The Septuagint (LXX) means 'seventy' and is used as a reference to the Greek Bible, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible and a number of de novo Greek writings. The Septuagint is generally regarded as the Bible of the early church. In the past the focus was on text-critical studies of the LXX, since the authentic TEXT of this corpus had to be determined. However, the time has arrived for hermeneutical studies of the Septuagint. A desideratum in research on the Septuagint has been endeavours to formulate a theology of the Septuagint. Over the past decade various attempts have been launched in order to formulate such a theology. After a year-long preparation, a conference was recently presented at the Department of Ancient Studies of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The meeting took place from 17-19 August 2018. Prof. Martin Rösel from the University of Rostock in Germany and Emeritus Associate Professor Johann Cook from Stellenbosch jointly presented this conference. Rösel obtained a German research grant from the Bildungsministerium of the Bundeslandes Mecklenburg. The grant was part of a programme of the Humanities and Social Sciences. Cook received financial assistance from the University of Stellenbosch and the SANRF. The two colleagues invited a number of international specialists on the topic of a theology of LXX. Prof. Rösel prepared a research paper on the topic of the conference and the invited speakers were given the opportunity to respond to the theses addressed by Rösel. In total 16 longer papers of 50 minutes each were presented by specialists and two shorter papers of 25 minutes by postgraduate students. Various topics were addressed. Rösel opened the meeting with the topic “Projektvorstellung: Theologie der Septuaginta – Methodische Grundlegung und Fallstudien". Prof. Emanuel Tov from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem dealt with “The Interaction between Theological and Text-critical Approaches". Other international scholars were Professors Wolfgang Kraus, Ulrich Volp, Gert Steyn, Dirk Buchner and Jessie Rogers (the latter three are former students of Cook). Two permanent members of the Department of Ancient Studies, Professors Johan Thom and PR Bosman, as well as Cook also contributed. The local Theology Faculty was represented by Prof. Louis Jonker and Dr Peter Nagel. A doctoral student of Prof. Jonker, Joel Ruark, made a short presentation followed by a short paper by Kyle Young from Canada. Two colleagues from the NWU Potchefstroom campus, Professors Pierre Jordaan and Gideon Kotzé, also participated. The meeting was truly an international gathering. Prof. Hans Ausloos (Université catholique de Louvain – Belgium) and finally Prof. Evangelia Dafni (University of Thessaloniki) also presented papers.

The conference was a successful event and various outcomes are anticipated. Prof. Rösel is planning a monograph based on his keynote address. Cook and Rösel will act as co-editors of the proceedings of the papers presented at the conference. The proposed title is “Towards the Formulation of a Theology of the Septuagint – the Proceedings of the Septuagint congress held at the University of Stellenbosch 17-19 of August 2018". The Proceedings will be published in a prominent Series. The work has started in all earnest.