Abila Lecture

Lectures on Biblical Archaeology

The Abila Lecture in Biblical Archaeology is a bi-annual lecture series that promotes understanding of the archaeology and history of the Biblical world to audiences at John Brown University and in Northwest Arkansas. Each year the Abila Lecture will bring in two scholars to speak on the history and archaeology of the Biblical world. Abila Lectures held in the Fall will typically focus on the Old Testament and lectures in the Spring on the New Testament. Funding for the lecture series has been provided by generous donors to John Brown University’s Abila Archaeological Project which excavates at Abila of the Decapolis in Northern Jordan. All lectures are free and open to the public. We hope you will join us.

“A Singular Jesus in a Pluralistic World.”

Thursday, March 5th, at 7 p.m.

Cathedral of the Ozarks, John Brown University

Bible scholar Dr. Ben Witherington is Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary and on the doctoral faculty at St. Andrews University in Scotland. A graduate of UNC, Chapel Hill, he went on to receive the M.Div. degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from the University of Durham in England. He is now considered one of the top evangelical scholars in the world, and is an elected member of the prestigious SNTS, a society dedicated to New Testament studies.

Witherington has also taught at Ashland Theological Seminary, Vanderbilt University, Duke Divinity School and Gordon-Conwell. A popular lecturer, Witherington has presented seminars for churches, colleges and biblical meetings not only in the United States but also in England, Estonia, Russia, Europe, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Australia. He has also led tours to Italy, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Jordan, and Egypt.

Witherington has written over fifty books, including The Jesus Quest and The Paul Quest, both of which were selected as top biblical studies works by Christianity Today. He also writes for many church and scholarly publications, and is a frequent contributor to the Patheos website.

Along with many interviews on radio networks across the country, Witherington has been seen on the History Channel, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, The Discovery Channel, A&E, and the PAX Network.

Past Lectures

Spring 2020 - Dr. Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky

"A Singular Jesus in a Pluralistic World" Video

Fall 2019 - Dr. Vila - John Brown University, Siloam Springs, Arkansas

"John Brown University in the Holy Land: The First 100 Years" Video

Spring 2019 - Dr. Tom Davis - Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth, Texas

''Saint Paul on Cyprus: Archaeology and the Transformation of an Apostle" Video

Fall 2018 - Dr. John H. Walton – Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL

"Lost World of the Israelite Conquest" Video

Fall 2017 - Dr. Daniel Master, Wheaton College

"Ashkelon and the Philistines" Video unavailable

Spring 2017 - Dr. David Vila, John Brown University

"Excavating Abila of the Decapolis: The First Thirty-Six Years" Video

Fall 2016 - Dr. Tremper Longman III, Westmont College

"If Jericho Was Not Razed, Is Our Faith in Vain?: Why History Matters" Video

Spring 2016 - Dr. Robert Smith, Mid-Atlantic Christian University

"Looking for Joseph of Arimathea's Tomb: Archaeology and the Burial of Jesus" Video

Fall 2015 - Dr. Steven Ortiz, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

"Tel Gezer: Gateway to Jerusalem - Recent Excavations at King Solomon's Fortified City" Video

Spring 2015 - Dr. David Chapman, Covenant Theological Seminary

"Crucifixion in the Roman World: a Historical and Archaeological Survey" Video

Fall 2009 – Dr. Anson Rainey, Tel Aviv University

“Whence Came the Israelites and Their Language”