Leonard Greenspoon
Leonard Jay Greenspoon was an American scholar of biblical studies, noted especially for his work on the Septuagint, Bible translation, and Jewish civilization. He was for many years the Philip M. and Ethel Klutznick Chair in Jewish Civilization at Creighton University and a longtime contributor to Biblical Archaeology Review.
Early life and education
Greenspoon was born in 1945 in Richmond, Virginia. His father was a Ukrainian Jewish immigrant, and his mother was an American Jew from Richmond. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in classical studies at the University of Richmond, where he specialized in Greek and Latin. His master’s thesis examined the political activities of Philo. Initially beginning doctoral studies in Classics at Harvard University, he shifted to biblical and ancient Near Eastern studies, studying under George Ernest Wright and Frank Moore Cross. His Ph.D. dissertation, completed in 1977 and later published as Textual Studies in the Book of Joshua, inaugurated his career in Septuagint research.Academic career
From 1975 to 1996, Greenspoon was on the faculty of Clemson University. In 1996, he joined Creighton University as the Klutznick Chair in Jewish Civilization, also serving as professor of theology and of classical and Near Eastern studies. In this role he organized annual symposia that produced more than 25 edited scholarly volumes.A leading figure in Septuagint studies, Greenspoon contributed to a new English translation of the Septuagint and from 1993 to 1999 served as president of the International Organization for Septuagint and Cognate Studies. His scholarship extended beyond the Septuagint to Bible translations in general, Jewish history and culture, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Holocaust, and Jewish humor. Over his career, he published more than 200 articles and book chapters, as well as several monographs and edited collections.
Writings for general audiences
Greenspoon was recognized for making biblical scholarship accessible to non-specialists. He contributed to Bible Review and later Biblical Archaeology Review, where his column The Bible in the News ran from 2001 to 2016. Written in an informal style, the column explored biblical themes as they appeared in contemporary media and scholarship. Many of these essays were later collected in e-book form.Among his notable popular works was the 1989 Bible Review article “Mission to Alexandria: Truth and Legend about the Creation of the Septuagint, the First Bible Translation,” which summarized scholarly debates about the Septuagint’s origins for a general readership. He also wrote about humor and religion, as well as food and Judaism.
Honors and recognition
In 2018, Greenspoon’s colleagues honored him with a Festschrift, Found in Translation: Essays on Jewish Translation in Honor of Leonard J. Greenspoon, recognizing his contributions to scholarship and mentorship.In 2020, Greenspoon received the Creighton University Research Award, an honor recognizing faculty with a sustained record of distinguished research and publications that have earned national and international recognition and contributed significantly to their field.