Michael Langlois

The Hebrew word ḥesed (חֶ֫סֶד) has a profound meaning which modern versions of the Bible can’t grasp. Various translations are used, such as mercy, faithfulness, kindness, favor, loyalty, love, grace, etc.
But what does it really mean? And what are its theological implications?

Come Thursday, September 15 at 11 AM for this new Master 2 course in Strasbourg!

The second episode of “Saga semitica,” asked by Jewish magazine Pharm’Aviv, is now published:

After Adam, Enoch and Noah, the Genesis saga experiences an unexpected turn of events: instead of embracing the whole of humanity, it focuses more and more on an ethnic group, a clan, a family, a character. Who? Why such an emphasis? Read on in this new episode of “Saga semitica”!

Michael Langlois, “Saga semitica, épisode 2″ in Pharm’aviv 128, juin 2011, p. 29-31

I have been invited to speak at an international conference on the Targums (Aramaic versions of the Hebrew Bible) in the light of ancient Jewish traditions from the Second Temple period (i.e. until the beginning of the common era).

My paper will address the question of a possible Second Temple origin for the critique of power in the targumim. If you’re interested, the conference will take place in Strasbourg on June 27-28, 2011.

Here is the meeting program: Read the rest of this entry »

The University of Strasbourg’s Faculty of Protestant Theology organizes, in collaboration with our colleagues from the University of Heidelberg, a conference on French philosopher Paul Ricœur.

This conference takes place on 13–14 May 2011 in Strasbourg; here is the complete program: Read the rest of this entry »

The first issue of French magazine Le Nouveau Messager (May-June 2011) features a dossier on “The Bible, a Book to Live.” On this occasion, I was interviewed by Editor-in-Chief Patricia Rohner-Hégé, who wanted to know more about my reading and teaching experience of the Bible:

Interview Michael Langlois, Le Nouveau Messager (05-06/2011), p. 11.

Read the rest of this entry »