The Inaugural Biblical Studies Symposium

An intimate one-day gathering where eight leading scholars tackle the biggest questions about how the Bible came to be, capped by a live closing debate on whether the Gospels are based on eyewitness testimony.

The Date Saturday · Nov. 21, 2026
The Room The Wright Room · Denver
The House 75 seats · 20 VIP
Reserve your seat Can't Make it to Denver? Virtual passes are available →
Begin
I. On the day itself

A day for serious readers of an ancient library.

A short walk from the SBL convention — but deliberately apart from it.

The Biblical Studies Symposium is a one-day gathering of working biblical scholars, held in downtown Denver and livestreamed worldwide. Three paired sessions place a Hebrew Bible specialist alongside a New Testament specialist on the same question — each with thirty minutes of moderated discussion and audience Q&A.

The day closes with a live debate featuring Bart Ehrman and Michael Bird of Ridley College on whether the Gospels are based on eyewitness testimony — one of the oldest and most-debated questions in New Testament scholarship.

Seats are capped at seventy-five. There are no back rows. No nosebleed seats. Everyone is close enough to ask a question, catch a scholar between sessions, or end up at a lunch table with the people whose work you've been reading for years.

“To read these texts well is to take seriously that someone, somewhere, two thousand years ago, thought they were worth dying for.” — from the program notes
3
Paired sessions
8
Working scholars
75
Seats only
∞
Lifetime replay
II. Why it's different

A different kind of Bible event.

Most Bible conferences are highly academic events built primarily for scholars — or large online presentations where attendees never truly interact.

The Biblical Studies Symposium is a smaller live gathering, created to offer something more personal, interactive, and discussion-driven.

Attendance is intentionally limited to preserve a more intimate experience.
Attendees at Bart Ehrman's UNC retirement lecture
“Having read several of Bart's books and followed his podcast “religiously,” it was an absolute joy to see him in person. Being able to chat with fellow enthusiasts and members of Bart's team felt a little like meeting a long lost family.”
JC
John Chowning Attendee · Bart Ehrman's UNC Retirement Lecture

Can't make it to Denver? Virtual passes available.

III. The assembled

Six scholars, three pairings.

Each session pairs a Hebrew Bible scholar with a New Testament scholar on the same question. Forty minutes apiece, then half an hour of moderated discussion and audience Q&A.
Session I

The problems with the manuscripts

Sidnie Crawford
Hebrew Bible
Sidnie Crawford
Willa Cather Professor of Hebrew Bible and Second Temple Judaism Emerita
University of Nebraska–Lincoln

An authority on the textual criticism of the Hebrew Bible, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Second Temple Judaism. Her book Scribes and Scrolls at Qumran won the Frank Moore Cross Award from the American Society of Overseas Research and the Biblical Archaeology Society Publication Award for the best popular book on archaeology.

The problems with the manuscripts — Hebrew Bible.
Libbie Schrader Polczer
New Testament
Libbie Schrader Polczer
Assistant Professor of New Testament
Villanova University

A New Testament textual critic with one of the most unusual paths into the field. Before completing her PhD at Duke, Libbie was a touring singer-songwriter who opened for Jewel. Now as one of the sharpest younger voices working on the manuscript tradition of the Gospels, her peer-reviewed manuscript work has appeared in Harvard Theological Review and the Journal of Biblical Literature.

The problems with the manuscripts — New Testament.
Session II

The debates over sources

Shawna Dolansky
Hebrew Bible
Shawna Dolansky
Associate Professor, College of the Humanities
Carleton University

A specialist in the religion of ancient Israel and the literary formation of the Pentateuch, whose books include The Bible Now (with Richard Elliott Friedman) and a body of work on women, gender, and the Hebrew Bible.

The debates over sources — Hebrew Bible.
John S. Kloppenborg
New Testament
John S. Kloppenborg
University Professor, Department for the Study of Religion
University of Toronto

The foremost authority on the hypothetical sayings source Q and the literary problems of the Synoptic Gospels, with a body of scholarship that has set the terms of the conversation for a generation.

The debates over sources — New Testament.
Session III

History & legend

Joel S. Baden
Hebrew Bible
Joel S. Baden
Professor of Hebrew Bible · Director, Center for Continuing Education
Yale Divinity School

A leading specialist in the literary history of the Pentateuch and the documentary hypothesis, author of The Composition of the Pentateuch, The Historical David, and The Book of Exodus: A Biography.

History and legend in the Exodus tradition — Hebrew Bible.
Mark Goodacre
New Testament
Mark Goodacre
Frances Hill Fox Professor of Religious Studies
Duke University

A leading historian of the Synoptic Gospels and the Passion narratives, author of The Case Against Q and longtime host of the NT Pod — and one of the field's most precise readers of the gospel accounts of Jesus' death.

History and legend in the Passion narratives — New Testament.
IV. The closing debate

Are the Gospels based on eyewitness testimony?

It's one of the oldest and most-debated questions in New Testament scholarship — and the answer shapes how the Gospels are read. Two top scholars take it up directly, on a single stage, with audience Q&A.

When 3:55 — 5:45 PM
Format 1 hr 50 min · two parts
Audience Q&A on the record
Read bio
Michael Bird
Affirmative

Michael Bird

YesThe Gospels preserve eyewitness recollection of the historical Jesus.

Deputy Principal & Lecturer in New Testament · Ridley College, Melbourne
Michael Bird
Ridley College · Melbourne

Dr. Michael F. Bird is Deputy Principal and Lecturer in Theology and New Testament at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia. He is an ordained Anglican priest and the author of over thirty books, including the award-winning The Gospel of the Lord: How the Early Church Wrote the Story of Jesus (Eerdmans) and (with N.T. Wright) The New Testament in its World (SPCK/Zondervan).

He co-hosts the Ask N.T. Wright Anything podcast and runs the Early Christian History and AI for Academics YouTube channels.

Read bio
Bart Ehrman
Negative

Bart Ehrman

NoThe Gospels are anonymous narratives shaped by decades of oral tradition.

James A. Gray Distinguished Professor Emeritus · UNC Chapel Hill
Bart D. Ehrman
UNC Chapel Hill

Bart D. Ehrman is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he taught from 1988 until his retirement in 2025. Recognized internationally for his scholarship on the New Testament and early Christianity, Professor Ehrman has written or edited thirty-three books, including six New York Times bestsellers. His college-level textbook The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings has remained the best-selling text in the field for more than twenty-five years. His scholarly works have been published by Oxford, Harvard, Yale, and other premier academic presses, and his books have been translated into twenty-seven languages, reaching millions of readers worldwide.

Beyond the classroom, Professor Ehrman is a widely recognized public scholar. He has produced nine acclaimed courses for The Great Courses, in addition to numerous online courses available through BartEhrman.com. His books and courses have sold more than two million copies.

He also writes for his charitable blog, The Bart Ehrman Blog, which has raised millions for organizations addressing poverty, homelessness, and hunger. In addition, he hosts the weekly podcast Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman, available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms, where he brings cutting-edge biblical scholarship to a global audience.

V. The program

An hour-by-hour account.

A deliberate arc from morning coffee to late dinner. Subject to refinement, but not to dilution.

8:30— 30 min
Arrival

Registration & coffee

A half-hour to settle in before the day begins.

9:00— 5 min
Welcome

Opening remarks

Bart Ehrman.

9:05— 40 min
Hebrew Bible

The problems with the manuscripts — Hebrew Bible

Sidnie Crawford · University of Nebraska–Lincoln

9:45— 40 min
New Testament

The problems with the manuscripts — New Testament

Libbie Schrader Polczer · Villanova University

10:25— 30 min
Discussion

Moderated conversation & audience Q&A

Schrader Polczer and Crawford in dialogue.

10:55— 10 min
Interval

Break

A short pause between sessions.

11:05— 40 min
Hebrew Bible

The debates over sources — Hebrew Bible

Shawna Dolansky · Carleton University

11:45— 40 min
New Testament

The debates over sources — New Testament

John S. Kloppenborg · University of Toronto

12:25— 30 min
Discussion

Moderated conversation & audience Q&A

Dolansky and Kloppenborg in dialogue.

12:55— 60 min
Recess

Lunch

A full sit-down meal, included with every ticket.

1:55— 40 min
Hebrew Bible

History and legend in the Exodus tradition — Hebrew Bible

Joel S. Baden · Yale Divinity School

2:35— 40 min
New Testament

History and legend in the Passion narratives — New Testament

Mark Goodacre · Duke University

3:15— 30 min
Discussion

Moderated conversation & audience Q&A

Baden and Goodacre in dialogue.

3:45— 10 min
Interval

Break

The day's last pause before the closing debate.

3:55— 60 min
★ Debate · Part 1

Opening statements & first exchange

Bart Ehrman & Michael Bird lay out their positions.

4:55— 50 min
★ Debate · Part 2

Rebuttals & audience Q&A

The room opens its questions to the floor — moderated, on the record.

5:45— 15 min
Farewell

Closing remarks

A short send-off before the room empties for the evening.

VI. The venue

A small-ish room for a big day.

A premium venue. Limited seating. Built for conversation.

The Wright Room — event space interior dining tables
The Wright Room · Event Space
The Wright Room — interior with Edison-bulb chandeliers and attendees
The Wright Room · interior
Aerial view of the 16th Street Mall pedestrian walkway in downtown Denver
Downtown Denver · 16th Street Mall

The Wright Room. Denver, Colorado.

We chose this venue on purpose. It's not a hotel ballroom or a conference center — it's a premium downtown space built for intimate gatherings where people actually talk to each other. (You know — where we put the BS in BSS.)

The room holds about seventy-five people. That's it. No back rows. No nosebleed seats. Everyone is close enough to ask a question, catch a scholar between sessions, or end up at a lunch table with the people whose work you've been following for years.

Located on the 16th Street Mall in the heart of downtown Denver.

$159
per night
Hotel room block

The Slate Hotel Denver Downtown · Tapestry by Hilton

We've reserved a block of rooms at a group rate of $159/night (plus applicable taxes and hotel fees) for the nights of November 20-24, 2026. Book by October 21, 2026 to lock in the rate. After that, the block releases back to the hotel.

Once we're full, that's it. No overflow rooms.

Reserve your seat →
Michael Wasserman
It was a delight to meet in person the scholars and learners (not to mention Megans) I had only been able to interact with through a screen. The group was convivial and I saw many connections made among the attendees.
Michael Wasserman Attendee · Bart Ehrman's UNC Retirement Lecture
Hector Tapia
I had the chance to meet Bart in person and have many of my books signed. I met scholars like Hugo Méndez and Megan Lewis, and many people from the BSA team and the community. We had social activities where we geeked out about biblical scholarship, history, and theology for hours.
Hector Tapia Attendee · Bart Ehrman's UNC Retirement Lecture
Anthony Althauser
I love learning, but I love it even more with other humans! I loved meeting the BSA team and fellow Bible enthusiasts who were willing to travel from all over the world to connect together.
Anthony Althauser Attendee · Bart Ehrman's UNC Retirement Lecture
VII. Admission

Four ways to attend.

Strictly limited Capped at 75 total attendees, 20 of those VIP. No overflow rooms.
VIP MMXXVI
Tier One · Patron Circle

VIP In-Person

Preferred seating plus a private dinner with the scholars — food & drinks included.

$649 $ 549 early-bird
★ Early-bird pricing in effect
Sold out
  • ★Preferred (front-section) seating
  • ★Private dinner with the scholars — food & drinks included
  • ✦All three paired sessions and the closing debate
  • ✦Coffee, drinks, & catered lunch included
  • ✦Lifetime access to event recordings
  • ✦First access to BSS 2027 before public sale
  • ✦Mystery gift on arrival
VIP Sold Out
Tier Two · In-Person

General Admission

A confirmed seat at the full day's program.

$349 $ 299 early-bird
★ Early-bird pricing in effect
17 of 55 General Admission seats remaining
  • ✦Full access to all three paired sessions
  • ✦The closing debate
  • ✦Reserved general seating & name badge
  • ✦Coffee, drinks, & catered lunch included
  • ✦Lifetime access to event recordings
  • ✦Post-event virtual meet-up with the scholars
  • ✕Dinner with the scholars — VIP only
  • ✕Preferred seating — VIP only
Reserve General →
Tier Three · Virtual VIP

VIP Virtual

The full livestream, plus a private post-event meet-up with the scholars.

$ 149 virtual
★ Attend from anywhere in the world
  • ✦Virtual access to all sessions throughout the day
  • ✦Live Q&A sessions with the scholars
  • ✦Lifetime access to the recorded replays through your ThriveCart account
  • ★An exclusive, members-only virtual meet-up with our scholars after the event — an intimate, small-group session where you can ask questions and engage in more personal conversation than the main stage allows.Date & time to be announced — we'll send full details to your inbox.
Go VIP Virtual →
Can't make it to Denver?

Virtual Livestream

Watch the entire day live from anywhere in the world.

Live HD stream of every session The closing debate Live audience Q&A during every session Lifetime access to event recordings
Live ticket
$119
Stream it →
Our
30
days
Guarantee
A simple promise

If the symposium isn't worth it, we'll make it right.

Cancel up to thirty days before the event and we'll refund every dollar, no questions asked. If you attend and find the day didn't deliver what we promised, write us — we'll listen, and we'll refund you. We mean it. The point of the symposium is the quality of the day, not the booking.

VIII. Questions, answered

Before you book.

BSS is built around three things most academic conferences don't deliver to lay audiences: an intimate, in-person format; live discussion and audience Q&A with the scholars; and a deliberately small room — seventy-five seats — where you actually meet the people in the field and the people sitting beside you.

It's serious scholarship, designed for intelligent non-specialists, in a setting where conversation is possible.

No — we plan to hold NINT as a separate virtual event. This year's theme is the Apocrypha and the formation of the New Testament canon.

Both, and everyone in between. No academic background is required. The presentations are designed for an intelligent lay audience — believers, skeptics, and seekers all welcome. The scholarship is accessible without being thinned out.

Yes — that's the whole point of the room size. Every session ends with a moderated Q&A from the audience. Breaks, lunch, and the evening mixer are also designed for conversation. You'll also get to meet team members like Megan Kraege, Jen Olmos, Megan Lewis, and Chris Huntley. VIP attendees get a private dinner with the scholars on top of all of that.

Seventy-five total — twenty of those VIP. The room is deliberately small. There are no overflow seats and no livestream-only annex; if you're in the room, you're in the room.

Yes. All registration tiers (including Virtual) get lifetime access to the event recordings — rewatch any session, any time.

General Admission includes:

  • Full access to all three paired sessions and the closing debate
  • Coffee, drinks, and catered lunch
  • Reserved seating and a name badge
  • Lifetime access to the recordings
  • The exclusive post-event virtual meet-up with the scholars
  • A mystery gift on arrival, and access to attendee mixers

In-person VIP gets a private dinner with the scholars in place of the virtual meet-up, plus preferred seating, first access to BSS 2027, and a mystery VIP gift.

Yes. Coffee, drinks, and a catered lunch are included with every in-person ticket.

The Wright Room, on the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver. The venue is walking distance from many downtown Denver hotels and within a few blocks of the SBL convention. Restaurants and shops are at the door.

Registration and coffee open at 8:30 AM. Opening remarks begin at 9:00. The closing debate runs from 3:55 to 5:45 PM, followed by short closing remarks; the room empties around 6:00 PM. The VIP evening dinner with the scholars follows — exact start time confirmed closer to the date.

Business casual is recommended. You won't feel out of place dressed up; you also won't feel out of place dressed down. Comfortable is the rule.

Several parking garages serve the 16th Street Mall area within a short walk of the venue. Rideshare is generally the most convenient option for downtown Denver — we'll provide specific recommendations and addresses to all registered attendees closer to the event.

A private, post-event evening dinner with Bart Ehrman and other scholars. Twenty seats only. Food and drinks are included — you're not buying just the privilege of attending. Informal, unhurried, and built around conversation rather than a program.

Full refund up to thirty days before the event. Within thirty days, tickets are non-refundable but fully transferable — you can pass your seat to a friend or colleague. If something genuinely unavoidable comes up, write us; we'll do our best to make it right.

Early-bird pricing is in effect now — the listed strikethrough prices are the going rates once early-bird closes. There is no separate student discount for this event. Sorry.

All major credit and debit cards, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay through our secure checkout.

One day. Seventy-five seats. November 21, 2026.

Reservations are open now. Early-bird pricing is in effect.

Reserve a seat See the program