Conference: Law, Nature, and the Bible
16th April 2025
A two-day international conference at Blackfriars 2-4 July 2025, exploring law, nature and human lives, particularly as expressed in Judaism and Christianity.
Law is a key idea for both Judaism and Christianity. But in many ways, it does not receive the attention it deserves in biblical scholarship, nor do other academic disciplines more accustomed to legal discussion appear to consider biblical law in much detail. This internation conference fosters engagement between biblical scholars and scholars of legal theory, philosophy, and theology on matters surrounding the nature of law, legal thinking, and human nature.
The event begins with an opening address from Jean Porter in the evening of 2nd July, followed by two days of papers (3–4 July). There will be12 papers in total.
We are grateful to our sponsors, the Angelicum, Rome, Blackfriars Hall and the MacDonald Agape Foundation.
Speakers
Olivier Catel (EBAF & Hebrew University)
Rethinking the Dynamics Between Law and Narrative, Halakhah and Aggadah: The Case of y. Ta?an. 1:4, 64b
Bruno Clifton (Blackfriars, Oxford)
Doing Right in One’s Own Eyes: Natural Virtue at Biblical Dan
Simon Dürr (Angelicum)
“A Law to themselves”? Paul, the Law, and the Human Vocation in Ancient Philosophical Tradition
Wojciech Golubiewski (Polish Academy of Sciences)
Imitation of Nature: Aquinas and Mozi on the Foundations of Legal Order
Phillip Lasater (Angelicum & Blackfriars, Oxford)
Legal Thinking, or Thinking Legally, in 4 Maccabees
Hindy Najman (Oriel College, Oxford)
Law and Nature in the Writings of Philo of Alexandria
John O’Connor (Blackfriars, Oxford)
Natural Law Ethics and Contemporary Ethics: Definitions, Narratives, & Perspectives
Joan O’Donovan (University of St Andrews)
A Reformation Response to the Crisis of Natural Rights
Jean Porter (Notre Dame)
Natural Law, Judicial Precepts, and the Unity of the Canon: A Case Study in the Use of Natural Law in Biblical Interpretation
Wenyue Qiang (St Cross College, Oxford)
The Ideal Kingship in the Temple Scroll: the Nature of Law Between Tradition and Innovation
Konrad Schmid (Universität Zürich)
Where and Why did the Notion of Laws of Nature Emerge in the Hebrew Bible?
Jordan Schmidt (Dominican House of Studies)
The Legal Texture of the Book of Wisdom