EGST Hosts Annual Meeting of the Ethiopian Society of New Testament Studies
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
On Friday November 6, 2026, the Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology (EGST) was honored to host the annual general meeting of the Ethiopian Society of New Testament Studies (ESNTS). Operating as part of the East African Society of New Testament Studies under the umbrella of the Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas (SNTS)—the international body established in 1938—the gathering brought together leading Ethiopian New Testament scholars from across various theological institutions.
The joint effort demonstrated strong inter-institutional collaboration, with EGST, ETC, MYS, ILU, and SIL joining hands to ensure the event’s resoundingly successful outcome.
The primary aim of the annual general meeting is to foster rigorous, timely, and contextual academic discussions on the text of the New Testament among Ethiopian scholars, encouraging ongoing research, scholarly dialogue, and publishing across the nation.
Welcoming New SNTS Members
During the opening proceedings, the African SNTS Liaison Committee formally recognized three Ethiopian scholars who were recently admitted to SNTS:
- Dr. Tekalign Duguma
- Dr. Bruk Ayele
- Dr. Tibebu Teklu
Their admission brings the total number of Ethiopian full members in SNTS to six, marking a significant milestone for the growing impact of Ethiopian biblical scholarship on the global stage.
Celebrating Academic Milestones & Publications
The gathering also celebrated several major academic achievements among Ethiopian scholars:
Doctoral Defenses: Congratulations were extended to Dr. Abyot Sagoya Gashute (Ph.D. on the Gospel of Matthew, now lecturing at Africa International University), Dr. Yimenu Adimass (doctoral work on the Epistle to the Romans), and Dr. Aklilu Kuma (doctoral work on the Book of Revelation).
Published Monograph Dissertations: Dr. Tibebu Teklu, Dr. Motuma, and Dr. Endale were recognized for the publication of their doctoral dissertations.
Major Volumes: The meeting highlighted the recent release of An African Introduction to the New Testament, featuring contributions from five Ethiopian scholars (Dr. Bekele, Dr. Sofanit, Dr. Tibebu, Dr. Endale, and Dr. Desta) alongside Ethiopian editorial leadership.
Journal Contributions: Attendees acknowledged the steady stream of peer-reviewed articles published both internationally and in the academic journals hosted by MYS and EGST.
Pathways to SNTS Membership
The liaison committee reminded researchers of the criteria for SNTS membership recommendations:
Associate Membership: Recommendation requires a published monograph OR five peer-reviewed articles.
Full Membership: Recommendation requires two published monographs, ten articles, OR one monograph plus five articles.
Scholars interested in pursuing membership are encouraged to reach out to committee representatives, including Dr. Bruk, Dr. Tekalign, Dr. Desta, or Dr. Sigurd, to learn more about the application process.
EGST extends its deep gratitude to all visiting scholars, paper presenters, and partner institutions—ETC, MYS, ILU, and SIL—whose collaboration made Friday’s conference a resounding success for the discipline of New Testament studies in Ethiopia.
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