Society of Biblical Literature

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The Society of Biblical Literature (SBL), founded in 1880 as the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis, is an American-based learned society dedicated to the academic study of the Bible and related ancient literature. Its current stated mission is to "foster biblical scholarship". Membership is open to the public, and consists of over 8,500 individuals from over 80 countries. As a scholarly organization, SBL has been a constituent society of the American Council of Learned Societies since 1929.

Video Society of Biblical Literature

History

The eight founders of The Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis first met to discuss their new society in Philip Schaff's study in New York City in January 1880. In June the group had their first Annual Meeting with eighteen people in attendance. The new society drew up a constitution and by-laws and discussed several papers. Membership dues were set at three dollars. By the end of the year, membership had grown to forty-five and publication of the meeting proceedings were in the planning stages. The Journal of Biblical Literature (JBL) was launched the following year. The SBL was not the first association dedicated to biblical studies in North America, but it was the first that was interdenominational. The thirty-two founding members of SBL in 1880 even included a Unitarian, Ezra Abbott. The society's development was contemporary with increasing interest in Ancient Near East studies.

Maps Society of Biblical Literature

Leadership

Gale A. Yee was elected as Vice-President of the Society of Biblical Literature in 2018 and will become President of the organization in 2019.

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Publications

The Society of Biblical Literature has published the flagship Journal of Biblical Literature since 1881. In addition it publishes the journal Review of Biblical Literature. It publishes literature under the imprint SBL Press".

The SBL Handbook of Style is a style manual specifically for the field of ancient Near Eastern, biblical, and early Christian studies. The SBL Handbook of Style includes a recommended standard format for abbreviation of Primary Sources in Ancient Near Eastern, biblical, and early Christian Studies. The Chicago Manual of Style (16th ed.) refers writers to The SBL Handbook "for authoritative guidance". The Student Supplement is downloadable, and also contain recommendations for transliteration standards.

In 2011 the society was awarded a $300,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to produce Bible Odyssey, "an interactive website that brings nonsectarian biblical scholarship to the general public".

In 2016, the Society of Biblical Literature published a jobs report in conjunction with the American Academy of Religion that provided employment data from the 2014-15 academic year.

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References

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Further reading

• Ames, Frank Ritchel, and Charles William Miller (eds). Foster Biblical Scholarship: Essays in Honor of Kent Harold Richards. SBL Biblical Scholarship in North America 24. Atlanta, GA: Society of Biblical Literature, 2010. ISBN 978-1-58983-534-4
• Attridge, Harold W., and James C. VanderKam (eds). Presidential Voices: The Society of Biblical Literature in the Twentieth Century. SBL Biblical Scholarship in North America 22. Atlanta, GA: Society of Biblical Literature, 2006. ISBN 1-58983-259-0
• Saunders, Ernest W. Searching the Scriptures: A History of the Society of Biblical Literature, 1880-1980. SBL Biblical Scholarship in North America 8. Chico, CA: Scholars Press, 1982. ISBN 978-0891305910

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External links

• SBL Handbook of Style (Google Books)
• Official website
• "Society of Biblical Literature" in the American Council of Learned Societies directory. Updated September 15, 2008.
• Bible Odyssey Website

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