Biblical Courses for the Fall and Winter Sessions of 2012-2013

A study of the literary genres, the history of composition, and the canonization of the Old Testament texts. The course will examine various hermeneutical approaches to the Old Testament. The course will examine various hermeneutical approaches to the Old Testament, focusing on their implications for Christian theological interpretation. It will introduce some methods of teaching the Old Testament in various settings.

This course is the second of two courses designed to introduce the student to the basics of biblical Hebrew grammar and syntax. It is intended for both those who wish to acquire Hebrew for use in ministry and for those who intend to go on to advanced academic degrees. Lecture. Evaluation will include quizzes, workbook exercises, mid-term and final exams.

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 is part of the Diaconate Formation Diploma program at St. Augustine's.

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. Lectures and seminars. Readings, written assignments and final paper or exam.

Survey of New Testament world, authors, theologies. Introduction to the historical-critical and other methods of exegesis. Focus on the relation of hermeneutic to Christian Theological traditions; determining the senses of Scripture, the intent of the author, the structures in the texts; stance of the reader. Lecture/Discussion; paper; mid-term and final exam. This course is part of the Diaconate Formation Diploma program at St. Augustine's.

Survey of New Testament world, authors, theologies. Introduction to the historical-critical and other methods of exegesis. Focus on the relation of hermeneutic to Christian Theological traditions; determining the senses of Scripture, the intent of the author, the structures in the texts; stance of the reader. Lecture/Discussion; paper; mid-term and final exam.

This course is an introduction to the four canonical Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, as well as to exegetical method in the study of the New Testament. Weekly lectures, compulsory tutorial; assigned papers; final exam or integrative paper.

Class is from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.  Tutorial is from 11 a.m. to noon.

An introduction to the four Gospels in their social, historical and theological settings. Using a "socio-literary" approach, we will study the Gospels within a two-dimensional framework, both centred on what the early Christians called the "gospel" or "Kerygma." One dimension has to do with social history — the origin and development of Christianity as a distinct social entity, from its foundations in the ministry of Jesus and the Easter experience, through its emergence as a Jewish renewal movement, and on to its development into a separate, largely Gentile, institutionalized religion. The second dimension has to do with literature — the process by which the Gospels came to be written, their literary form and texture, and their character as narrative versions of the "gospel." Tutorial from 10 - 11 am. Weekly lectures; assigned papers; final exam or integration paper.

Exploration of the content of New Testament writings, especially the canonical gospels and Pauline corpus. Emphasis will be placed upon understanding these writings in their original socio-historical contexts, and on methods of interpretation.

Introduction to the literary structure, rhetorical argument, and certain social issues from Romans to Revelation. Emphasis is placed on acquiring familiarity with the texts and ability to converse critically about the particular problems that these texts both seek to solve and have created. Readings, small group discussion, short papers.

Introduction to ancient Greek grammar for the sake of reading the New Testament. The focus will be on basic aspects of ancient Greek grammar and syntax. Weekly class participation, quizzes, final exam.

An introduction to the grammar and syntax of Koine Greek. Students will also develop a basic proficiency in reading and pronouncing the text of the Greek New Testament. Lecture, group work, evaluation of Greek pronunciation.  Weekly assignments midterm project, final exam. Prerequisite: New Testament Greek 1 or equivalent.

This course will explore the Bible as the ongoing story of and for God and creation, paying special attention to the way in which God's story is intertwined with that of humanity and the world. In asking whether and in what way the Bible is also our story, we will attempt to identify which hermeneutical methods might help us discern its significance for present day life, including the academic enterprise.

The goal of Biblical Hebrew I and its adjoining course Biblical Hebrew II is to provide both students training for designated ministry and those students who wish to continue in advanced degree studies with a working knowledge of biblical Hebrew.  The acquired skills may be used for the purposes of homiletical exegesis, scholarship pursuit, and the general pleasure of textual theological interpretations.  Classes are twice weekly, and consist of lecture, homework tutorial, quizzes and quiz review, translation work, and theological reflections posted on Twitter.  Evaluation: weekly quizzes; midterm exam; attendance and participation; final exam.

A study of the Book of Genesis with a focus on exegesis for sermon preparation and on preaching/teaching. Interactive lectures, discussion of published sermons, and practice at preaching. Means of evaluation: class participation, term project, sermon exegesis and delivery. Prerequisite: Introduction to the Old Testament.

This course provides practice analyzing and translating early Christian and Jewish Greek texts, and interpreting them with respect to their literary and social contexts.  Lecture, discussion.  Quizzes, exegetical assignment, final exam.

Exploration of the function of prophecy in Israel using as a point of departure the vocation texts of the three major prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel. Written examination or paper.

This course will examine popular understandings of End Time events and the dispensationalist interpretation that underlies them. It will also provide an overview of biblical apocalyptic texts such as Daniel, Ezekiel and Revelation to provide an understanding of what these books meant in their original context, how they have been received since, and how they might be applied to the life of the church today. Lectures and readings. Written assignments, major paper. 

A study of the tools and methods involved in the process of New Testament interpretation, with special attention to the context and needs of the church. Consideration will be given to contemporary hermeneutical discussion, to a full range of contemporary exegetical methods, and to the nature and function of the NT as scripture, all in conjunction with a thorough and practical examination of a particular NT text. Lectures and seminars, readings, seminar papers and a final paper or project.

Apostolic preaching and its development in Gospel writing. A look at the Synoptic Question. Special introduction to first three gospels, with attention to the themes and theology of each tradition. Exegetical study of selected passages in Mark, completed with reference to accounts in Matthew and Luke. Lectures, discussion, midterm exam, paper, final exam. Prerequisite: An introduction to New Testament course.

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?".Online lectures, textbook readings, discussion groups. Evaluation: exegetical papers, online discussions.. Prerequisite: WYB1501 or equivalent.

A study of John's Gospel with particular attention to his use of symbolism and irony to portray human spiritual limitations and the need for a spiritual transformation and rebirth in the spirit. The discussion of Johannine spirituality will examine agape as the unique way of knowing God and patterning oneself on Christ. Issues such as conflict, sectarianism and misuses of John will also be covered. Prerequisite: TSB 1501H. Discussion, paper.

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.

An introduction to the Book of Psalms with an emphasis on its spirituality. The following topics to be considered: creation, Israelite history and institute of kingship, communal pilgrimage, sacred space and time, covenant and law, messianic expectations, exile and restoration, individual and corporate worship, and biblical ethics as reflected in the Hebrew Psalter. The class will be also familiarized with the conventions of Hebrew poetry, the use of psalms in Jewish and Christian liturgy, the history of Psalms interpretation (particular attention will be paid to the New Testament and Patristic hermeneutics), canon, structure, authorship, and dating. The objective of this course is to help students to develop exegetical skills and apply those to the study of individual Psalms. A complete reading of the Book of Psalms is mandatory. Instructional methods: lecture notes, assigned readings, online participation, assignments, final paper.

Study of selected poetic texts with emphasis on the syntax and style of Hebrew poetry. Weekly participation, mid-term and final exams. Prerequisite: three semesters of Biblical Hebrew. N.B.: in combination with WYB3013H/EMB3014H (or equivalent) successful completion of this course as if for credit satisfies the Hebrew requirement for doctoral candidates in New Testament.

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 will explore the Greco- Roman religious culture of the Augustan Age and its encounter with the religion of Judea and the early Christian movement. Traditional piety as well as mystery religions will be examined. Special attention will be given to the religious restoration/ renewal of Caesar Augustus and the growth of the imperial cult. Topics will include the role of religion in society and the life of the polis as well as the Roman perception of the Christian communities. Passages from the New Testament will be analyzed in light of this study. The course will consist of lectures, readings in primary and secondary literature, 2 short papers, and one final essay. AD students will meet in seminar sessions and have additional readings. Lectures, readings for RGB3501; Lectures, readings, seminar for RGB6501. Readings; 2 short papers and one final extended essay ( RGB3501). Readings, seminar discussions, presentations, research paper (25- 30 pages) for RGB6501.

The course offers an interdisciplinary exploration of the role of emotion in Paul's communication with early Christian communities.  We will study emotional appeals as a rhetorical strategy of the letters as well as the effects of such emotions in human beings (including their cultural construction, biological and psychological effects, role in cognition). The overarching question of the course is how to cultivate emotional intelligence in our readings of Paul's letters.  Lectures, class discussions of assigned readings, graded presentations and writing assignments.

This course will examine how the Bible has been read, interpreted and proclaimed by women beginning with the period of the early church and including the writings of medieval visionaries, renaissance exegetes and continuing into the modern and post-modern periods. Women's interpretations of the Bible will be examined with a view to recovering women's readings and counter readings of biblical texts & raising relevant methodological and hermeneutical questions for modern readers. Lectures, student presentations, small group discussions. Evaluation: presentation and final paper.

Paul’s Letter to the Romans is one of the most important and influential writings in the New Testament. This course is an exegetical study of Romans. Consideration will be given to Paul’s idea of salvation history, natural knowledge of God, justification by faith, Christian freedom and the problem of Israel. Greek is not a prerequisite for the course

The course will study the passion narratives of the synoptic gospels, John and the extra-canonical gospels. It will examine the question of a premarkan passion narrative, compositional theories and the influence of the Old Testament on the traditions of the passion and death of Jesus.

This textually-focused seminar course explores the multi-faceted role of creation (land, seas, animals) in the biblical story, including the character of humanity's calling in relation to creation. The way in which idolatry and imperial powers control the land and their inhabitants as the story unfolds, and sabbath and jubilee as a faithful response to such powers, will provide a biblical basis for reflecting on our current ecological context. Participation in all seminars required; three short papers; major research paper. Off-campus site.

Urban development of Jerusalem from the beginning of the Hasmonean period (100 BCE) and its expansion and enhancement under Herod the Great. How much of this Jerusalem did Jesus see and know? Historical and Archeological data amplifies the Biblical text. We will also consider the problems of the Temple Mount: definition and location of sanctity, water installations, entertainment structures as well as defining and elucidating the location of Jesus’ trial before Pontius Pilate. Informed attendance and participation in class discussion. Final paper.

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.

This graduate seminar will consist of reading key Hebrew texts and especially engaging the recent literature dealing with the Book of the Twelve as editorially arranged. Older and opposing views will also be examined. Grade will be determined by one final paper on critical engagement with Twelve research.

This course treats either books (Job, Sirach, Ecclesiastes, Wisdom of Solomon) or thematic aspects (creation, prayer, eschatology) of the sapiential tradition as it evolved in the period 538 BCE - 70 CE with an eye to the relationship of these books to the broader swath of sapiential textual traditions of the era, including the instruction literature from Qumran. In 2010, the focus will be Ben Sira, with attention to the significance of textual variants in the manuscript traditions for our understanding of the formation of the Bible. Course will be a seminar. Seminar participation, seminar presentations, major paper.

An examination of different issues related to the "historical" Paul, including sources, composition history, composition history of the corpus paulinum, social location, mission, and comparative analogies. Research seminar with paper.

A study of selected Jewish literature from the Second-Temple period. To provide thematic unity to our reading, we will pay particular attention to issues of Jewish self-definiton and identity within the Greco-Roman world, and to the range of Jewish attitudes toward "the Nations" and their place in Jewish frames of reference.

This course will survey the book of Isaiah to understand and appreciate its contribution to the faith of Israel and to develop skill in reading and interpreting a prophetic book. Particular attention will be given to major themes and dominant images.

The Wisdom Tradition in Israel faced the paradox of maintaining God's mercy and justice in the light of Israel's failures and suffering. The Book of Job is an eloquent expression of Israel's grappling with the issues behind theodicy. The course begins with an exploration of Israel's Wisdom Tradition in relation to the Ancient Near East, prophecy and cult in order to set a context for reading and interpreting the book in its entirety. The literary features and structure of the work provide a methodological lense for appreciating how the Wisdom Tradition in the Book of Job dealt with suffering, ethics, beauty and love. (Lectures, discussion, major paper; and for AD students, reading selected texts in Hebrew).

This course will explore the Greco- Roman religious culture of the Augustan Age and its encounter with the religion of Judea and the early Christian movement. Traditional piety as well as mystery religions will be examined. Special attention will be given to the religious restoration/ renewal of Caesar Augustus and the growth of the imperial cult. Topics will include the role of religion in society and the life of the polis as well as the Roman perception of the Christian communities. Passages from the New Testament will be analyzed in light of this study. The course will consist of lectures, readings in primary and secondary literature, 2 short papers, and one final essay. AD students will meet in seminar sessions and have additional readings. Lectures, readings for RGB3501; Lectures, readings, seminar for RGB6501. Readings; 2 short papers and one final extended essay ( RGB3501). Readings, seminar discussions, presentations, research paper (25- 30 pages) for RGB6501.

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.

A significant reappraisal of Paul's theology is currently underway, involving not only particular aspects (e.g. justification by faith, atonement) and overall structure, but also the more basic question of how we might speak of Paul as a theological thinker. This course will study major theological themes in Paul's letters - including the nature of human existence; sin; the law; the death and resurrection of Christ; life "in Christ"; Israel and the Gentiles - with special emphasis on salvation as liberation (from "the powers" to the new solidarity of life "in Christ").Three short resumes, final paper.

 This seminar course will provide an introduction to Paul's ethical thinking in the context of the theological fabric of his thought. It will provide an opportunity to read some of the great commentators on Paul's ethics and to discuss the interrelationship between Paul's ethics and his theology. Evaluation: seminar presentations and participation and written work.

This course will trace the multi-faceted theme of justice as it unfolds throughout the biblical story. The way in which idolatry, economic justice, racial justice, justice for the land, food justice, justice for the stranger, justice for women, and peace and violence are interrelated will provide a biblical basis for reflecting on the issue of justice in our world today. Two short papers, one major research paper.

An exploration of contemporary hermeneutical theories, including those of Heidegger, Gadamer, Habermas, Ricoeur and Levinas.

This course traces the development of Catholic Social Teaching and action from an historical and theological perspective. A Christian concept of justice will be explored within Biblical and theological contexts. Cultural developments that have impacted, and those that continue to influence, social thought, teaching and action within the Church will be discussed. The primary texts for the course are the social documents of the Church beginning with the Encyclical of Pope Leo X111, Rerum Novarum (1891) and continuing to the present day. Students will become familiar with the content of such documents and they will be encouraged to analyse the theological and social foundations upon which the documents have been developed. Key principles of Catholic Social Teaching will be introduced. The course will also explore the Christian call to justice and ways in which the social teachings of the Church can be integrated into personal spirituality and ministry. To facilitate such integration, examples will be highlighted from the lives of social activists within the Church. Teaching and learning methods will include, lecture, discussion, media and biographical analysis.

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, tutorials. Short papers, final exam. Tutorial 10-11 am