RT2103: Introduction to the Bible

School Religion
Department Code SHARE
Module Code RT2103
External Subject Code 100801
Number of Credits 20
Level L4
Language of Delivery English
Module Leader Reverend Simon Woodman
Semester Spring Semester
Academic Year 2014/5

Outline Description of Module

The Bible is one of the most influential books ever written, affecting history, literature and art, not to mention social debates down to the present day. It is also considered to be a holy book by Jews, Christians and Muslims. This module will introduce students to the literature and religions of the Bible and help them begin to develop the use of the critical skills and techniques of Biblical Studies. Students will engage with some of the approaches which have characterised scholarly work on the Old and New Testaments in the past hundred years. Through interacting with selected texts, students will gain familiarity with the main literary genres of the Bible, its contents and contexts. 

On completion of the module a student should be able to

  1. Select and use appropriate critical methods to analyse biblical texts.
  2. Recognise and recall the main scholarly debates concerning different parts of the Bible.
  3. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the main contents of selected books of the Bible, and the contexts in which they were written.
  4. Critically assess the theological contributions of different biblical authors/books.

How the module will be delivered

This module combines lectures with supplementary seminars.  The lectures will provide critical introductions to sections of the Bible, as well as a summary of important contents. The introductions will include an overview of scholarly positions on the books of the Bible and associated critical methods. The seminars will give students the opportunity to engage in detail with selected sections of the Bible, exploring different genres and practising different methodological approaches. 

Skills that will be practised and developed

  • Reason from evidence, whilst being tolerant of other interpretations of the evidence.
  • Critically evaluate evidence and its interpretation.
  • Sustain a logical argument and reach a defensible conclusion.
  • Analyse and synthesise information.
  • Make individual presentations, and contribute effectively and creatively to group discussion.
  • Actively respond to peer and teacher feedback.
  • Discuss and question new ideas.
  • Understand how people have thought and acted in contexts other than the students’ own.
  • Present analyses in a clear and coherent manner, both orally and in writing.
  • Solve problems.
  • Demonstrate a willingness to seek, and accept, help and guidance.
  • Accept responsibility for the student’s own activities and their outcomes.
  • Display self-reliance.
  • Adopt a demanding work-schedule.
  • Revise judgements in the light of new evidence.
  •  Use computers as a research and writing aid.

How the module will be assessed

A 1.5 hour exam, a 1,500 word essay and a 15 minute presentation.

Assessment Breakdown

Type % Title Duration(hrs)
Exam - Spring Semester 50 Introduction To The Bible 1.5
Written Assessment 35 Essay N/A
Written Assessment 15 Presentation N/A

Syllabus content

Lectures will cover critical introductions to such topics as:

  • The History of the Bible and the Bible of History.
  • The motivation, methods and history of scholarship in Biblical Studies.
  • The Pentateuch.
  • The Historical Books.
  • Psalms and Wisdom.
  • Apocalyptic.
  • Apocrypha.
  • Jesus and the Gospels.
  • Paul and his Letters.
  • Catholic Epistles.
  • Revelation. 

Essential Reading and Resource List

Key texts:

The Holy Bible with Apocrypha, New Revised Standard Version (published variously by OUP, HarperCollins, SPCK, Hendrickson).
 
Jerry L. Sumney, The Bible: An Introduction (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2010).

Background Reading and Resource List

Indicative Reading and Resource List:

Reference works:
 
T.D. Alexander and D.W. Baker, eds., Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch (IVP, 2003).
 
B.T. Arnold and H.G. M. Williamson, eds., Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical books (IVP, 2006).
 
T. Longman III and P. Enns, eds., Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry and Writings (IVP, 2008).
 
G. McConville and M.J. Boda, eds., Dictionary of the Old Testament: Prophets (IVP, 2012).
 
J.B. Green, S. McKnight and I.H. Marshall, eds., Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (Nottingham: IVP, 1992).
 
R.P. Martin and D.G. Reid, eds., Dictionary of Paul and His Letters (Nottingham: IVP, 1994).
 
R.P. Martin and P.H. Davids, eds., Dictionary of the Later New Testament and its Development (Nottingham: IVP, 1997).
 
C.A. Evans and S.E. Porter (eds.), Dictionary of New Testament Background (IVP, 2000).
 
R.L. Hubbard Jr. and G.D. Fee, eds., The Eerdmans Companion to the Bible (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2011).
 
D.N. Freedman, ed., Anchor Bible Dictionary (Doubleday, 1992).
 
Old Testament Introductions:
 
J. Barton and J. Bowden, The Original Story: God, Israel and the World (London: DLT, 2004).
 
L Boadt, Reading the Old Testament (New York: Paulist Press, 1984).
 
R. Coggins, Introducing the Old Testament (2nd ed.; Oxford: OUP, 2001).
 
E. Charpentier, How to Read the Old Testament (London: SCM, 1985).
 
J.J. Collins, Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
 
J. Drane, Introducing the Old Testament (3rd ed.; Oxford: Lion, 2011).
 
J. Holdsworth, The Old Testament (London: SCM, 2005).
 
J. Rogerson, Beginning Old Testament Study (2nd ed. London: SPCK, 1998).
 
C.D. Stanley, The Hebrew Bible: A Comparative Approach (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2010).
 
Aspects of the Old Testament:
 
B.W. Anderson, The Living World of the Old Testament (4th ed.; London: Longman, 1988).
 
J. Barton, Reading the Old Testament: Method in Biblical Study (rev. ed.; London: DLT, 1996).
 
R.E. Clements, A Century of Old Testament Study (rev. ed.; Guildford: Lutterworth, 1983).
 
S.B. Dawes, The Psalms (London: SCM, 2010).
 
A. Hunter, Wisdom Literature (London: SCM, 2006).
 
P. Johnston and D.G. Firth, eds., Interpreting the Psalms: Issues and Approaches (Leicester: Apollos, 2005).
 
E. Lucas, Exploring the Old Testament: The Psalms and Wisdom Literature (vol. 3; London: SPCK, 2003).
 
G. McConville, Exploring the Old Testament: The Prophets (vol. 4; London: SPCK, 2002).
 
P.L. Redditt, Introduction to the Prophets (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008).
 
P. Satterthwaite and G. McConville, Exploring the Old Testament: The Histories (vol. 2; London: SPCK, 2007).
 
C.R. Seitz, C. R., Prophecy and Hermeneutics: Towards a New Introduction to the Prophets (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007).
 
K. Seybold, Introducing the Psalms (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1990).
 
G. Wenham, Exploring the Old Testament: The Pentateuch (vol. 1; London: SPCK, 2003).
 
New Testament Introductions:
 
I. Boxall, The Books of the New Testament (London: SCM 2007).
 
J. Drane, Introducing the New Testament (3rd ed.; Oxford: Lion, 2010).
 
B.D. Ehrman, The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings (5th ed.; New York: Oxford University Press, 2011).
 
L. T. Johnson, The Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation (3rd ed.; London: SCM, 2010).
 
G. Theissen, The New Testament: A Literary History (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2012).
 
Aspects of the New Testament:
 
J.M. Bassler, Navigating Paul: An Introduction to Key Theological Concepts (Louisville/London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2007).
 
C.L. Blomberg, Interpreting the Parables (Leicester: Apollos, 1990).
 
H.K. Bond, The Historical Jesus. A Guide for the Perplexed (London: T & T Clark, 2012).
 
I. Boxall, Revelation: Vision and Insight (London: SPCK, 2002).
 
R. Burridge, Four Gospels, One Jesus? (London: SPCK 1994).
 
C. Cousar, The Letters of Paul (Interpreting Biblical Texts; Nashville: Abingdon, 1996).
 
R. Edwards, Discovering John (London: SPCK, 2003).
 
M. D. Hooker, Paul: A Beginner’s Guide (Oxford: Oneworld, 2008) [Previously published as Paul: A Short Introduction (Oxford: Oneworld, 2003)].
 
D. Horrell, An Introduction to the Study of Paul (2nd ed.; London: Continuum, 2006).
 
H. Marshall, S. Travis, and I. Paul, Exploring the New Testament: The Letters and Revelation (vol. 2; 2nd ed.; London: SPCK, 2011).
 
D. Wenham and S. Walton, Exploring the New Testament: The Gospels and Acts (vol. 1; 2nd ed.; London: SPCK, 2011).
 
E.P. Sanders, Paul: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001) [Previously published as Paul (Past Masters; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991)]
 
G.N. Stanton, The Gospels and Jesus (Oxford: OUP 1989)
 
A. Thiselton, The Living Paul: An Introduction to the Apostle and his Thought (London: SPCK, 2009).
 
S. Woodman, The Book of Revelation (London: SCM, 2008).
 
J. Ziesler, Pauline Christianity (rev. ed.; Oxford: OUP, 1990).
 
Other Volumes on Biblical Books:
 
The ‘Theology of…’ series (e.g. J.M. Lieu, The Theology of the Johannine Epistles), published by Cambridge University Press.
 
The ‘What are they saying about…’ series (e.g. D.J. Harrington, What are they saying about the Letter to the Hebrews), published by Paulist Press.
 
Interpreting the Bible:
 
C.G. Bartholomew and M.W. Goheen, The Drama of Scripture (Grand Rapids: Michigan: Baker Academic, 2004).
 
I. Boxall, New Testament Interpretation (London: SCM 2007).
 
G.D. Fee and D. Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All it’s Worth (rev. ed.; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003).
 
G. Shillington, Reading the Sacred Text (London: T&T Clark, 2002). 
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