Society for Biblical Studies in India

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Society for Biblical Studies in India
SBSI
Established: 1963
Type: Scholarly body promoting Biblical Studies in the Indian Context.
President: Fr. Pius Thechemury
Location: , India

The Society for Biblical Studies in India (SBSI) was constituted on August 4, 1963[1] during the proceedings of the Indian Conference of Biblical Scholars held at Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute, Chennai.

Fr. Dr. P.A. Sampath Kumar, past President of the SBSI (1996-1998), opines that...

“ ...the SBSI has been active in the Indian Theological arena. It has been a very effective agent for promoting theological reflection and friendship among the Indian biblical scholars. Moreover, the Society has been fostering ecumenical witness among the various Churches, especially the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant denominations."[2] ”

Fr. R. Van de Walle past Professor of Old Testament at the Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune and past President of the SBSI (1968 and 1985) writes about the SBSI as....

“ ...the striking and distinguishing features of the SBSI are its Indian orientation and its pastoral approach.” [3] ”

Contents

[edit] History

Rev. Dr. E.C. John, past Principal of the United Theological College, Bangalore points out that [4] the first attempts were made as early 1960 by Rev. R. A. Martin, past Professor at Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute to bring together faculties of theological colleges for a conference where scholarly papers on Biblical subjects could be read and discussed. Rev. T.S. Garrett of the then Tamil Nadu Theological College (now Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary) renewed the efforts with little response from the Colleges – thanks to their busy commitments.

Further, in the year 1963, a few heads of biblical and theological institutions renewed[5] their efforts to form a scholarly society and it was in August 3, 1963 that the conference began that was well-attended by 47 delegates including Teachers in theological colleges and seminaries, postgraduate students, Bible translators and Pastors in Gurukul, Chennai.

On August 4, 1963, the Society for Biblical Studies in India was constituted.


[edit] Sessions, venue, and topical sessions over the years

Over the years, sessions have been held across India to where scholarly papers were presented.[6]

  • 1963, Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute, Chennai, ‘Seven papers on miscellaneous issues’
  • 1964, Serampore College, Serampore, ‘Miscellaneous issues’
  • 1966, De Nobili College, Poona, ‘The significance of the historical in the New Testament Kerygma’
  • 1968, United Theological College, Bangalore, ‘Eight papers on miscellaneous issues’
  • 1970, Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur, ‘The Old Testament in the New Testament’
  • 1972, St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Kottayam, ‘The Authority of the Bible’
  • 1974-1975, Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad, ‘Christian confessions of Jesus of Nazareth’
  • 1976-1977, St. Pius College, Mumbai, ‘The concept of righteousness and the Indian context’
  • 1978-1979, United Theological College, Bangalore, ‘The Church: Its dimensions in the Bible’
  • 1980-1981, United Theological College, Bangalore, ‘World Religions and the economy of salvation’
  • 1982-1983, De Nobili College, Poona, ‘Diakonia and leadership patterns’
  • 1984, Mar Thoma Theological Seminary, Kottayam, ‘Towrds a soteriology for the Indian society’
  • 1986, Dhyana Ashram, Chennai, ‘The Biblical message for the poor: our prophetic mission in India’
  • 1990, Workers’ Centre, Bangalore, ‘Towards an Indian Biblical Hermeneutic’
  • 1992, Jeevan Jyoti, Hyderabad, ‘Towards an ecological hermeneutic’
  • 1994, Mar Thoma Theological Seminary, Kottayam, ‘The Mission of the Church’
  • 1996, Pilar Reanimation Centre, Goa, ‘A Biblical critique of the new economic policy’
  • 1998, Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, ‘Biblical hope for a better world at the threshold of third millennium’


[edit] Membership

Membership of the Society is open to persons holding an M.Th. or a Licenciate in Scripture or Biblical theology from a recognised College or University.

[edit] Publications

Papers presented at the meetings of the Society are published in Indian Journal of Theology (IJT) - ISSN (printed): 0019-5685 [7] and Jeeva Dhara.

[edit] Executive Committee

Office bearers over the years[8]:

1963

  • President – R. M. Clark
  • Vice-President – M. P. John
  • Secretary – E. C. John
  • Treasurer – A. E. Inbanahan
  • Members: H. M. Zorn, W.M.W. Roth

1964

  • President – M. P. John
  • Vice-President -
  • Secretary – R. A. Martin
  • Treasurer – A. E. Inbanathan
  • Members: S Kelleher, Gnana Robinson

1966

  • President – D.F. Hudson
  • Vice-President – R. Van de Walle
  • Secretary – R. A. Martin
  • Treasurer – A. E. Inbanathan
  • Members:

1968

  • President – R. Van de Walle
  • Vice-President – E.C. John
  • Secretary – D. H. Milling
  • Treasurer – A. E. Inbanathan
  • Members: Gnana Robinson, J. N. M. Wigngaards

1970

  • President – E. C. John
  • Vice-President – R. Van de Walle
  • Secretary –J. G. F. Collison
  • Treasurer – K. V. Matthew
  • Members: L. Nazareth, (Ms.) Muriel Carder

1972

  • President – J. M. Pathrapankal
  • Vice-President – P. Victor Premasagar
  • Secretary – C. Hargreaves
  • Treasurer – K. V. Matthew
  • Members: R. Van de Walle, P. B. Santram

1977

  • President – M. Vellanickal
  • Vice-President – K. David
  • Secretary – K. James Carl
  • Treasurer – M. J. Joseph
  • Members: R. Van de Walle, O. Lucas

1979

  • President – K. David
    The New Testament Scholar Rev. Dr. K. David who taught in Serampore-affiliated seminaries was elected as President of the SBSI in the year 1979.
    The New Testament Scholar Rev. Dr. K. David who taught in Serampore-affiliated seminaries was elected as President of the SBSI in the year 1979.
  • Vice-President – L. Neeraparambil
  • Secretary –K. James Carl
  • Treasurer – M J. Joseph
  • Members: Maria Selvam, M. Vellanickal, K. A. George

1983

  • President – K. V. Matthew
  • Vice-President – P. Kalluveetil
  • Secretary – R. Van de Walle
  • Treasurer – S. Joseph
  • Members: A. P. Athyal, D. S. Sunder Singh

1985

  • President – R. Van de Walle
  • Vice-President – K. James Carl
  • Secretary – J. Thekkanath
  • Treasurer – S. Joseph
  • Members: P. Surya Prakash, Sr. Philsy

1990

  • President – R. J. Raja
  • Vice-President – J. Thekkanath
  • Secretary – Cherian Thomas
  • Treasurer – E. J. Vijayan
  • Members: K. David, S. J. Anthonysamy

1992

  • President – R. J. Raja
  • Vice-President -
  • Secretary – Cherian Thomas
  • Treasurer – K. V. Matthew
  • Members: J. Thekkanath, S. J. Anthonysamy

1994

  • President – K. V. Matthew
  • Vice-President – S. Joseph
  • Secretary – Max Gonsalves
  • Treasurer –K. V. Matthew
  • Members: Anthony R. Ceresko, K. K. Cherian

1996

  • President – P. A. Sampath Kumar
  • Vice-President – K. V. Matthew
  • Secretary – J. Kangaraj
  • Treasurer –K. J. Gabriel
  • Members: Max Gonsalves, G. Babu Rao, P. A. Augustine, S. Joseph, Dipankar Haldar

1996-1998

  • President - P.A. Sampath Kumar
  • Vice-President - K.V. Matthew
  • Secretary - J. Kangaraj
  • Treasurer - K. J. Gabriel
  • Members – Max Gonsalves, Dipankar Haldar, P.A. Augustine, S. Joseph, G. Babu Rao

Post 1998, the Secretary is C. David Joy[9]

[edit] See also

Other societies

Old Testament Scholars:

Indigenous Scholars:

Theological degrees:

Arms of the Senate of Serampore College (University)

[edit] References

Notes
  1. ^ Gonsalves, Max, (Ed.) Society for Biblical Studies in India, Directory 1998, p.5
  2. ^ Gonsalves, Max op. cit. p. 3
  3. ^ ibid. p. 12
  4. ^ ibid. p. 5
  5. ^ ibid. p. 6
  6. ^ Ibid
  7. ^ Indian Journal of Theology began in 1952 by the Bishop's College, Calcutta[1]
  8. ^ Gonsalves, Max, op. cit.
  9. ^ This link is the only reference on the web where the present Secretary, C. David Joy's name has been mentioned. Equinox Books - Author Details [2]
Further reading
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