Overview
An overview of the history and literature of Judaism from Alexander the Great to the fall of Masada (332 BCE - 74 CE), focusing particularly on the Dead Sea Scrolls.
The history and literature of early Judaism from Alexander the Great to the Bar Kochba Revolt (332 BCE-135 CE). It is an essential introduction to the background of the two major religious traditions to come out of this historical period, Judaism and Christianity.
About this paper
| Paper title | Judaism in the Time of Jesus |
|---|---|
| Subject | Biblical Studies |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Not offered in 2026 (Distance learning) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,103.10 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 36 100-level points
- Restriction
- BIBS 318, RELS 211, RELS 311, RELX 211, RELX 311
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music, Theology
- Eligibility
Any student with an interest in the origins of Judaism and Christianity. Some prior study of these traditions, e.g. BIBS112, BIBS121, or RELS101, would be an advantage.
- Contact
- james.harding@otago.ac.nz
- More information link
- View more information on the Theology website: www.otago.ac.nz/theology
- Teaching staff
Lecturer: Reverend Assoc Prof James Harding
- Paper Structure
Lectures
- Teaching Arrangements
Distance with in-person assessment components
There will be one two-hour lecture per week. This paper will be taught simultaneously on-campus and by distance (via Zoom).
- Textbooks
Cohen, Shaye J. D. From the Maccabees to the Mishnah (3rd ed.; Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2014).
Levine, Amy-Jill, and Marc Zvi Brettler, eds. The Jewish Annotated New Testament. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2017.
- Course outline
- View the course outline for BIBS 218
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Self-motivation.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
By the end of this paper, students will have:
- Become familiar with the history and literature of early Judaism from the sixth century BCE to the second century CE
- Gained a broad understanding of the Jewish context in which Jesus lived and in which early Christianity emerged
- Acquired an basic understanding of the beliefs, practices, and institutions of early Judaism
- Gained a basic understanding of the origins and development of anti-Jewish prejudice in the ancient Mediterranean world
- Assessment details
- Two x 1,500 word essays (20% each)
- One x three-hour examination (60%)