DI4605 Johannine Literature and Theology: Greek Text

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

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

11-1 Tuesday 12-1 Friday

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

Module coordinator

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 Lang

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 focus on a study of the Gospel of John and the Johannine Letters. Selected texts (in Greek) will be studied in detail with a view towards developing a more comprehensive understanding of the distinctive character of the Johannine writings, the context(s) that might have encouraged such a presentation, and the main theological themes reflected in the writings. Issues to be considered will typically include: (i) the multifaceted depiction of the Jews in the Gospel of John; (ii) the relationship between various groups of Christians portrayed in the Johannine writings; (iii) the importance attached to christology in the Gospel of John and the letters; and (iv) the distinctive characteristics of Johannine ideas about salvation, eschatology, sacraments, ethics and the nature of the Spirit/Paraclete. The correspondence in theological concepts between the Gospel and the Letters will also be explored.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS DI2201

Anti-requisites

YOU CANNOT TAKE THIS MODULE IF YOU TAKE DI4604

Assessment pattern

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

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2 x 1-hour lectures (x 11 weeks), 1 x 1-hour seminar (x 11 weeeks)

Intended learning outcomes

  • At the successful completion of this module, students will have a sophisticated understanding of the fundamental content of the canonical Gospel and Letters of John, demonstrable in the following ways: Students will be able to show familiarity with historical factors that influence or shed light on the Gospel of John.
  • Students will be able to discuss with critical rigour the character of the material contained within the Gospel of John.
  • Students will be able to read the Gospel of John with greater theological and literary sophistication; this is to say, to learn to read the Fourth Gospel with heightened sensitivity to how the Gospel’s theological subject matter rhymes with its literary artistry.
  • Students will have a sophisticated understanding of the changes and modifications that took place in the theologies of various early Christian authors.
  • Students will have a sufficient command of the Greek language and grammar in the Gospel of John.