DI5155 Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament

Academic year

2023 to 2024 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

9.00 - 10.00 am Mon, Tue, Thu

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr M A Lyons

Dr M A Lyons
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Michael Lyons

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module will critically survey the most important witnesses, that is both manuscripts and text traditions, of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, the Septuagint and the New Testament and show how the different manuscripts are used to create text editions. The class will also focus on the printed texts and their textual apparatus and demonstrate how to successfully use these.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

3 lectures (x11 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

66

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

270

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • By the end of the semester, students will be able to demonstrate (a) an understanding of the origins and history of the discipline, including the present status quaestionis; and (b) a basic understanding of the history and character of the principal texts and versions: the Masoretic Text family, the Qumran biblical manuscripts, the Greek (Septuagint) witnesses, the Samaritan Pentateuch, and the Targumim.
  • By the end of the semester, students will be able to demonstrate the ability to engage with and evaluate the major witnesses to selections from a given book of the Bible (e.g. Ezekiel, Samuel, Jeremiah, Revelation).
  • By the end of the semester, students will be able to demonstrate the ability to plan, research, and complete a structured and reasoned argument, presented in written form.
  • By the end of the semester, students will be able to demonstrate the ability to plan, research, and orally present an analysis of one of the major texts or versions.