Pontifical Biblical Institute: Studying the Bible for 100 Years

On one of Rome's quieter, less traveled streets the world's only institution dedicated solely to Biblical studies houses over 200,000 volumes. It was founded by Pius X 100 years ago. Jose Maria Abrego, Rector of the Pontifical Biblical Institute, says: "One hundred years for an academic institution is nothing. But it does allow it to claim a certain experience and try to look toward the future and toward the service it can develop in the future with a base."

A Century of Studying the Bible

Its been a century since the Pontifical Biblical Institute of Rome has been teaching the Bible. It was founded in 1909 by Pope Pius X and handed to the Society of Jesus due to their intellectual apostolate. As they prepare to celebrate their 100th anniversary, their main objective remains teaching the Bible, but most importantly what it represents.

Is it about Time to Discard All You Know about Qumran?

Simone Paganini, a young Italian exegete teaching in Vienna and Innsbruck, has just published a book Qumran: Le rovine della luna questioning many of the commonly held views about Qumran. His main arguments are the following: [1] The people who lived in Qumran were not the hypothetical sectarian Essene community that Josephus wrote about. Instead, they were men and women engaged in farming and commerce, particularly in the manufacture of vessels for priestly use. [2] The scrolls found in various caves near the Dead Sea were not produced in Qumran. Rather, they belonged to the library of the Temple of Jerusalem. The scrolls were hidden in the caves to save them from the impending destruction of the Temple by the Roman army. [3] The scroll 7Q5 does not contain a verse from the Gospel of Mark as previous thought by some scholars.

About: Dr. Simone Paganini

LST-CBAP BIBLICAL STUDIES FORUM

In line with its mandate to promote theological and biblical studies in the Asian context, Loyola School of Theology, in collaboration with the Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines, sponsored the Biblical Studies Forum last July 15 and 16, 2010, on the topic of Doing Biblical Studies in the East Asian Context.

On July 15, there were two public lectures attended by the international participants, CBAP members and associates, LST professors and students. Dr. Gina Hens-Piazza (in the picture above) lectured on "Biblical Studies as Contextual Studies...." This was followed by discussion in small groups. In the afternoon Sr. Rekha Chennattu, RA, delivered a paper on "Doing Biblical Studies in the Asian Context." After this there was an open forum with the two speakers.

Dr. Hens-Piazza is associate professor at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University, and also serves on the editorial board of the Catholic Biblical Quarterly. Sr. Chennattu teaches at the Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth in Pune, India.

On July 16, the forum participants from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, China and Australia shared their experiences of inculturated and contextualized study/teaching/ministry of the Word of God in their respective countries.

LST Course Offerings in 2Sem SY 2009-10

Biblical Language Courses

Biblical Exegesis Courses

Other Courses

2009 CBAP Convention - Video & Photos

The 2009 Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines (CBAP) Convention was held at the Phinma Training Center in Tagaytay City last July 17-19. Dr. James H. Charlesworth of Princeton Theological Seminary delivered two major papers, one on "Did the Serpent Deceive Eve?", the other on "Qumran and the Origins of Christianity.” Miriam Alejandrino, OSB, also gave a major paper on "The Disciples' Journey of Faith in the Johannine Perspective.” The workshops were conducted by Michael Lapid (“Early Christian Thought on Philippians 2:6-11”), Noli Mendoza (“Jeremiah’s Vision of a Suffering Earth”), and Freddie Billanes (“The Penitent Criminal in Luke 23:39-43”). CBAP is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year.

Click this to watch a video of the convention:

Click this to see various photos of July 17 (Friday):

Click this to see various photos of July 18 (Saturday):

Click this to see various photos of July 19 (Sunday):

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Dr. James Charlesworth's Public Lecture at LST

Wednesday, 15 Juily 2009 -- Dr. James H. Charlesworth delivered a public lecture to a full packed crowed of students, professors, and guests at the Cardinal Sin Center in Loyola School of Theology on "Reconstructing Jesus' Life and Thought in the Gospel of John."

Charlesworth has another speaking engagement at Loyola School of Theology on 22 July 2009, at 8:00 in the evening on the topic of "The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Origins of Christianity. He is in the Philippines as a guest speaker at the 2009 Annual Convention of the Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines, in Tagaytay City, on July 17-19.

Click here for more pictures.

Dr. James H. Charlesworth: 2009 CBAP Convention Speaker

Dr. James H. Charlesworth will deliver a major paper in the 2009 Annual Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines Convention at Phinma Training Center in Tagaytay City on July 17-19.

Dr. Charlesworth is Princeton Seminary’s George L. Collord Professor of New Testament Language and Literature and director and editor of the Seminary’s Dead Sea Scrolls Project. He holds a B.D. from Duke Divinity School, a Ph.D. from Duke University Graduate School, and an E.T. (Eleve Titulaire) from the Ecole Biblique de Jerusalem. His academic interests include the Dead Sea Scrolls, apocryphal works, the historical Jesus, the Gospel of John, and the Revelation of John. He teaches courses on the relationship between the Jesus traditions in the gospels and the theologies of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the life and thought of Jesus of Nazareth, the Old Testament in the New, the Gospel and Epistles of John, and the Hebrew and Theology of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Prof. Boris Repschinski, Visiting Professor at LST

Course Title: Matthew. A Gospel for a community between tradition and future
Description: In a world that speaks of globalization and multi-culturalism and often experiences them as painful, and in a church that holds fast to traditions and yet realizes their fragility the Gospel of Matthew offers some sound advice because it mirrors a community suffering a similar crisis... (August only: M T F 2:00-4:40 pm. See the list of Biblical Exegesis & Language Courses at LST below).
Curriculum Vitae

2009 Biblical Exegesis Courses at LST

SS 201 HISTORY OF ISRAEL (READING COURSE) (Ramirez)
SS 204 BIBLICAL HERMENEUTICS & RESEARCH METHODS (Ramirez)
SS 225 OT EXEG: THEME OF REPENTANCE IN HOSEA (Ramirez)
SS 245 NT EXEG: MATTHEW, A GOSPEL FOR A COMMUNITY (Repschinski)
SS 276 BIBLICAL THEOLOGY: WISDOM LIERATURE (Keating)
SS 301 HISTORY OF ISRAEL (ADVANCED READING COURSE) (Ramirez)
SS 304 BIBLICAL HERMENEUTICS & RESEARCH METHODS (Ramirez)
SS 325 ADV OT EXEG: THEME OF REPENTANCE IN HOSEA (Ramirez)
SS 345 ADV NT EXEG: MATTHEW, A GOSPEL FOR A COM... (Repschinski)
SS 376 ADV BIBLICAL THEOLOGY: WISDOM LITERATURE (Keating)

2009 Biblical Language Courses at LST

BG 201 BIBLICAL GREEK I (Schneider)
BG 202 BIBLICAL GREEK II (Schneider)
BG 203 BIBLICAL GREEK III (Schneider)
BG 204 BIBLICAL GREEK IV (Schneider)
BH 201 BIBLICAL HEBREW I (Ramirez)
BH 202 BIBLICAL HEBREW II (Schneider)
BH 203 BIBLICAL HEBREW III (Ramirez)
BH 204 BIBLICAL HEBREW IV (Ramirez)

The 9th Annual CBAP Convention (2008)

The Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines held its 9th Annual Convention last 18-20 July 2008 at Phinma Training Center in Tagaytay City.

The theme chosen for this year’s convention was “The Torah and Paul” – 2008 being a year dedicated to the Apostle to the Gentiles. The two major papers were: “Eschatological Motivations of Paul’s Moral Imperatives in the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians” by Renato Repole, SJ, Rector of St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Cagayan de Oro City, and “The Book and Text: Some Questions about Reading the Bible” by Jean-Louis Ska, SJ, Professor of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome.

There were six workshop papers presented: “Deborah Disclosed: Prophet, Woman and Judge” by Kristine Meneses; “Peter and Paul: with Different Charisms” by Gil Alinsangan, SSP; “The Story of Aqhat: Ugaritic Background of the Prologue of the Book of Job” by Randolf Flores, SVD; “Jesus and His Movement” by Carmelo Sorita; “Remembering the Poor, Remembering Paul” by Carlito Reyes; and “Freedom and Love: Core Values in Pauline Ethics” by Leander Barrot, OAR.

The following were elected to the CBAP Board of Trustees: Gil Alinasangan, SSP; Cielito Almazan, OFM; Leander Barrot, OAR; Bernardita Dianzon, FSP (BOT Secretary); Randolf Flores, SVD (President); Helen Graham, MM; Victor Nicdao (Vice President); Felipe Fruto Ramirez, SJ; and Herbert Schneider, SJ (Exec. Secretary & Treasurer).

See photos: First Day; Second Day; Third Day; LST Public Lecture

CBAP Convention: 18 July 08 (Fri) – Photos

Rene Repole delivering his lecture

Phinma [3461, 3462, 3463, 3464, 3465, 3443, 3486, 3487]
Registration [3398, 3399, 3400, 3401, 3402, 3403, 3404, 3405, 3406, 3407, 3408]
Opening Liturgy [3409, 3410, 3411, 3412, 3413, 3414, 3415, 3416, 3417, 3418]
Moderator: Ms. Arche Ligo [3419]
Orientation: Leander Barrot, OAR [3420]
President’s Report: Victor Nicdao [3421]
Presentation of New Members: Bernardita Dianzon, FSP [3422]
Break [3423, 3424, 3425, 3426]
Financial Report: Herbert Schneider, SJ [3427]
Introduction to the First Major Speaker: Manuel Montesclaros, SJ [3428]
First Major Paper: Renato Repole, SJ [3429]
Eucharistic Celebration: Cielito Almazan, OFM [3431]
Choir [3408, 3430]
Socials [3432, 3433, 3434, 3435, 3436, 3437, 3438, 3439, 3440, 3441, 3442]
Dinner

CBAP Convention: 19 July 08 (Sat) – Photos

Jean-Louis Ska delivering his lecture

Moderator of the Day: Gil Alinsangan, SSP [3448]
Introduction to the Second Major Speaker: Randolf Flores, SVD [3449]
Second Major Paper: Jean-Louis Ska, SJ [3450, 3451, 3452, 3453]
Break & Book Sales [3454, 3455, 3456, 3457]
Workshop Paper 1: Kristine Meneses [3458, 3459]
Workshop Paper 2: Gil Alinsangan, SSP [3460]
Lunch
Reports: OT & NT Interest Groups [3466, 3467, 3468]
Announcement of Election Results: Sr. Bernardita Dianzon, FSP [3469]
Workshop Paper 3: Randolf Flores, SVD [3470, 3471]
Workshop Paper 4: Carmelo Sorita
Break
Presentation of Membership Policy: Herbert Schneider, SJ [3472]
Open Forum [3473]
Eucharistic Celebration: Bp. Broderick Pabillo, DD [3474, 3475, 3476]
Socials & Cocktail [3477, 3478, 3479, 3480, 3481, 3482, 3483, 3484, 3485]
Dinner
Meeting of OT & NT Interest Groups

CBAP Convention: 20 July 08 (Sun) - Photos

Concluding Liturgy presided by Jean-Louis Ska, SJ

Opening Prayer
Moderator of the Day: Miriam Alejandrino, OSB [3488]
Workshop Paper 5: Carlito Reyes [3489, 3490]
Workshop Paper 6: Leander Barrot, OAR [3491, 3492]
Break
Turnover of Responsibilities [3493, 3494, 3495, 3496, 3497]
Eucharistic Celebration: Jean-Louis Ska, SJ [3498, 3499, 3500, 3501]
Lunch [3502, 3503]

JONAH & THE CONVERSION IN THE OFFING

Loyola School of Theology
in collaboration with
The Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines
presents a public lecture by

Prof. JEAN LOUIS SKA, SJ

on Wednesday, 23 July 2008, at 8:00 PM
in the LST Cardinal Sin Center



*Tickets at 100 PhP each | *Free Admission for LST Students

Jean Louis Ska, professor of Old Testament Exegesis (Pentateuch) at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, studied philosophy in Namur (Belgium), theology in Frankfurt am Main, and Scripture in Rome, where he received licentiate and doctorate degrees (1980 and 1984) at the Pontifical Biblical Institute. His dissertation, Le passage de la mer: Étude de la construction, du style et de la symbolique d’Ex 14:1-31, Analecta Biblica 109; was published in 1986. His other major works are: “Our Fathers Have Told Us”: Introduction into the Analysis of Hebrew Narratives, Subbib 13; Rome: Pontifical Biblical Institute Press, 1990, 22000; Abraham Et Ses Hotes : Le Patriarche Et Les Croyants Au Dieu Unique; Editions Lessius, 2001; Les énigmes du passé. Histoire d’Israël et récit biblique, traduction de E. Di Pede, Le livre et le rouleau 14; Bruxelles: Lessius – Paris: Le Cerf, 2002, 22002, 32003.

Ska’s latest work, Introduction to Reading the Pentateuch (Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 2006), has received glowing reviews. Ernest Nicholson has this to say: “I know of no recent introduction to the Pentateuch that is as comprehensive as this, as attractive or amenable in its approach, or as well informed about the current debates….” According to David M. Carr : “This book is now the best starting point for an introduction to past and present study of the formation of the Pentateuch.” And Bernard M. Levinson says: “It offers a first-rate introduction to the most recent European theories on the composition of the Pentateuch, and Ska is judicious in his assessments of these theories. This Introduction successfully integrates legal and narrative approaches, while taking into account matters of language, social history, and empirical evidence. The book is distinctive for its careful attention to the role of editing and redaction in the formation of ancient literature.”

Bible and Ecology

The Proceedings of the Eighth Annual Convention of the Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines have now been published in the book Bible and Ecology (Manila: 2007), 130 pp. The book contains the following articles:

Foreword:

• “Nature’s Beauty and Turmoil” (Felipe Fruto Ll. Ramirez, SJ)

Convention Theme:

• “Bible and Ecology” (Cielito Almazan, OFM)

Major Papers:

• “‘Things too wonderful for me’ (Job 42:3): Job and the New Cosmology” (Dianne Bergant, CSA)
  
• “A Re-Reading of the Priestly Creation Story with a Special Consideration of the Hebrew Verbs rdh and kbš in Gen 1:26-28” (Bienvenido Q. Baisas, OFM)

Workshop Papers:

• “OT Holy Mountain Ethos and Its NT Transformation” (Rafael Dy-Liacco)
• “Assembly of Gods and Goddesses and the Fate of Humanity: A Survey of Cuneiform Texts from the Ancient Near East” (Randolf C. Flores, SVD)
• “‘Kay Yhwh ang Lupa at Kapunuan Nito’ (Awit 24:1-2): Pagsasalin sa Wikang Filipino mula sa Batayang Teksto ng Wikang Hebreo” (Martha Gamolo, DC)
• “Glory of the Name, Human Kingship, Welfare of Creation: How Does It All Fit Together? A Study on the ‘Son of Adam’ of Psalm 8” (Emmanuel Hirschauer)
• “How Do Biblical Scriptures Want to Be Understood? Leading Questions towards an Inner Hermeneutics of the Bible” (Dominik Markl, SJ)

Biblical Perspectives on the Integrity of Creation

Dianne Bergant's public lectures in Manila on July 2007 have now been published by the Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines. The book Biblical Perspectives on the Integrity of Creation (48 pp.) contains three of her lectures:

"Integrity of All Creation: The Basis for Contemporary Theology and Spirituality"

"The Wisdom Tradition and Creation"

"Out of the Depths I Cry to You, O Lord (Ps 130:1)"

Besides delivering the main lecture at the Seventh Anual CBAP Convention, Bergant gave public lectures at Loyola School of Theology, Divine Word Seminary, Institute for the Formation of Religious Sisters, and Maryhill School of Theology. All her lectures were well received by an appreciative audience.

2008 Summer Program in the Biblical Languages

Loyola School of Theology, in collaboration with the Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines, will be offering the following courses during summer, from 7 April to 16 May 2008:

Biblical Greek I - Prof. Renato Repole, SJ (8:15-10:00 AM). The student will be introduced to the basics of Biblical Greek by means of an active immersion in the language using the approach in modern linguistics to language learning. Challenging but enjoyable work will lead to a mastery of the basics.

Biblical Hebrew I - Prof. Herb Schneider, SJ (10:15-12:00 AM). This is an introductory course to the language of the Old Testament using modern linguistic approach to language learning. The course deals with the Hebrew alphabet, nouns, adjectives, prepositions, articles, pronominal suffixes, construct chains, and the QAL forms of the verbs. The students are expected to do the exercises. Quizzes, oral reading practice, and exams will be given to gain mastery of the language.

A minimum of eight enrollees is needed for the course to be offered. Ten are the maximum number of students allowed to enroll in the course.

REGISTRATION IS NOW GOING ON. Since only a limited number of students can be accepted, enrollment is on a first-come-first-served basis. Last day of enrollment is April 4, 2008. The first eight students to enroll in the course will get a tuition subsidy of 1000 PhP from the Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines.

Click here for details.

2008 CBAP Annual Convention

The Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines will hold its 9th Annual Convention on 18-20 July 2008. The major speakers will be Jean Louie Ska, SJ, and Renato Repole, SJ.

Ska is OT professor at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, and Repole is Rector and NT professor at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines.