Upcoming Event:

2027 Old Testament Symposium

Date(s): May 20-22, 2027
Location: Black Mountain, North Carolina

The question is often asked, “Were people in the Old Testament saved and, if so, how were they saved?” The New Testament clarifies this quite thoroughly for New Testament believers, emphasizing Jesus Christ’s death and the importance of faith as prerequisites for salvation. EFBR’s Old Testament symposium and its papers this coming May will focus intensely on how the Old Testament approaches this question, how believers then might have answered, and how believers now should answer.

Conference Details

Additional Details

The Theme: “Who Was Saved in the Old Testament?”

The question is often asked, “Were people in the Old Testament saved and, if so, how were they saved?” The New Testament clarifies this quite thoroughly for New Testament believers, emphasizing Jesus Christ’s death and the importance of faith as prerequisites for salvation. EFBR’s Old Testament symposium and its papers this coming May will focus intensely on how the Old Testament approaches this question, how believers then might have answered, and how believers now should answer. The core emphasis of this symposium is on how best to guide church leaders and their laity to answer the theme’s question.

Discussion Topics

While those who have submitted proposals have often felt they have “caught the drift” of a gathering’s range of topics, their proposals that have not taken the very focused stated objective as their target. These have not been considered further. Since EFBR publishes its symposia papers, the topics below are intentionally narrow for a cohesive publication. So, in composing your proposal, make certain that it addresses centrally one or more of the topics below. Regardless of which topic(s) from the list are addressed, proposals must explicitly, substantively, and practically address the symposium’s core focus on guiding the local church, and only secondarily the scholarly community. 

  • What different facets of salvation are defined in the Old Testament? 
  • How was God’s saving work for his people similar to or different from his possible saving work for people of other nations? E.g., Melchizedek, Caleb, Rahab, the Ninevites, and Nebuchadnezzar.
  • According to various Old Testament texts . . . 
    • what is soteriological salvation from?
    • what is soteriological salvation for?
    • what is the nature and extent of salvation?
  • How does God accomplish salvation according to Old Testament texts?
  • What role, if any, does the “law” play in the Old Testament’s vision of salvation?
  • What “saved” an Old Testament believer? What did one believe and/or do?
  • Are all of the following texts consistent: Ps 106:30-31; Gen 15:6; Rom 2:13; 4:3; Jam 2:25?

Abstract Submissions

Proposals must clearly articulate how exactly the paper will advance the understanding and practical application of the paper’s conclusions for church leaders and the laity.

Proposals would not be approved if focused on any of the following:

  • Lengthy surveys of the past and current positions on the symposium’s title or topics.
  • Proposals not addressing whether people were saved in the Old Testament and how they were saved in the Old Testament.
  • Too little attention to explicit, substantive, and practical guides for church leaders and the laity on who was saved in the Old Testament and how in the Old Testament.

Proposals must include one’s institutional affiliation. 

Proposals are welcome at your earliest convenience. However, the EFBR directors will select the symposia papers early in 2027. 

Please submit your abstract of 300–500 words to Daniel C. Fredericks: viknaborn@gmail.com.

Any questions on whether the abstract you are considering adequately addresses the purpose and at least one of the topics of the symposium are welcomed by email or call to Dan: 601-955-5900.