nothing beats learning in person!
Join 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 debate on whether the Gospels are based on eyewitness testimony.
Nov. 21, 2026 | Denver, CO | The Wright Room
top biblical scholars
Leading experts from Duke, Yale, and UNC
live scholarly debate
Eyewitness testimony in the Gospels
intimate denver venue
A premium experience with limited seating
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.
"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."
John Chowning, Attendee at Bart Ehrman’s UNC Retirement Lecture
Can't make it to Denver? Virtual passes available.
The Day's Main Topics
Each session features Hebrew Bible and New Testament scholars exploring major questions about sources and historical reliability.
The Problems with the Manuscripts
How do scholars reconstruct texts when no originals survive?
From the Dead Sea Scrolls to the thousands of New Testament variants, our experts examine the challenges of preserving ancient texts and how scholars determine what the original authors wrote.
HEBREW BIBLE
HEBREW BIBLE
TBD
Coming soon...
NEW TESTAMENT
NEW TESTAMENT
Libbie Schrader Polczer
Assistant Professor of New Testament at Villanova University
The Debates Over Sources
How do scholars identify the sources behind biblical texts?
From documentary theories in the Hebrew Bible to source relationships among the Gospels, our scholars explore how historians detect earlier traditions, editorial layers, and literary borrowing behind the texts we read today.
HEBREW BIBLE
HEBREW BIBLE
Shawna Dolansky
Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Judaism at Northeastern University
NEW TESTAMENT
NEW TESTAMENT
John Kloppenborg
Professor of New Testament at the University of Toronto
History and Legend in Biblical Traditions
Case Study: Where does history end and theological storytelling begin?
Using the Exodus traditions and Passion narratives as case studies, our scholars examine how ancient communities preserved, reshaped, and interpreted stories that became foundational to biblical faith and identity.
HEBREW BIBLE
HEBREW BIBLE
Joel Baden
Professor of Hebrew Bible at Yale Divinity School
NEW TESTAMENT
NEW TESTAMENT
Mark Goodacre
Professor of Religious Studies at Duke University
The Closing Event
Bart Ehrman
Top Scholar (TBD)
"Are the Gospels Based on Eyewitness Testimony?"
After a full day examining manuscripts, sources, history, and legend, a central question still hangs in the air: How much of what the Gospels report actually goes back to people who were there?
Bart Ehrman, six-time New York Times bestselling author and James A. Gray Distinguished Professor Emeritus at UNC Chapel Hill, will argue the Gospels are not based on eyewitness testimony in any meaningful historical sense. Debate partner TBD.
You'll walk in with everything you've learned that day. The scholars will bring decades of research. And by 5:30 PM, you'll know exactly where you stand.
The details
Your Day at the Symposium
A full day of scholarship, conversation, and connection.
8:30 AM
Registration & Coffee
Arrive early, get your name badge, and meet fellow attendees over coffee.
9:00 AM
Opening Remarks
Bart Ehrman welcomes attendees and sets the stage for the day ahead.
9:05 - 10:55 AM
Session 1: The Problems with the Manuscripts
TBD and Libbie Schrader. Discussion and Q&A follow.
10:55 - 11:05 AM
Break
11:05 AM - 12:55 PM
Session 2: The Debates Over Sources
Shawna Dolansky and John Kloppenborg. Discussion and Q&A follow.
12:55 - 1:55 PM
Lunch (Included)
A catered lunch and the chance to talk with scholars and fellow attendees in a relaxed setting.
1:55 - 3:45 PM
Session 3: History and Legend in Biblical Traditions
Joel Baden and Mark Goodacre. Discussion and Q&A follow.
10:55 - 11:05 AM
Break
1:55 - 3:45 PM
The Debate: "Are the Gospels Based on Eyewitness Testimony?"
Ehrman vs. Debate partner TBD. Q&A to follow.
EVENING — VIP DINNER
(OPTIONAL ADD-ON)
Join Bart, the scholars, and a small group of VIP attendees for a private dinner with drinks included.
"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 at Bart Ehrman’s UNC Retirement Lecture
A small-ish room for a big day.
A premium downtown venue. Limited seating. Built for conversation, not a podium-and-PowerPoint conference.
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.
Tucked inside the historic Block 32 building on the 16th Street Mall, The Wright Room sits a short walk from the city's best restaurants, coffee houses, and bookstores. Easy to reach, easy to spend a day in.
Reserve your seat.
Three tiers. The VIP Circle is capped at 20 seats. General Admission caps the room at 55. Virtual lives on the livestream.
★ Early-bird pricing in effect
$649 $549
- Preferred seating
- Private dinner with the scholars — food & drinks included
- Lifetime access to the recordings
- First-access to BSS 2027 before public sale
- Mystery scholarly gift
- Coffee, drinks, & catered lunch
★ Early-bird pricing in effect
$349 $299
- Reserved seating in the main room
- All three sessions + the closing debate
- Lifetime access to the recordings
- Coffee, drinks, & catered lunch
- Coffee-break access to the scholars between sessions
- — Private dinner with the scholars (VIP Circle only)
★ Early-bird pricing in effect
$119 early-bird
- Live HD stream of every session
- Live audience Q&A during every session
- The closing debate
- Lifetime access to the recordings
- — In-person networking & meals (in-person only)
Prices in USD. Payment via credit card or PayPal at checkout.
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.
Everything you need to know.
When is the symposium?
Saturday, November 21, 2026, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Mountain Time. Registration and coffee open at 8:30 AM.
Where is it being held?
The Wright Room inside Block 32, on the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver, Colorado. Easy walking distance from major hotels, light rail, and the convention center.
How many people will be there?
Capped at 75 in-person attendees — 20 VIP and 55 General Admission. The intimate audience size is the whole point: small enough that you can actually talk to the scholars, large enough for a real conversation.
Will I be able to interact with the speakers?
Yes. Each of the three paired sessions includes a 30-minute moderated Q&A. Coffee breaks and lunch put everyone in the same room. VIP attendees get a private dinner with the speakers.
What's included with my ticket?
All tiers include all three scholarly sessions, the closing debate, and the recordings. In-person tiers also include coffee, drinks, and a catered lunch. VIP adds the speaker dinner and preferred seating.
Will the sessions be recorded?
Yes. All registration tiers (including Virtual) get lifetime access to the recordings.
Can I attend virtually?
Yes. The Virtual Livestream pass ($119) gives you the live broadcast, live audience Q&A during every session, and lifetime access to the recordings. It does not include any in-person benefits.
Do you offer a refund?
Yes — full refund up to 30 days before the event, no questions asked. Within 30 days, tickets are non-refundable but fully transferable — you can pass your seat to a friend or colleague. If something genuinely unavoidable comes up, email [email protected] and we'll do our best to make it right.
Is lunch included?
Yes. Coffee, drinks, and a catered lunch are included for in-person attendees.
What payment methods do you accept?
All major credit and debit cards plus PayPal. Apple Pay and Google Pay are supported on the checkout page.
Can I bring a guest?
Each ticket admits one person. Guests need their own registration. If you’re bringing a spouse or partner who isn't attending sessions but wants to join for lunch or the VIP dinner, email us first — we can sometimes accommodate.
Is the venue accessible?
Yes. The Wright Room is fully wheelchair-accessible. If you have specific accessibility requirements, let us know during registration and we'll work with you directly.
Is parking available?
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.
Join us in Denver
One day. Seventy-five seats. November 21, 2026.
Reservations are open. The VIP Circle is filling first.
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