The Beloved Disciple in Performance
Rhetoric, Delivery, Proximity, and Johannine Discipleship
by Eric Zito
(Brill, 2026
This book reconsiders the Fourth Gospel’s portrayal of the Beloved Disciple through the lens of biblical performance criticism. The study demonstrates how a skilled performer—alert to the text’s observable rhetorical cues—brings the central features of the Disciple’s characterization to life in front of an ancient audience. While many interpreters have cast the Beloved Disciple as an “ideal” figure, Zito argues that he is distinguished not by perfection but by his willingness to be near Jesus and move toward him in every circumstance.
Mark Goodacre
April 2026 at Loyola University Chicago
What's the most important recent development in Gospel studies?
Expanding Approaches to Bible Translation
Multimodal Perspectives
Edited by James A. Maxey
(Cascade, 2025)
The assertion in this book is that translation is as fundamental to biblical material as performance--both in its history as well as in its research approaches. Translation in this sense is more than a transferal of meaning from one linguistic system to another. Bible translation highlights innovative connections and conceptions to biblical texts, in their promulgation, reception, and ever-changing nature. A predominant theory used throughout this book is social semiotic multimodality. This communication theory informs an approach to translation that expands beyond words to other semiotic resources. Sign Language, embodied performance, social media, theater, materiality, and many other types of multimodal communications inform translation. It is important to understand that the Bible is a translated experience. Translation reflects the various ways in which the Bible has been mediated and appropriated throughout history. It follows, therefore, that Bible translation, as a global activity, has been and continues to be influenced by the political and economic flows of history. Race, class, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and other elements of our social locations directly influence the enterprise and results of Bible translation.
Report from SBL 2025 in Boston
November 22-25, 2025
Performance Criticism of the Bible and Other Ancient Texts
Biblical Performance Criticism: What Is It? How to Do It? Where Is It Going?
Sunday Nov 23 1-3:30pm
- Looking at Bible Performance Criticism from a Social-Semiotic Perspective
Marlon Winedt, United Bible Societies
https://vimeo.com/1140804796 - Biblical Performance in a Multi-church, Multi-user, Single Translation Context
Mark Penner, United Bible Societies
https://vimeo.com/1141166579 - Visual Resources and Persuasion: The Performance of a Pauline Letter in Dominican Sign Language
Isela Trujillo, United Bible Societies
https://vimeo.com/1141322597 - Your Great Learning Is Driving You Insane! Between Paralysis and Praxis in BPC
Zach Eberhart, Point University
https://vimeo.com/1141324286
Translation and Linguistic Issues in Apocalyptic Literature in Ancient Hebrew and Aramaic (with Linguistics of Biblical Hebrew)
Sunday Nov 23 4-6:30pm
- Movement, Spirit, and Prophetic Communication
Fausto Liriano, United Bible Societies
https://vimeo.com/1141568710 - The Masoretic Text as Performance
Aaron Douglas Hornkohl, University of Cambridge
https://vimeo.com/1141550657
Embodiment and Cultural Memory: Performance of Rev 13–14 (with John's Apocalypse)
Tuesday Nov 25 9-11:30am
- English Performance of Rev 13-14
U-Wen Low, University of Birmingham
https://vimeo.com/1141572755 - Spanish Performance of Rev 13-14
Isela Trujillo, United Bible Societies
https://vimeo.com/1141574262 - Japanese Sign Language Performance of Rev 13-14
Facilitated by Mark Penner, United Bible Societies
https://vimeo.com/1141575958 - Responses by Megan Wines, Tina Pippin, and Travis West
https://vimeo.com/1141640240