Module and Programme Catalogue

Search site

Find information on

2022/23 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

THEO1144 Introduction to Jewish and Christian Texts

20 creditsClass Size: 80

Module manager: Johanna Stiebert
Email: j.stiebert@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2022/23

Pre-requisite qualifications

None

Module replaces

THEO1350 Introduction to the Bible THEO1030 Introduction to the Study of Judaism THEO1760 Studying Christianity

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module will give you an overview of the biblical writings - and some of the texts that didn’t quite make it into the Bible. You’ll learn about the content, form and genre of biblical writings and the connections between them; and you’ll learn about different approaches to studying the Bible, both in the academy and beyond it.

Objectives

To provide students with an overview of the biblical writings and key relevant extrabiblical texts - their form, genre, subject matter, relationships to each other. To introduce key concepts for the study of the Bible, key approaches to biblical criticism, and key issues around the Bible's use and authority (within Judaism and Christianity, and more widely). To equip students to make critical use of various forms of biblical commentary.

Learning outcomes
By the end of the module the students will be able to:

1. Understand and use key terminology for the study of the Bible and related texts

2. Give an overview of the Bible’s main contents, and of the range of genre and subject matter in the biblical writings

3. Recognise and use a range of critical approaches to the Bible and related texts, including analysing texts as historical and literary documents

4. Give an account of some of the controversies (historical or contemporary) around the use, authority and study of the Bible

5. Apply their knowledge and understanding to the in-depth study of a biblical theme, text, group of related texts, or figure


Syllabus

The following are examples of topics typically included in this module:

Hebrew Bible

Torah, Nevi'm and Ketuvim
Dead Sea Scrolls
Mishnah, Midrash and Talmud
Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha

New Testament

Context; “New Testament” and “Old Testament”
Gospels, Paul’s epistles
Other New Testament documents, apocryphal texts

Connecting Hebrew Bible and New Testament

Apocalypse

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Lecture121.0012.00
Seminar101.0010.00
Private study hours178.00
Total Contact hours22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)200.00

Private study

Approx 50 hours seminar prep/lecture follow up (i.e. 5 hours per week);
approx. 128 hours assessment prep (80 for the poster, 48 for the presentation).

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

There will be an opportunity to submit a plan for the “Hebrew Bible & extra-biblical literature” parts of the poster for feedback in week 6 or 7 – about 400 words.

Formative feedback on students’ understanding of specific topics will also be given informally in the seminars.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
PresentationSubmitted as a recording; maximum length 10 minutes40.00
PosterApprox. 800 words plus images, diagrams, etc.60.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

The main assessment is a poster on a specified biblical theme, including references to HB, NT and extra-biblical texts; briefly introducing at least 1 controversy or debate, and discussion of at least 1 specific text. Examples of themes would be: temple; prophecy; marriage; blood; Sabbath. Target audience for the poster is “students about to begin their degrees”. The presentation will go into more depth on one aspect of the material covered in the poster (for example: ‘attitudes to the temple in the New Testament’; ‘Amos as archetypal prophet’) – examples of possible foci will be supplied but students will be encouraged to identify their own. Presentations will be primarily assessed for content (materials and factual information) rather than delivery (clarity of expression, fluency) – we will aim to minimise incentives for students to spend time editing or re-recording. The approximate break-down will be 80% for content and 20% for delivery. Full information and suggestions for topics and research sources to be provided in the module handbook.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 29/04/2022 15:26:28

Disclaimer

Browse Other Catalogues

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD

© Copyright Leeds 2019