Bible Symposium in Bengaluru Examines Scripture in The Digital And AI Age

Bengaluru, 5 December 2025 — A two-day Bible Symposium on the theme “The Bible in Its Context in the Digital and AI Age” is underway at NBCLC, bringing together scholars, clergy, religious and students to explore how digital tools and artificial intelligence are shaping biblical interpretation and pastoral ministry today.

Organised by Fr. Patrick Mathias SDB, Executive Secretary of the Commission for the Bible, CCBI, in collaboration with NBCLC and the Karnataka Region Bible Commission, the event opened with a meaningful and vibrant inauguration attended by around 90 delegates. Participants include seminarians and M.Th. students from Bengaluru’s major theological institutions, among them Kristu Jyoti College, St Peter’s Pontifical Seminary and Mt St Alphonsus Redemptorist Theologate, as well as priests, religious, lay leaders and children.

Strengthening pastoral formation rooted in Scripture and building digital competence in ministry are central aims of the gathering. To support this, organisers are offering hands-on technical assistance to participants seeking guidance in installing and navigating biblical research software and digital study tools.

Fr. Anthonysamy Peter Abir, Chairman of the CCBI Commission for the Bible, presided over the inaugural session and delivered the keynote address on “Guiding Principles for Biblical Interpretation,” setting a strong academic and pastoral tone for the symposium.

Twelve scholarly papers are being presented across the two-day programme, covering a wide range of themes including the Bible’s historical and cultural contexts, interpretative methodologies, the use of AI in biblical research, digital tools for Scripture study, online academic resources, and introductions to platforms such as the Libronix Digital Library System and BibleWorks. One of the sessions is being delivered online, adding an international dimension to the proceedings.

The symposium continues on 5 December, deepening engagement with the theme and equipping participants with new insights and practical skills for integrating Scripture and technology in their pastoral and academic work.

By Fr. Patrick Mathias