Deification in Ancient Religio-philosophical Discourses 

Presentations:

Jed Wyrick, California State University, Chico: The End of Origins and the Fluidity of Deification: The Case of Moses and Amenhotep, “The Hermes of Thebes”

Athanasios Despotis, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn: The Divinization of the Wise Man in Pseudo-Heraclitus and the Early Christian Philosophy

Ilaria Ramelli, Durham U., Cambridge U., Sacred Heart U. Angelicum, Erfurt U. MWK; KUL; Bonn U. sen. fellow: Likeness to God: Deification and Restoration in Origen of Alexandria

Becky Walker, Saint Louis University: "Almsgiving Makes One Like God”: John Chrysostom’s Employment of the Ethical and Sacramental Approaches to Deification 

Embassy Suites (ES) - Cripple Creek 1 (Second Level), 4:00 PM–6:30 PM 

Theme: Exegesis and Anti-Christian Polemics 

Presiding: Leslie Baynes, Missouri State University

Presentations: 

Samuel Johnson, Athenaeum of Ohio - Mount St. Mary’s Seminary: Fact and Fiction in Early Christian Reading of the Gospels 

Brad Boswell, Duke Divinity School: Julian the Apostate and the Quest for the Historical Jesus

Ilya Kaplan, University of Bern: “In the Arche”: Gregory of Nyssa’s Apologia in Hexaemeron and the Neoplatonic Cosmos

Milan Kostresevic, Universität Rostock: Panthera: Christian-Pagan Controversy about the Bodily Origin of Jesus

Alexander Angelov, College of William and Mary: Platonism in Byzantium: Christian and Anti-Christian Visions and Divisions in the Late Antique Period

Monday, November 22, Grand Hyatt - Bonham D (3rd Floor), 1:00 PM–3:30 PM 

SBL Religion and Philosophy in Late Antiquity Seminar 

Presentations: 

Alexander H. Pierce, University of Notre Dame: Augustine on Catholic Christianity: The Unity of True Philosophy and Religion

Brad Boswell, Duke University: Competing Rationalities: Timaeus 41a–d between Julian the Apostate and Cyril of Alexandria 

Bryan Carter Bogue, Brewton-Parker College: To Pee or Not to Pee? The Influence of Platonic Philosophy on the Concept of Divine Embodiment in the Testament of Abraham

Nancy Evans, Wheaton College (Massachusetts): Stoic Theology, Stoic Physics, and the Antikythera Mechanism

5:00 PM–6:30 PM 

Theme: Christian Platonism: Reflections on the Occasion of the Publication of Christian Platonism: A History (Cambridge, 2021) (eds. Alexander J.B. Hampton, John Peter Kenney) 

Presiding: Willemien Otten, University of Chicago, Presiding 

Panelists: Andrew Radde-Gallwitz, University of Notre Dame 

Andrew Davison, University of Cambridge 

Alexander J.B. Hampton, University of Toronto 

Anna Corrias, University of Toronto 

Derek Michaud, University of Maine

Saturday, November 23, Convention Center - 26A (Upper Level East), 9:00 AM–11:30 AM

Theme: Responding to Michael D. Swartz’s The Mechanics of Providence: A “Commentaries” Session

Presiding: Annette Reed, New York University

Presentations:

Ra’anan Boustan, Princeton University: Michael Swartz’s Vision for the Study of Early Jewish Mysticism and Magic

Laura Lieber, Duke University: Late Antique Liturgical Poetry at the Intersection of Ritual, Magic,
and Art

Mika Ahuvia, University of Washington, Seattle: The Mechanics of Healing 

David Frankfurter, Boston University: Beyond Magic and Mysticism: Heavenly Liturgy and Its
Materialization in Coptic Manuals 

4:00 PM–6:30 PM, Omni - Gaslamp 3 (Fourth Floor)
Theme: Astrology and Mysticism

Presiding: Todd Krulak, Samford University

Presentations:

Ilaria L.E. Ramelli, Angelicum + Oxford + MWK + Catholic U+ Durham: Bardaisan and Astrology: Philosophical and Religious Competition in Imperial Antiquity and Aftermath

Evgenia Moiseeva, N/A: Followers of Christ Cannot Reject the Old Testament! Epiphanius’
Attacks on Manicheans

Roshan Abraham, American University, Respondent

Andrew W. Higginbotham, Ivy Tech Community College - Lawrenceburg Riverfront: “When Fire Descended from Heaven...after That Time Their Knowledge Became Unclear”: Teaching the Merkevah as Dangerous Rivalry 

Avram R. Shannon, Brigham Young University: “Who Measured the Heavens?”: The Rabbinic Sages and the Battle for the Control of the Heavens

Sunday, November 24, Marriott Marquis - Torrey Pines 3 (North Tower - Lobby Level), 1:00 PM–3:30 PM

SBL Religion and Philosophy in Late Antiquity Seminar

Presiding: Matthew Chalmers, Washington and Lee University

Presentations:

Svetla Slaveva-Griffin, Florida State University: Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust: The Anthroposomatic Crossroads of Religion and Philosophy in Late Antiquity

Heidi Marx-Wolf, University of Manitoba, Respondent

Edward Watts, University of California, San Diego: Philosophy, Religion, and Empire in Late Neoplatonic Athens

Todd Krulak, Samford University, Respondent

Thomas Lewis, Brown University: Philosophy, Religion—Then, Now: On Conceptualizing Philosophy in Late Antiquity

Saturday, November 17, Convention Center (CC) – 711 (Street Level), 4:00 PM–6:30 PM

SBL Religion and Philosophy in Late Antiquity Seminar

Presiding: Susanna Elm, University of California-Berkeley

Presentations:

Gregory Smith, Central Michigan University: What Kind of Problems Do Demons Solve in Late Antiquity?

Greg Shaw, Stonehill College: Philosophy and Religion in Later Platonism: Who Were the Bacchoi?

Sunday, November 19, Boston Marriott Copley Place (MCP) - Arlington (Third Level), 9:00 AM–11:30 AM

Theme: Religion and Philosophy at the Crossroads

Presiding: Sarah Iles Johnston, Ohio State University

Panelists: Blossom Stefaniw, German Research Council
Gregory Shaw, Stonehill College
Thomas Lewis, Brown University
Christian Wildberg, Princeton University
Svetla Slaveva-Griffin, Florida State University