Syracuse 2023 Call for Papers
On the Kingdom of God and Its Implications
The research group "Canonical Approaches" focuses on literary devices, subjects, and methodological questions in relation to the Canon. After three years of exploring the concept of Torah from a canonical perspective, we decided to take on a theological subject.
The idea of the Kingdom of God is one of the significant connections between various parts of the Bible. In the Old Testament, the Psalms in particular deal with God's kingship. Also, the Torah, the Prophets, and the other Writings portray him as king or include this presumption. The New Testament refers to God's basileia from Matthew to the Apocalypse of John. Other ideas and motifs play a role, e.g., the throne, enthronement, divine judgment, the Chaoskampf, and the Day of JHWH. They link various parts of the Canon and give structure to it. The topic calls for reflection, e.g., on the metaphor of divine kingship, the divine-human relationship, divine council, or its past, present, and future aspects.
We invite papers that address some of these aspects, showing the significance of this idea for books, portions thereof, or overarching structures. Papers are most welcome investigating the connecting function of this idea or its implications.
Depending on the papers and discussions of the 2023 conference, we intend to further this subject in the following years.
