Proposals for papers are invited for the British New Testament Society Meeting 2026 to be hosted by St Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth, Monday 24 August to Wednesday 26 August 2026.
Paper proposals should include the presenter’s name and institutional affiliation (where appropriate), a title, and an abstract of 150-175 words (max).
We have a number of themed and joint sessions which will appeal to wider audiences, so please do explore all the sessions.
The call for papers for all groups closes on Monday 13 April 2026.
Please note that participants are only able to present in one group. This is to allow as many participants as possible the opportunity to present (exceptions apply for invited papers/responses).
Note: the BNTS Code of Conduct is available here
Ancient Judaism & Christianity
Yael Fisch yael.fisch@mail.huji.ac.il
J. Thomas Hewitt JThomas.Hewitt@ed.ac.uk
Open sessions
Proposals are invited for papers relevant to any aspect of this seminar’s remit.
Joint Session with Book of Revelation Seminar
The Book of Revelation draws deeply on the language and imagery of the Jewish Scriptures, yet the precise sources and interpretive methods of John’s Apocalypse remain debated among scholars. This joint session welcome papers that comparatively explore the use and interpretation of Jewish Scriptures in the Book of Revelation and contemporaneous Jewish writings. We invite contributions that investigate shared textual tradition, exegetical forms, theological motifs, and more.
Daniel McGinnis daniel.mcginnis@sthild.org
James Morgan james.morgan@unifr.ch
Book Review Panel Discussion: James Morgan, Perceptions of the Divine in Greek Historiography (2026)
The second session will be a panel discussion of James Morgan’s book Perceptions of the Divine in Greek Historiography: A Hermeneutical Dilemma from Herodotus to Luke, Schweizerische Beiträge zur Altertumswissenschaft 65, edited by C. Brélaz, U. Eigler, G. Huber-Rebenich, and P. Schubert. Basel: Schwabe, 2026. The Open Access link will be found here.
Open Sessions
We welcome papers approaching Acts from a variety of angles and using a variety of methods. Offers of papers are welcome from both research students (this is a great opportunity to ‘try out’ your ideas) and from more established scholars. Presentations normally run around 20-30 minutes, allowing sufficient time for constructive discussion. If presenters wish to share their papers in advance to facilitate valuable feedback, we will gladly send their files to those who have signed up for the Acts seminar.
Martina Vercesi martina.vercesi@kuleuven.be
Sean Ryan sr2051@mbit.cam.ac.uk
John’s Apocalypse in Contemporary Culture
The language and imagery of the Book of Revelation continues to haunt contemporary culture, notably dystopian visions of the near present and future. Papers are invited that creatively engage with the reception, subversion and reimagining of the Apocalypse in contemporary film, novels, graphic art, video games, pop-culture, and new media.
Joint Session with Ancient Judaism & Christianity
The Book of Revelation draws deeply on the language and imagery of the Jewish Scriptures, yet the precise sources and interpretive methods of John’s Apocalypse remain debated among scholars. This joint session welcome papers that comparatively explore the use and interpretation of Jewish Scriptures in the Book of Revelation and contemporaneous Jewish writings. We invite contributions that investigate shared textual tradition, exegetical forms, theological motifs, and more.
Open Session
We invite papers on any topic related to the Book of Revelation and its reception. We are particularly eager to receive submissions from PhD students and early-career scholars.
Kimberley Fowler k.a.fowler@rug.nl
Jane McClarty jdm35@cam.ac.uk
Open Sessions
The New Testament texts exist within the broader phenomenon of early Christianity as a whole, and this seminar is concerned especially with aspects of that total phenomenon that go beyond the New Testament. These include non-canonical texts (e.g. the so-called Apostolic Fathers, New Testament Apocrypha, Old Testament Pseudepigrapha in Christian usage, Nag Hammadi and associated literature, early patristic texts); and wider historical themes (e.g. orthodoxy and heresy, canon formation, gender, ritual, identity, martyrdom, social setting, material culture). We welcome papers relating to New Testament texts and themes so long as these are placed within the broader early Christian environment.
For the 2026 conference our sessions will not be themed, so we will be accepting submissions on any topic falling within the remit of the Early Christianity seminar. Please do contact the co-chairs for advice if you are unsure whether your paper’s subject matter is within the scope of the seminar.
Elizabeth Corsar Elizabeth.Corsar@stpadarns.ac.uk
Paulus de Jong paulus.dejong@wtctheology.org.uk
Joint Session with Synoptics: John’s relation to the Synoptics
This themed session explores the relationship between the Gospel of John and the Synoptic Gospels, a question that has re-emerged in Johannine scholarship. Recent publications have argued across a broad spectrum of positions — from proposals for a pre-70 CE date of John to arguments that situate John as drawing on one or more Synoptic traditions or texts.
The session will feature invited contributions from scholars who have made significant and sustained contributions to this discussion.
Open session
This session welcomes papers focusing on the Gospel of John and/or the Johannine Epistles. We invite contributions that engage critically with established scholarly debates, as well as papers that introduce new approaches, perspectives, or methodologies in the study of Johannine literature.
Nick Moore nicholas.j.moore@durham.ac.uk
Kelsie Rodenbiker kgr@teol.ku.dk
Open Sessions
The Later Epistles seminar welcomes proposals on Hebrews, the Catholic Epistles, the Deutero-Pauline Epistles, and other early Christian texts designated as epistolary (e.g. Ignatius’s letters, 1 and 2 Clement, Barnabas, Diognetus).
This year we particularly welcome proposals on the Catholic Epistles, including on their canonical status whether individually or as a collection.
Andy Boakye andrew.boakye@manchester.ac.uk
Ryan Collman ryan.collman@gmail.com
For 2026, the Paul seminar will host three sessions.
Paul within Paganism: Restoring the Mediterranean Context to the Apostle
This session will focus on the recent volume Paul within Paganism: Restoring the Mediterranean Context to the Apostle (Fortress, 2025), edited by Alexander Chantziantoniou, Paula Fredriksen, and Stephen L. Young. We invite papers that engage this volume directly, whether by engaging its methodological proposals, critically responding to its arguments, or interacting substantively with individual essays.
Divine Christology in Paul’s letters
This session will extend the Paul within Paganism conversation by examining questions of divine Christology in Paul’s letters. We seek papers that situate Pauline Christology within the broad landscape of ancient Mediterranean religion and that address related issues such as monotheism and monolatry, divine identity, cultic practice, and cosmology.
Open Session
The final session is open to any proposals that engage with the study of Paul.
Reception, Critical Theory, & Interdisciplinary Studies
Siobhán Jolley siobhan.jolley@manchester.ac.uk
Tom de Bruin: tom.debruin@ru.nl
Open Sessions
The Reception, Critical Theory, & Interdisciplinary Studies seminar invites proposals for papers that analyse the reception of the New Testament from antiquity to the present and/or focus on the application of critical theory to the study of the New Testament.
We welcome interdisciplinary research that critically explores New Testament texts, contexts, and contents in media and culture, as well as discussion of theoretical methods in relation to the New Testament or the field of New Testament studies.
Reception is understood broadly to include visual arts, film and digital media, musicology, performance, popular culture, literary studies, and historically oriented research on the use and influence of New Testament texts.
We particularly encourage work engaging postcolonialism, intersectional feminisms, queer theory, disability studies, critical race theory, ecocriticism, and other critical theories. We especially welcome perspectives from voices often marginalised within traditional biblical scholarship.
Proposals from all disciplines, career stages, and collaborative projects are welcome.
Joint Session with New Testament Theology: Theology in/as Reception
The Reception, Critical Theory, & Interdisciplinary Studies seminar and the New Testament Theology seminar invite proposals exploring the intersections between theological interpretation and reception history.
This session examines theology both in reception (how theological commitments shape the reception of New Testament texts) and theology as reception (how theological work itself might be considered a mode of reception). We welcome papers that:
· Explore how theological frameworks have influenced interpretation and appropriation of New Testament texts across periods and cultures
· Analyse contemporary theological readings as modes of reception
· Investigate dialogue between reception history and theological hermeneutics
· Examine how diverse faith communities and interpretive traditions have received and theologized New Testament texts
· Consider theoretical and methodological implications of viewing theology as reception
We particularly encourage proposals bridging theological and secular scholarship, engaging non-Western or marginalized perspectives, and challenging conventional boundaries. Scholars from all disciplines, career stages, and backgrounds are welcome.
Synoptic Gospels and Historical Jesus
Tim Carter tim.carter@durham.ac.uk
Séamus O’Connell Seamus.oconnell@spcm.ie
Open Sessions
This seminar group provides a context for the open discussion of the content, contexts, formation, and theology of the Synoptic Gospels from a variety of hermeneutical and methodological perspectives, as well as a consideration of the Historical Jesus and of how Jesus is presented in the Synoptics. We would warmly welcome proposals from seasoned scholars, post-doc researchers, and PhD researchers alike on any aspect of Synoptic studies. This year we would particularly glad to receive any proposals on the theme of the Kingdom or on eschatology.
Joint Session with Johannine Literature: John’s relation to the Synoptics
This themed session explores the relationship between the Gospel of John and the Synoptic Gospels, a question that has re-emerged in Johannine scholarship. Recent publications have argued across a broad spectrum of positions — from proposals for a pre-70 CE date of John to arguments that situate John as drawing on one or more Synoptic traditions or texts. The session will feature invited contributions from scholars who have made significant and sustained contributions to this discussion.
The New Testament and Christian Theology
Sydney Tooth sydney.tooth@wtctheology.org.uk
Jamie Davies jamie.davies@trinitycollegebristol.ac.uk
Open Sessions
At our gathering in Maynooth in 2026, we invite papers on the subject of “The New Testament and Christology.”
Papers on this topic may engage with the topic of Christology in specific New Testament text or texts, or may engage with current conversations in New Testament Studies on, for example, high/low Christology, the work of Christ, or the two natures. Papers might also wish to engage with a particular theological reception of Christ in early Christian literature or in contemporary Christian traditions. Alternatively, papers are invited that engage with methodological/hermeneutical and theological questions related to Christology. Papers are invited on any aspect of the topic, but we are particularly interested to receive proposals for papers that engage Christian theologians in dialogue with the NT, or readings of particular NT texts in conversation with Christology in the Christian tradition (broadly defined).
We particularly welcome papers from those who would not ordinarily present at a New Testament conference, especially those working in systematic theology or at the intersection of New Testament and doctrine.
Joint Session with The Reception, Critical Theory, & Interdisciplinary Studies
The Reception, Critical Theory, & Interdisciplinary Studies seminar and the New Testament Theology seminar invite proposals exploring the intersections between theological interpretation and reception history.
This session examines theology both in reception (how theological commitments shape the reception of New Testament texts) and theology as reception (how theological work itself might be considered a mode of reception). We welcome papers that:
· Explore how theological frameworks have influenced interpretation and appropriation of New Testament texts across periods and cultures
· Analyse contemporary theological readings as modes of reception
· Investigate dialogue between reception history and theological hermeneutics
· Examine how diverse faith communities and interpretive traditions have received and theologized New Testament texts
· Consider theoretical and methodological implications of viewing theology as reception
We particularly encourage proposals bridging theological and secular scholarship, engaging non-Western or marginalized perspectives, and challenging conventional boundaries. Scholars from all disciplines, career stages, and backgrounds are welcome.
Michelle Fletcher michelle.fletcher@kcl.ac.uk
Though not a seminar group, this session includes 20–25 minute papers which showcase research that does not easily fit into one of the established seminar groups. We especially welcome papers that explore novel methodologies, compare texts, tackle metacritical questions about biblical studies more generally ,and also those which appeal to a broad section of the Society.