Interpreting the Bible: Re-reading Texts, Characters, and Images from Scripture

Dear Colleagues,

The beginning of biblical interpretation long precedes the origin of critical exegesis. In fact, the interpretative process is to be found in the very germ of Scripture. The selection of oral traditions and their written form already implies a process of interpretation that continues over time. The Bible interprets itself in both the Old and the New Testament, as texts, topics, images and characters are taken up again and reinterpreted in new literary and historical contexts and based on new theological and existential concerns. This process of re-reading does not end when the biblical canon is closed but continues over time in many different ways. In fact, even today, there are still many cultural expressions that take up biblical elements and re-signify them in different artistic expressions, showing how the Bible goes beyond its religious character and permeates Western culture.

The aim of this Special Issue is to further explore this unlimited capacity of the Bible to be re-read and interpreted over time from different perspectives and in different contexts, with a special focus on inner-biblical interpretation and the interpretation of biblical texts in Judaism at the turn of the age. In doing so, we will pay attention to how certain biblical passages, images, characters or themes are taken up and re-read both within Scripture and before and throughout the first centuries of the Common Era.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Interpretation of specific texts, scenes, images or biblical characters inside the Old Testament.
• Interpretation of specific texts, scenes, images or biblical characters inside the New Testament. 
• Interpretation of specific texts, scenes, images or biblical characters in the writings of Second Temple Judaism.
• Interpretation of specific texts, scenes, images or biblical characters in the works of Jewish and Christian authors or writings of the first centuries of the Common Era.

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200-300 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the Guest Editor or to the Assistant Editor of Religions. Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editors for the purpose of ensuring a proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

Deadline for abstract submission: 15 September 2024

Deadline for full manuscript submission: 15 April 2025

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

References:

Allen, Garrick, y John Anthony Dunne, eds. Ancient Readers and Their Scriptures, Engaging the Hebrew Bible in Early Judaism and Christianity. Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity 107. Leiden: Brill, 2019.

Docherty, Susan E. “Do you understand what you are reading?” (Acts 8.30): current trends and future perspectives in the study of the use of the Old Testament in the New. Journal for the Study of the New Testament 2015, 38: 112-25. https://doi.org/10.1177/0142064X15595942.

Dohrmann, Natalie B., y David Stern, eds. Jewish Biblical Interpretation and Cultural Exchange: Comparative Exegesis in Context. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2008. https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt3fhdz0.

Moyise, Steve, ed. The Old Testament in the New Testament: Essays in Honour of J.L. North. Journal for the Study of the New Testament. Supplement Series 189. Sheffield: Academic Press, 2000.

Orion Center for the Study of The Dead Sea Scrolls and Associated Literature, Gary A. Anderson, Ruth Clements, y David Satran, eds. New approaches to the Study of Biblical Interpretation in Judaism of the Second Temple Period and in Early Christianity: Proceedings of the Eleventh International Symposium of the Orion Center for the Study of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Associated Literature, jointly sponsored by the Hebrew University Center for the Study of Christianity, 9-11 January, 2007. Studies on the texts of the Desert of Judah 106. Boston: Brill, 2013.

Vang, Carsten. Inner-Biblical Quotations in Old Testament Narratives: Some Methodological Considerations (e.g., 1 Sam 15:2 and Deut 25:17-19). Old Testament Essays 2020, 33, 515-37. https://doi.org/10.17159/2312-3621/2020/v33n3a9.

Weyde, Karl William. Inner-biblical interpretation: Methodological Reflections on the Relationship Between Texts in the Hebrew Bible. Svensk exegetisk årsbok 2005, 70 : 287-300.

Prof. Dr. Ianire Angulo Ordorika
Prof. Dr. Ignacio Rojas Gálvez
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• inner-biblical interpretation
• exegesis
• old testament
• new testament
• early Judaism