Author:
YAN Zhaoyu, Ph.D student, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Zurich.
JIANG Zhenshuai, Associate Professor, Center for Judaic and Inter-Religious Studies, School of Philosophy and Social Development, Shandong University.
Abstract:
This report provides an in-depth analysis of the 25th Congress of the International Organization for the Study of the Old Testament (IOSOT), held at Humboldt University, Berlin, in August 2025. Gathering nearly 500 scholars from around the world, the congress demonstrated both the breadth and diversification of contemporary Old Testament studies and related fields. The report highlights Bernd Schipper's keynote address on Egyptology and the Hebrew Bible, offers an overview of the sessions' papers presented at this congress, and discusses trends in the study of textual materiality, the integration of archaeological and epigraphical findings into the history of ancient Israel, among other topics. The authors also reflect on the limited but growing participation of Asian scholars and advocate for a cross-cultural dialogue that draws upon China's rich textual culture and exegetical traditions to enrich global biblical scholarship. The paper situates the IOSOT congress as a reflection of ongoing disciplinary transformation and calls for increased Sino-biblical engagement within the international academic community.
Keywords:
IOSOT 2025; Old Testament/Hebrew Bible studies; Ancient Judaism; Sino-biblical studies
Full Text (International Version):
YAN Zhaoyu JIANG Zhenshuai JSCC
