Throughout the academic year, the Centre for the Study of the Bible hosts numerous research seminars, an essential component of all postgraduate training at the University of Oxford.
The Centre’s seminars provide opportunities for students to broaden their theoretical horizons, to undergo training as young scholars, and to form international networks.
Every term, the Centre supports seminars in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and Early Biblical Interpretation. In Hilary Term of each year, the Centre co-convenes an interdisciplinary seminar on Ethical Reading with the Faculty of Classics and the Corpus Christi Centre for the Study of Greek and Roman Antiquity.
Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Seminar
Michaelmas, Hilary and Trinity Terms 2026-2027
Michaelmas term 2026 and Hilary and Trinity terms 2027: Mondays, 2.30pm – 4.00pm in the Harris Seminar Room, Oriel College; convened by Hindy Najman. Please see the term cards posted on the event listing for exact dates and a regularly-updated schedule.
This seminar, co-sponsored by the Faculty of Theology and Religion, is the flagship seminar of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament subject area in Oxford. The seminar covers all areas of the field with particular attention to innovative research, interdisciplinarity, philological study, and methodological reflection. Presenters include leading researchers in Oxford, collaborators from other UK universities, and major international scholars. Some terms are themed and focus on particular topics.
Biblical Hebrew Reading Group
Michaelmas, Hilary and Trinity Terms 2026-2027
Mondays, 11.30-12.30pm in the Harris Seminar Room (Oriel College); convened by Hindy Najman in Michaelmas term 2026 and by Cian Power in Hilary and Trinity terms. Please see the term cards posted on the event listing for exact dates and a regularly-updated schedule.
The reading group is lead by speakers of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Seminar. This is an opportunity to read a biblical text under the guidance of great international scholars. We focus on reading, translation, grammar and the content of the texts. We read in a friendly and informal atmosphere. Participants range from absolute beginners to senior scholars.
Early Biblical Interpretation Seminar
Hilary, and Trinity Terms 2026-2027
Thursdays, 10.00am – 12.00pm in the Harris Seminar Room, Oriel College.Please see the term cards posted on the event listing for exact dates and a regularly-updated schedule.
The Early Biblical Interpretation seminar is focused on the study of texts and considers the vitality of biblical texts, traditions, and themes across the ancient world. In this seminar, one might hear research on the theme of wisdom in Greek tragedy, prayer in the Dead Sea Scrolls, biblical and classical commentaries, or rabbinic reading strategies. The Bodleian’s incredible collection of Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin, and Greek manuscripts are an integral part of this seminar and we regularly organise group visits to the Weston Library.
Ethical Reading Seminar
The Ethical Reading Seminar is not running during the 2026-2027 academic year.
Seminar description from previous years:
This seminar, which runs during Hilary Term only, brings biblical scholars and classicists together to explore shared literary themes, research methods, and reading practices across disciplines.