Lawrence M. Wills

“Biblical interpretation requires an awareness of the social context of ancient biblical texts and the social context of modern audiences as well, whether within religious institutions or outside them. Issues of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and so on are never far from the surface of the biblical texts, and were contested then as they are today. By discussing the variety of ways of locating meaning in the biblical texts, I hope to facilitate a dialogue among the modern heirs to these texts and others as well.”

Lawrence Wills has taught at Episcopal Divinity School, Harvard Divinity School, Brown University, Stonehill College, Boston University School of Theology, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, Williams College, and Wesleyan University. Employing a number of interdisciplinary methods, he enjoys exploring the parallels and differences between the issues of the biblical world and today.

His most recent book is Introduction to the Apocrypha: Jewish Books in Christian Bibles, and before that the commentary on Judith for the Hermeneia series. His present research involves two different areas: religious identity among ancient Jews, Christians, and others, and the social world of popular literary genres in Judaism and Christianity.

Updated: 5/20/21

Religious Affiliation:

Jewish