Field B: Biblical Studies

UNITS OFFERED 2008


LEGEND:

a First Semester

b Second Semester

int Intensive

Books marked with an asterisk * are regarded as being basic reading for the units concerned and students should ensure access to them by purchase, loan, or library borrowings.

UNITS OFFERED OTHER YEARS

BN345.15

BN445.15

 The Acts of the Apostles
BN356.15

BN456.15

 Gospel of Matthew
BN375.15

BN475.15

 Paul between Israel and the Nations
BS155.15 rthodox Christianity: Scripture and

Orthodox Christianity: Scripture and Tradition
BV212.15

BV312.15

 Deuteronomistic History
BV213.15

BV313.15

 Heroines Villains Recalcitrants and Sages
BV220.15

BV320.15

 The Book of Judges
BV226.15

BV326.15

 Isaiah
BV230.15

BV330.15

 The Pentateuch Today and Religious Faith
BV301.15

Social Justice and the Old Testament
BV315.15

BV415.15

 Studies in Psalms
BV318.15

Jeremiah
BV327.15

Deuteronomy


NOTE I: SEQUENCE OF UNITS

Biblical Studies Level I consists of the two units BN112.15 and either BV110.15 or BV111.15.

Biblical Studies Level II normally has the above two units as prerequisites.

Biblical Studies Level III All third level units will normally require two level 2 units as prerequisites.

Please note that to fulfil minimum BTheol requirements, students must include at least two OT and two NT units.

NOTE 2: CONDITIONS OF ASSESSMENT

In units where an examination is part of the assessment, candidates will receive toward the end of the semester a list of texts and topics from which the examination will be drawn.

Candidates who have not fulfilled the written requirements will not be admitted to the examination.

Candidates will not be granted a pass unless they satisfy the examiners in all substantial forms of assessment.

NOTE 3: SEPARATE LANGUAGE UNIT OPTIONS IN EXEGESIS

UNITS LEVELS 2 & 3

In the BTheol. there exists the option of taking some exegesis units in either Hebrew or English, Greek or English respectively. This will be subject to the approval of the staff member(s) responsible for a particular unit.

This would not involve separate teaching, but students taking the Hebrew or Greek option would sit for a separate examination paper and work only from the Hebrew or Greek text. There would be a reduction in the amount of text set for exegesis for students taking the ancient language option. At Level 2 this would amount to about one half of that required of the English option; at Level 3 about two thirds. The specification of passages set for exegesis in the ancient language would be given at the time of release of topics for examination towards the end of each semester.


Prerequisites for taking the Hebrew/Greek option:

At Level I:

AL111.15 / AL210.15 (Hebrew) or AL136.15 / 137.15 (Greek) taken concurrently or else demonstrated competence in the language at the required level.

At Level II and Level III:

AL111.15 / AL210.15 (Hebrew) or AL136.15 / 137.15 (Greek) completed or else demonstrated competence in the language at the required level.

Note: that AL111, AL210, AL136 & AL137 are in Field A and cannot be part of a major in Field B.

Any extra tutorial assistance required by students taking the Hebrew/Greek options would be a matter for the Colleges or private arrangement with the teacher(s) concerned.

Students will be expected to attend all classes for the whole unit and do what is required for the assessment of that unit.

NOTE 4: ENGLISH VERSIONS OF THE BIBLE

In all classes and examinations based on the English text, the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (including the Deuterocanonical Books) will be used unless otherwise stated.

OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS AT THE VARIOUS LEVELS IN BIBLICAL STUDIES IN THE BTHEOL.

Students who satisfactorily complete first level biblical studies in the BTheol will be expected to demonstrate:

  1. the acquisition of fundamental skills and approaches used in biblical studies;
  2. familiarity with some of the biblical and extra-biblical texts basic to biblical studies;
  3. some familiarity with the textual, cultural, historical, literary, religious, and theological features of these texts;
  4. the ability to locate and use appropriate resources for biblical studies in the library and on the internet;
  5. the ability to research, document, and write an essay on a biblical text using primary and secondary resources;
  6. the ability to identify different interpretations of texts in biblical studies and to construct an argument based on the analysis of the texts and these interpretations.

In addition to the above objectives, students who satisfactorily complete second level biblical studies in the BTheol will be expected to demonstrate:

  1. the development of fundamental skills in interpreting biblical texts;
  2. a greater understanding of the variety of approaches to the study of biblical texts;
  3. the ability to raise questions about fundamental concepts, approaches, and theologies in biblical studies;
  4. familiarity with a broader range of biblical texts;
  5. a more critical awareness of the broader cultural, social, historical, literary, religious, and theological features of biblical texts;
  6. the ability to research, document and write more complex essays using primary and secondary sources;
  7. an ability to develop a more critical argument based on the analysis of biblical texts and differing perspectives on those texts;
  8. an enhanced ability to reflect theologically on biblical texts.

In addition to the above objectives, students who satisfactorily complete third level biblical studies in the BTheol will be expected to demonstrate:

  1. the consolidation of advanced skills in the interpretation of biblical texts;
  2. a more sophisticated understanding of approaches to the study of biblical texts;
  3. a sophisticated ability to raise questions about fundamental concepts and approaches in biblical studies;
  4. knowledge of a wide range of biblical texts;
  5. an ability to utilise library databases and incorporate periodical literature into research;
  6. a greater capacity to critique a multiplicity of interpretations on biblical texts and construct more sophisticated arguments based on this critique;
  7. the ability to engage with contemporary debates in the interpretation of biblical texts;
  8. the ability to develop independent arguments in the interpretation of biblical texts;

a sophisticated ability to reflect theologically on biblical texts and relate biblical studies to other theological disciplines.