The Faculty of Theology Saint Isidore of Seville experienced a special day yesterday with the celebration of the I Jornada Bíblica ‘Juan Guillén’, organised by the Department of Sacred Scripture. This inaugural event brought together a notable number of attendees who gathered to honour the memory of Professor Juan Guillén Torralba, a reference in the teaching of Sacred Scripture and a key figure in the formation of generations of theologians and Bible lovers.
The presentation ceremony included the words of the Dean-President of the Faculty, Manuel Palma, who in his inaugural speech highlighted the relevance of this day both as a space for academic reflection and as a tribute to such a distinguished professor. ‘Professor Guillén was passionate about the Scriptures, a dedicated teacher and a visionary theologian who knew how to combine the depth of his erudition with a humanity and closeness that we all remember with gratitude’, he said.
Under the title ‘Genesis reread’, the event explored new perspectives on the stories of the biblical text, recalling the visionary approach of Professor Guillén, who devoted much of his academic work to the study of the Pentateuch and in particular also to the book of Genesis. The Dean-President’s words resonated as an invitation to rediscover the Scriptures as a living source in dialogue with the concerns of our time: ‘Today we enter into the text of Genesis, not only as an ancient account, but as a living source in dialogue with our present-day questions about the origin of the universe, human dignity and the role of God in history’. He also expressed his thanks to the Department of Sacred Scripture and to the speakers who enriched the event with their profound knowledge and analysis of the biblical texts.
The day offered a series of presentations of high academic level that delved into various perspectives on the book of Genesis. Dr. Miguel Ángel Garzón Moreno, Vice-Dean of the Faculty and professor of the Department of Sacred Scriptures, spoke of the presence of the theme of creation in the book of Isaiah, analysing especially the ‘creation of the new heavens and the new earth’ of Is 65:16-25, where the eschatological end is described with echoes of the creation and patriarchal stories of Genesis, so that eschatology shows the protology. After his intervention, he gave way to Dr. Álvaro Pereira Delgado, professor of the Department of Sacred Scriptures of our Faculty, who addressed how the apostle Paul speaks of the Christian as a ‘new creature’ conforming his life with Jesus Christ, the last Adam, who leads us to the fullness of life in the resurrection, being the image of God and model of the perfect man from the very origin of creation. Finally, Dr. José Antonio Antón Pacheco, professor at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Seville, delved into the reading of the creation story by some Jewish and Christian currents of the first centuries and the importance they had in their biblical and parabiblical literature, as well as other philosophical or spiritual schools, highlighting the value of the creation story to deduce the constitutive parameters of existence.
With this first edition, the Faculty of Theology consolidates a space for reflection and dialogue in memory of Professor Juan Guillén, reinforcing its commitment to the study and dissemination of Sacred Scripture.
