Event Transfers Location: Wuppertal to Wittenberg
The Evangelical Church in the Rhineland has announced that the KiHo Wuppertal will close by March 31, 2027. This decision, however, does not mark the end of the renowned Septuaginta specialist conference, which has been taking place in Wuppertal for nine consecutive years.
The upcoming conference, set to take place this year, will feature around 30 speakers from various countries, including Europe, Israel, South Africa, Korea, and Canada. The conference program includes approximately 50 lectures, covering a wide range of topics related to the Septuaginta, an ancient collection of Greek translations of the Old Testament.
Professor Frank Ueberschaer, Chair of Old Testament Studies at the Theological Faculty of the University of Halle / Wittenberg, will take over the organization of the Septuaginta conferences from Wuppertal. His expertise in the field, along with that of other scholars, will continue to shed light on the roots of both Judaism and Christianity, as insights from Septuaginta research have shown.
The Septuaginta is particularly valuable due to the well-preserved and complete nature of many of its manuscripts. New Greek manuscripts of the Septuaginta are still being discovered, offering researchers fresh perspectives and opportunities for analysis.
One such analysis will be presented by Professor Dr. Matias Martínez from the Bergische Universität Wuppertal, who will discuss interpreting the Septuaginta using modern narrative theory. Another lecture will be delivered by Professor Dr. Sabine Müller from the University of Marburg, focusing on the influence of Hellenistic historiography on the Septuaginta.
As the Kirchliche Hochschule in Wuppertal prepares to close, the future of the Septuaginta research conferences is uncertain. However, given the importance of these conferences in the academic community, it is likely that they will either relocate to other academic institutions specialising in biblical studies, continue under the auspices of scholarly societies, or transform into independent events organised by research groups or consortia.
The next Septuaginta conference is scheduled to take place in Wittenberg in 2027, underscoring the enduring significance of this research in the academic world. For updates on the future of the Septuaginta conferences, it is advisable to consult announcements or updates from the Kirchliche Hochschule itself, relevant Septuaginta research societies, or major biblical studies scholarly organisations as the closure approaches.
The Septuaginta research conferences, continuing under the expertise of scholars like Professor Frank Ueberschaer, will focus on education-and-self-development, as they delve into the roots of both Judaism and Christianity and provide fresh insights. Despite the closure of the Kirchliche Hochschule in Wuppertal, these conferences are likely to persist, possibly relocating to academic institutions specializing in biblical studies or continuing under the auspices of scholarly societies, ensuring the ongoing exploration of the ancient Septuaginta.
