DI4615 New Testament Special Topic:

Academic year

2025 to 2026 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 10

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.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

To be confirmed

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

Module coordinator

Dr T J Lang

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

Module Staff

Dr T.J. Lang

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

Module description

The module explores Paul’s Corinthian letters (1 and 2 Corinthians) and other texts related to Christianity in Corinth with particular attention given to the cultural and religious context of ‘paganism’. The module asks questions such as: What were the default ethical and religious assumptions of Paul’s earliest converts in Corinth? Within what frameworks would they have received Paul’s message? In what ways were their lives and beliefs changed by Paul’s gospel? How should we view the ecclesia in Corinth in institutional terms? How were membership and collective gathering in the ecclesia experienced in tangible terms? What sociological models help make sense of the problems that arise among the Corinthian believers and Paul’s way of addressing them?

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS DI2003

Assessment pattern

3-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

3-hour seminar (whole semester)

Scheduled learning hours

22

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

Guided independent study hours

278

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

Intended learning outcomes

  • have a sophisticated understanding of the fundamental content, historical circumstances, and sociological questions related to Paul’s Corinthian Correspondence (1 and 2 Corinthians). This includes issues related the origins of the Christ assembly in Corithian and the legacy of that community into the second century CE.
  • show familiarity with sociological models and ideas related to cultural interaction and social management as relevant to Jewish and ‘pagan’ identity, accounts of social deviance, and Paul’s overall approach to the organisation and administration of assembly life in Corinth.
  • discuss with critical rigour the major exegetical issues in 1 and 2 Corinthians
  • read 1 and 2 Corinthians with greater theological and sociological sophistication; this is to say, to read the letters with attentiveness to the complex social dynamics within which the letters intervene
  • have a sophisticated understanding of the changes and modifications that took place in the ideas and institutional shape of early Christ assemblies.