The Society for New Testament Studies (or as it's officially called in Latin, Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas)--is an academic Society founded in 1938 for the furtherance of New Testament studies internationally. Membership is legendarily difficult to attain, as it requires not only a strong publication record, but also both a formal double nomination by two members (who may not nominate more than two new members per year) and an ensuing vote by existing society members at the Annual Meeting. This sets SNTS apart from other similar scholarly societies, such as the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL), the American Academy of Religion (AAR), the European Association of Biblical Studies (EABS), in which membership is more or less open to all qualified scholars who pay annual membership dues.

I'm very grateful to my two nominators, whom I would love to name and thank publically; however, I'm not sure I should given how SNTS works. Suffice it to say that they were incredibly generous of their time, attention, and trust; indeed, the only reason I dared to initiate the process at all was because they both suggested I should give it a go when I was a guest attendee at the Vienna SNTS meeting two years ago. Their nominations were submitted roughly a year ago (not long after last year's meeting in Regensburg), and last week my nomination was voted on. 

This weekend, I received the news officially from the SNTS Secretary, Paul Foster. I couldn't be more pleased to be invited to become a member of this illustrious body, which has been home to cutting edge NT scholarship for nearly a century. 

So a new small but very important part of the journey begins. Hope to see some of you next year in Tübingen!