Barbara Schmitz

Prof. Dr. Barbara Schmitz holds the Chair of Old Testament and Biblical-Oriental Languages at the Catholic Theological Faculty, University of Würzburg. She serves as Chair of the University Senate and Equal Opportunities Officer for her faculty. Her research intersects narratology, Septuagint studies, and historical analysis of Second Temple Jewish literature.

• Studied Theology at Passau, Jerusalem, and Münster (PhD 2004, habilitation 2008)
• Positions: Senior Lecturer at Duisburg-Essen (2005–2009), Professor at TU Dortmund (2010), University of Würzburg (2011–present)

Research focuses on Deuterocanonical texts (Judith, Esther, Maccabees), local governance in antiquity, and interreligious dialogue. Projects include DFG-funded studies on self-organization in Second Temple Judaism and editorial leadership for SBL Commentary on the Septuagint and Deuterocanonical and Cognate Literature Yearbook.

Recent publications analyze narratology (e.g., Erzählte Macht), urban spaces in biblical texts, and theological identity formation. She co-edited volumes like 1700 Years of Jewish Life in Germany and Jewish-Christian Dialogue: A Study Manual.

• Professional roles: President of University Senate, Chair of AGAT, member of IOSCS Executive Committee, SBL Program Unit, and Ecumenical Commission (German Bishops' Conference)
• Supervisory certifications: German Society for Supervision (DGSV), Systemic Society (SG)

She leads the DFG project Self-Organization and Horizontal Binding Forces and contributes to Christian-Jewish cooperation initiatives in Würzburg.