The Chadwick-Oden Lectures series
This lecture series was created in honor of Henry Chadwick and Thomas C. Oden and their historical and theological-minded leadership among the church and academy. Annual pairs of lectures by leading scholars and authors explore the historical and theological roots of Christianity. They apply ancient, patristic, and early medieval approaches to Judeo-Christian thought and expression that approach the faith, not simply as a collection of doctrines, but as a transformative way of life.
In Why Does Augustine Matter? renowned theologian and former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams offers a profound meditation on St. Augustine of Hippo’s enduring relevance, exploring how Augustine’s insights on memory, identity, desire, and divine grace speak powerfully to our contemporary struggles.
Drawing from Augustine’s Confessions and his theology of the Trinity, as well as The City of God and other works of Augustine, Williams presents this ancient thinker not as a historical relic but as a spiritual companion for those wrestling with questions of authenticity, humility, social cohesion, and hope in today’s fractured world.
Rowan Williams was born in South Wales and studied theology in Cambridge and Oxford. He was Professor of Divinity at Oxford from 1986 to 1992, Bishop of Monmouth in Wales from 1992 to 2002, Archbishop of Canterbury from 2002 to 2012, and Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, from 2013 to 2020.
Drawing from Augustine’s Confessions and his theology of the Trinity, as well as The City of God and other works of Augustine, Williams presents this ancient thinker not as a historical relic but as a spiritual companion for those wrestling with questions of authenticity, humility, social cohesion, and hope in today’s fractured world.
Rowan Williams was born in South Wales and studied theology in Cambridge and Oxford. He was Professor of Divinity at Oxford from 1986 to 1992, Bishop of Monmouth in Wales from 1992 to 2002, Archbishop of Canterbury from 2002 to 2012, and Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, from 2013 to 2020.
In "Why Poetry in the Bible Matters," Robert Alter illuminates the profound impact of biblical poetry, revealing how its unique forms and evocative language have shaped theological and philosophical thought for millennia. This insightful exploration uncovers the rich historical and cultural contexts that enrich these ancient texts, demonstrating how poetry serves as a powerful medium for engaging with the divine and with the human experience. An essential read for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of biblical literature.
Robert Alter is Emeritus Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkeley. He has written extensively on literary aspects of the Hebrew Bible, and in 2018 he completed a translation with commentary of the Hebrew Bible.
Robert Alter is Emeritus Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkeley. He has written extensively on literary aspects of the Hebrew Bible, and in 2018 he completed a translation with commentary of the Hebrew Bible.
Paul M. Blowers uncovers how early Christian preachers transformed biblical interpretation into theatrical performance, captivating congregations with dramatic retellings of sacred stories. Theatrics in Patristic Preaching and Biblical Exposition, based on the 2025 Chadwick-Oden Lectures, explores how Church Fathers such as Chrysostom, Basil, and Romanos the Melodist used vivid rhetorical techniques—like impersonation, characterization, and ekphrasis—to breathe new life into Scripture.
Paul M. Blowers is Dean E. Walker Professor in the Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan University in Tennessee. He is a former President of the North American Patristics Society and a Henry Luce III Fellow.
Paul M. Blowers is Dean E. Walker Professor in the Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan University in Tennessee. He is a former President of the North American Patristics Society and a Henry Luce III Fellow.