Book launch: Reading Psalms with the Scribes

About the event

The event will feature Wycliffe's own John Screnock, presenting his new publication. Expect an exciting new look at well-known biblical texts and meet the ancient Scribes through what we can see of their work. Though current scholarship has extensive knowledge of these ancient texts, there is much we can learn from the scribes of the Second Temple period. When we focus our attention on the places in the text where the scribes were at work — when we explore some of the paths that scribes have made in the text — we can consider psalms and other ancient Hebrew texts in new ways.

All are welcome!

Wycliffe Hall has set itself the modest task of fostering a New Renaissance of Christian scholarship, leadership and culture. As both a Christian community and a Permanent Private Hall of the University of Oxford, we want to see transformational scholarship, leadership and culture, born out of Christian community, offering the truth, beauty and goodness of the gospel to the world.

To find up more about the New Renaissance Project and related events and activities, please visit our webpage and sign up for email alerts: Wycliffe's New Renaissance Project continues growing | WYCLIFFE HALL

Event details

Date: Wednesday 18th February

Time: 5.30-6.30pm

Venue: Wycliffe Hall, 52-54 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 6PW

Getting here: Wycliffe Hall is on major bus routes. Limited parking may be available on site (please contact us by email if you have any special access requirements) and pay-and-display on-street parking is available close by in Norham Gardens.

Photography and filming: This event will include photography and filming: please contact us directly if you have any questions about this: conferences@wycliffe.ox.ac.uk.

All are welcome: the event is open to the public and free to attend.

About our speaker

Dr John Screnock - Wycliffe's Tutorial Fellow in Old Testament/Hebrew Bible

John joined Wycliffe Hall as Tutor in Old Testament in 2021. From 2018–2021 he was Research Fellow in Hebrew Bible at Oxford, and from 2015–2018 he was Kennicott Fellow in Hebrew at Oxford. His research interests include the Hebrew Bible, the Psalms, Dead Sea scrolls, Hebrew linguistics, textual criticism and good whiskey.

John is the author of Traductor Scriptor: The Old Greek Translation of Exodus 1–14 as Scribal Activity (Brill, 2017), and articles in Journal of Biblical Literature, Vetus Testamentum, Biblica, Journal of Semitic Studies, Hebrew Studies, Textus, Revue de Qumran, and Dead Sea Discoveries. John's current project, Reading Psalms in the School of the Scribes (OUP), examines scribal activity in the textual witnesses to Psalms for insights into the language, poetics, and interpretation of the Psalms.

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