Assessment

Formative Weekly Reflections 40% + Summative Essay 60%

Module Aims

This overview module seeks to introduce the character and nature of Scripture as divine revelation addressed to the ecclesial community, paying attention to historical and literary dimensions. To fulfil this purpose, the module has these aims for learners:

• To recognise the complex relationship of the Bible to divine revelation, as well as the role of inspiration and the care required in interpretation;
• To develop a broad knowledge of the Bible, its history, culture, context, and theology;
• To discover and explore the Bible as literature;
• To be able to identify the genre and perform a preliminary analysis of selected biblical texts;
• To understand the World Behind the Text, the World of the Text, and the World in Front of the Text of the Bible;
• To read the text with questions that open new theological horizons.

The ultimate goal is to contribute to fulfilling the call expressed in the Second Vatican Council document on Scripture: “that as many ministers of the divine word as possible will be able effectively to provide the nourishment of the Scriptures for the people of God, to enlighten their minds, strengthen their wills, and set people’s hearts on fire with the love of God” (Dei Verbum §23).

Indicative Syllabus

Week 1 - Introduction: An Invitation to Study Sacred Scripture Meaningfully: Luke 4:14-21

Week 2 - The Bible as Text and Narrative: Encountering Parables: Luke 15:11-32

Week 3 - The World of the Text (I): Characterisation in the Bible: Book of Jonah

Week 4 - The World of the Text (II): Exploring Biblical Narratives and Plot: Luke 19:1-10

Week 5 - The World Behind the Text (I): Social & Cultural World of the Bible: 2 Kings 5:1-19

Week 6 - The World Behind the Text (II): The Bible & Historical-Critical Method: Matthew 1:18-25

Week 7 - The World in Front of the Text: A Person before God & God's Word: 2 Samuel 12:1-15

Week 8 - The Bible in the Life of Faith: The Scriptures & Spirituality: 1 Samuel 1:24—2:11

Week 9 - The Scriptures & the Call of Faith: Encountering the Prophetic Word: Jeremiah 18:1-23

Week 10 - The Scriptures & the Faith Community: Scripture in the Life of the Church: Luke 24:13-35

Week 11 - The Three Worlds of the Text: Paul the Pharisee Encounters Jesus: Philippians 3:1-21

Week 12 - The World Behind the Text: Jesus and his Earliest Interpreters: Luke 1:1-4

Learning Outcomes

• — Outline key elements in the historical background of the New Testament and the major events in Old Testament history.
• — Describe different literary genres found in passages from the Old and New Testaments.
• — Articulate the differences between the World Behind the Text, the World of the Text, and the World in Front of the Text, and indicate how these three worlds are represented in key scriptural passages.
• — Apply literary approaches to selected biblical narratives, especially consideration of characterisation and plot.
• — Explain concisely how the scriptural texts serve as vehicles for divine revelation within Jewish and Christian communities.
• — Demonstrate some discernment between well-founded and ill-founded interpretations of scriptural passages.

Bibliography

• — Attridge, Harold W., ed. Harper-Collins Study Bible, New Revised Standard Version, including the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical books, Fully Revised & Updated. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2006. [220.52 NRS]
• — Barton, John. The Bible: The Basics. Second ed. London: Routledge, 2019. [Ebook]
• — Brettler, Marc Zvi, and Amy-Jill Levine, eds. The Jewish Annotated New Testament. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2017. [Ebook]
• — Collins, John J. A Short Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. 2nd ed. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2014. [221.6 COL]
• — Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Dei Verbum, Documents of Vatican II. https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html
• — Ehrman, Bart D. The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings. 5th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2012. [Ebook]
• — Francis, Pope. Apostolic Letter Instituting the Sunday of the Word of God: Aperuit Illis. 2019. [Vatican website.]
• — O’Connell, Séamus. “‘Be clean!’ Approaching Leprosy and Illness in the Gospels.” The Bible Today 60 (2022) 83-89. [Ejournal]
• — Pontifical Biblical Commission. The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church. 1993. https://catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/PBC_Interp-FullText.htm
• — Powell, Mark Allan. Introducing the New Testament: A Historical, Literary, and Theological Survey. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2018. [Ebook]
• — NB: This listing is an indicative bibliography of relevant books. Articles that are assigned readings for essays are usually posted on Moodle.