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The 2005 Biblical Archaeology Society Publication Awards recognise the best books on archaeology and the Bible published in 2003 and 2004. The biennial BAS Publication Awards for books about archaeology and the Bible have been presented since 1985. These prestigious awards are made possible by a grant from the Leopold and Clara M. Fellner Charitable Foundation, through its trustee Frederick L. Simmons.

There are four categories of award presented biennially, each category being judged by a committee of three international academics. The categories are Best Popular Book on Archaeology, Best Scholarly Book on Archaeology, Best Book Relating to the Old Testament, and Best Book Relating to the New Testament.

Dr Jim Harrison has won Best Book Relating to the New Testament with his book, Paul's Language of Grace in Its Graeco-Roman Context (Tubingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2003). The judges were Peter W. Flint (Trinity Western University), John S. Kloppenborg (University of Toronto), and Stephen Patterson (Eden Theological Seminary). The BAS commendation of Dr Harrison's book concluded with these words:

"This is an outstanding work of scholarship based on a careful analysis of epigraphical literary texts from the Mediterranean antiquity, showing how Paul's language both fits with and transformed the customary language of giving and receiving. It is destined to make a very significant impact on Pauline studies."

This award places Wesley Institute on the map as making an important contribution to New Testament Studies in international scholarship.