Biblical Courses for the 2011 Winter Session

A study of the Old Testament covering biblical books, their historical contexts, genres and ancient Near Eastern cultural contexts necessary for interpretation. The basics of exegetical method particular to the genres of the Old Testament will be covered. Principles of biblical interpretation will also be covered especially from a Catholic perspective. Lectures and assignments including quizzes, exams and a final paper.

This course on the Old Testament presents an overview of the Hebrew canon and explores the content, theological themes, and canonical shaping of selected books. Students will be introduced to the history and geography ancient Israel. Additional emphasis will be on interpreting this material as Scripture of the Church. Readings and audio lectures. Weekly assignments, online discussion, final paper.

Introduction to Old Testament literature and history, with emphasis on application within the church. Readings, written assignments and final paper or exam.

Introduction to the major methods and issues in the interpretation of the Gospels: the world of the New Testament; the composition, structure and theologies of the Gospels; traditions behind the Gospels; the Jesus of History and the Christ of Faith. Weekly lectures and tutorials; assigned papers and exam. Compulsory one-hour tutorial (time to be arranged).

Introduction to ancient Greek grammar for the sake of reading the New Testament. The focus will be on the continuation of the basic aspects of grammar and syntax together with selected readings from the New Testament. Weekly class participation, biweekly quizzes, final exam. Prerequisite: EMB1511HF.

In alternate years, this course will include an overview of either the Wisdom tradition or the Prophetic books of the Hebrew Bible. We will focus on one or two books, attending to the historical and cultural context in which they took shape but also pay attention to their significance of wisdom or the prophetic message for the Christian tradition. Lectures and discussion. Papers, no tests. Prerequisite: EMB1003 or equivalent.

An introduction to Israel's search for wisdom in its Ancient Near Eastern context. Topics include the nature and expression of wisdom, its international context, Lady Wisdom, the place of wisdom literature in Israel's faith and the content of the individual wisdom books: Proverbs, Job, Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes), Sirach and the Wisdom of Solomon, plus consideration of the relevance of Israel's wisdom tradition for today. Participation, presentation, exegetical paper, pastoral application paper.

Prerequisite: SMB1007 "Intro Old Testament" or equivalent.

An introduction to the content of a portion of the New Testament: 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 Corinthians, Galatians, Romans, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Peter, Hebrews and Revelation.  The guiding question of the course is ‘Who is Jesus?’. Lectures, tutorials. Evaluation: participation, exegetical papers. Prerequisite: WYB1501 or equivalent.

A survey of the Pauline literature from the Thessalonian correspondence to the Pastoral Letters. A critical study of primary and secondary sources for understanding Paul's life and ministry, followed by a detailed exegesis of selected texts. Key concepts in 'Pauline theology'. Prerequisite: An introductory course in New Testament. Requirements: Lectures, discussion, essay, exam.

This course will examine selected Greek texts written under the early Roman Empire (200 B.C.E. - 180 C.E.) for the sake of comparison with writings of earliest Christianity. The purpose is twofold: to familiarize the student with the larger literary context (Greek) of earliest Christianity and to develop the analysis of ancient literary style.

This course uses the book of Amos as a means of introducing the covenantal values that lay beneath Israel's approach to social justice. Through a site visit and classroom activities, students will reflect on the Church's call to social justice and the way in which this can be realised in the lives of individuals and congregations. Additional emphasis will be placed on the content and shape of the book of Amos and the task of interpreting it as Scripture of the Church. Lecture. Written assignments, site visit, and final paper. Intro to OT (KNB1006) or equivalent, plus any 2000 level Bible course.

This course presents an overview of the geography and history of Israel and its place in the ancient Near East from the emergence of Israel in canaan to the beginning of the Roman period. Students will also be introduced to the major issues relating to historiography. Lectures and workshops. Class presentation, regular assignments, and major paper.

This course will consider the "Catholic Epistles," James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John and Jude. This group of later Christian writings is seldom discussed in Introduction to the New Testament courses or in New Testament curriculum. Attention will be given to their theological content and relationship to earlier Christian writing.

Analysis of the Gospel of Matthew with a view to understanding the author's theology in the light of his reporting and interpretation for the Matthean community. Assigned readings, scholarly paper, exam.

The NT offers a vision of a renewed and transformed humanity. We will explore the various models of the spiritual and ethical life implied in this vision that are found in the four gospels, the Pauline letters, and the Pastoral Epistles. Special attention will be given to the first-century social and political context, especially that of the Roman Empire and its ideology. Issues of personal transformation, apocalyptic spirituality, ecstatic experience, prayer, violence, sexuality, gender, and exclusivity will be explored. Requirements: Assigned readings, participation (depending on class size), one 10-page final paper. No exams. Three books will be assigned as basic texts. Additional readings will be on reserve in the library.

Relevance of comparative (especially northwest) Semitic philology and historical Hebrew grammar to the exegesis of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and to the teaching of biblical Hebrew. Weekly reading, assignments, term paper/project. NB either this course or Biblical Aramaic satisfies a program requirement for TST doctoral studies in Old Testament. Lectures, student presentations, discussions of readings. Quizzes, assignments, term project.

The course considers the various ways in which the medium of prophecy is transformed in the post-exilic period, particularly as this relates to the retrieval and extension of Isaianic traditions. The course will focus on the exilic and post-exilic editing of the book of Isaiah and the deployment of Isaiah traditions in the Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament.

The course will consist of a reading and analysis of the Greek text of Acts and a study of its religious, political, and cultural mileau. Questions of historicity and sources will be explored. Classes will consist of short lectures, discussion of the readings, translations, and student presentations. There will be a final 30-page paper.

Over the last decades biblical studies has accomplished a great deal of historical and cultural description of texts. More recently interdisciplinary efforts have been made to explain some aspects of religious ideas and practices as the products of human minds (and bodies). The course will introduce a number of recent approaches to the study of human aspects of social-religious organization, metaphoric language, and religious experience. We will explore the relevance and the limits of these approaches for early Christian texts (including contemporaneous extra-biblical writings) and communities. Seminar presentations, final paper.

This course will examine selected Greek texts written under the early Roman Empire (200 B.C.E. - 180 C.E.) for the sake of comparison with writings of earliest Christianity. The purpose is twofold: to familiarize the student with the larger literary context (Greek) of earliest Christianity and to develop the analysis of ancient literary style.

This course is designed to introduce the student to the use of the Torah, or Pentateuch, in the Jewish and Christian traditions. Particular attention will be paid to recent Jewish-Christian dialogue (primarily in biblical scholarship) in light of the Shoah, or Holocaust. The student will engage the topic through various readings from key contributors to the current dialogue and through comparing Jewish and Christian interpretations of specific passages of the Torah. Readings, lectures, and seminars. Course evaluations: reading assignments, book review, final paper.

The undisputed centre-piece of Graeco-roman literature in the third century BCE is the Greek Pentateuch, or 'Septuagint" (LXX). The LXX became the de facto liturgical text of countless synagogues and early churches. As the basis forearly Christian liturgy, devotion, theology, and propaganda, the Septuagint emerged as the most significant body of literature in late antiquity. This course will focus on the translation of selections from the Septuagint, providing students with the opportunity: 1) to improve their Greek reading ability; 2) to analyze the Septuagintal texts grammatically and syntactically; 3) to examine the characteristics and style of Jewish translational Greek; 4) to study the nature and degree of linguistic interference from the source language through a comparison of the Greek text with the Hebrew original. Seminar. 3 tests, class participation. Prerequisite: at least 1 year of Greek (or equivalent) and 1 year of Hebrew.

Analysis of the Gospel of Matthew with a view to understanding the author's theology in the light of his reporting and interpretation for the Matthean community. Assigned readings, scholarly paper, exam.

The NT offers a vision of a renewed and transformed humanity. We will explore the various models of the spiritual and ethical life implied in this vision that are found in the four gospels, the Pauline letters, and the Pastoral Epistles. Special attention will be given to the first-century social and political context, especially that of the Roman Empire and its ideology. Issues of personal transformation, apocalyptic spirituality, ecstatic experience, prayer, violence, sexuality, gender, and exclusivity will be explored. Requirements: Assigned readings, participation (depending on class size), one 10-page final paper. No exams. Three books will be assigned as basic texts. Additional readings will be on reserve in the library.

This course explores the activity of God from creation to new creation, with special emphasis on the Spirit's work in the Church. We also examine the image of God in the human person and the nature of sin. This course presupposes Systematic Theology I. Lectures. Tutorial 6:45 - 7:15 p.m. Short papers, final exam.