Following on from their first book in the series, which treated Genesis 1:1–11:9, David Stark and Daniel Oden are examining how Jewish, Christian and Islamic interpreters of Genesis have read the Abrahamic narratives in ways that foster unity within and across communities. The project explores diverse historical and contemporary readings to help continuing biblical interpretation to strengthen relationships while respecting difference. It aims to offer scholars and churches a foundation for healthier, more constructive forms of Bible reading.
Primary Discipline(s): Biblical Studies
Base Community: Mission Group
Leaders: J. David Stark and Daniel Oden
Staff Liaison: Jordan Pickering
Primary Author(s): J. David Stark, Daniel Oden and contributors
Collaborators: TBC
Acknowledgements: TBC
Partner Organisations: Bloomsbury T&T Clark (under review); Christian Scholars’ Conference research group
Funding: None
Problem: Unity is complex, both in general and in efforts to foster it through engaging biblical texts. The hermeneutics of unity is, however, not well understood, nor is it practiced as effectively as it should be.
Process: The project is proceeding through various sections of Genesis (currently 11:10–25:11). Each essay considers how a given passage has been interpreted in a given context for a particular community from any of the three Abrahamic faiths. Contributors identify the definitions of “hermeneutics” and “unity” most appropriate to the particular interpreter(s) they treat and show how this interpreter(s) read Genesis in ways that foster unity.
Aims and Outcomes: Volume 1 in the project (on Reading for Unity in Genesis 1:1–11:9, published with Bloomsbury T&T Clark) surfaced five key dimensions in the hermeneutics of unity—namely, recognition of (1) unity as possibly either positive or negative, (2) the essential unity between unity and difference, (3) the reality and flexibility of community boundaries, (4) unity as a prerequisite for agreement and not only a result from it, and (5) the importance of whatever common tradition underlies various unities and diversities.
By considering the hermeneutics of unity from the vantage points of diverse interpreters addressing diverse authors in diverse contexts, the project aims to clarify the kind of thing that it is to read a sacred text to foster unity and, ultimately, to promote healthier forms of those readings.
Production Goals: A book proposal for the volume on Genesis 11:10–25:11 is under review with Bloomsbury T&T Clark, who published the volume on Genesis 1:1–11:9 in early 2026.
Next Meeting: Christian Scholars’ Conference, 9–11 June 2027
Projected Completion: TBC
Quick Notes: The team is calling for proposals from potential contributors.
Coming soon.
If you have something to contribute to the following questions, email your thoughts to tota@kirbylaingcentre.co.uk.
When the team has a need for help or an area in which collaboration could be beneficial, their requests will be listed here.
Your contributions are greatly appreciated and are integral to our vision of collaborative, interdisciplinary research. We endeavor to acknowledge all the efforts of our collaborators and to give due credit, but note that we can’t guarantee that any contribution will be used in the final product.
For additional project details, including texts we’re particularly wanting to see contributors treat, see https://csc.jdavidstark.com/Project-Information.pdf.
Solo contributors need to have an earned terminal degree. For co-authored essays, at least one of the contributors needs to have a terminal degree.
As part of the peer-review process, essays need to be presented at the Heremeneutics of Unity session during the Christian Scholars’ Conference. For information about the conference’s next meeting, see https://christianscholarsconference.org/. And you can join the group’s mailing list at https://jdavidstark.com/csc.
If you’re interested in contributing, please email a proposal with a working title and an 85–100-word abstract to David Stark (david@jdavidstark.com) and Daniel Oden (doden@harding.edu).
If you foresee challenges with attending the Christian Scholars’ Conference in person (e.g., for contributors based outside the United States), please briefly describe these when you submit your proposal document. We may be able to coordinate your participation by video conference.
When the team produces research components and additional resources that may be of public interest, these will be made available here.
