Biblical Studies

Biblical Studies combines two major fields of study: Old Testament (or the Scriptures of Judaism) and New Testament. A large number of other Jewish and Christian writings from these periods are also included (for example the Dead Sea Scrolls).

In Old Testament the modules focus on the history, religion and culture of Israel, incorporating a wide range of texts from prophetic, hymnic, wisdom and apocalyptic literature.

In New Testament the modules focus on Jesus and the Gospels and the history and theology of early Christianity. They are designed to introduce you to methods of New Testament study and to the context within which Jesus and the New Testament writers lived and you will be helped to explore the theological and ethical issues that characterised early Christianity.

Biblical Studies provides an opportunity to explore in-depth the profound influence that the Christian and Jewish Scriptures have had on Western civilisation. This can be done either by devoting the entire Honours programme to Biblical Studies or by taking a Joint Honours programme which combines Biblical Studies with another approved subject in the Faculty of Arts. For example, the Joint Honours combinations with Ancient History or Classical Studies allow you to study important texts within the wider context of the ancient world from which they originally stemmed. The Joint Honours combination with English opens the door to discovering the way in which biblical ideas and themes have found their way into so much of the literature of the English-speaking world. The biblical texts are normally studied in English, except when combined with a programme in Greek or Hebrew or when these languages are taken as an option earlier in the course.

Course Details

SINGLE HONOURS

FIRST LEVEL (1st year)

You take two core modules:

• The History and Religion of Ancient Israel: An Introduction
• Jesus and the Gospels

Further credits may be chosen from additional modules offered within Divinity. Alternatively, you may pursue broader interests by taking a module offered by other Schools in the Faculties of Arts or Science.

SECOND LEVEL (usually 2nd year)

Core Modules:

• Exile and Return in the Old Testament
• New Testament History and Theology

You may choose other modules from an approved list of options in Divinity, and also have the opportunity to take modules in subjects outside Divinity. You are encouraged to take a biblical language but this is not a requirement.

HONOURS (3rd and 4th years), including JOINT HONOURS

Please see our 2013 Prospectus for details of enhancements to our honours programmes: Divinity - 2013 Entry (PDF, 1,301 KB)