Study Jewish and Christian scriptures.
Biblical Studies looks in detail at the biblical writings in their ancient contexts and considers how they should be interpreted.
Biblical Studies papers are divided between Old Testament (Tanakh or Hebrew Bible) and New Testament.
You can also study the biblical languages (Classical Hebrew and New Testament Greek) to an advanced level.
Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | Two 100-level BIBS or HEBR papers | 36 |
| 200-level | Two 200-level BIBS papers | 36 |
| 300-level | One 300-level BIBS paper | 18 |
| May include either RELS 211 The Dead Sea Scrolls or RELS 311 The Dead Sea Scrolls (Advanced) | ||
| Total | 90 |
Note: This minor subject is not available for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Theology (BTheol).
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIBS112 | 2025 | Interpreting the Old Testament | 18 | Semester 1 |
| BIBS121 | 2025 | Interpreting the New Testament | 18 | Semester 2 |
| BIBS131 | 2025 | Introductory New Testament Greek Language 1 | 18 | Semester 1 |
| BIBS132 | 2025 | Introductory New Testament Greek Language 2 | 18 | Semester 2 |
| BIBS211 | 2025 | God, Land and Exile in the Hebrew Prophets | 18 | Not offered, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| BIBS213 | 2025 | Hebrew Old Testament Exegesis 2 | 18 | Full Year |
| BIBS215 | 2025 | Special Topic: The Bible in Religious Education | 18 | Not offered, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| BIBS218 | 2025 | Judaism in the Time of Jesus | 18 | Semester 1 |
| BIBS221 | 2025 | The Gospels | 18 | Semester 2 |
| BIBS223 | 2025 | Greek New Testament Exegesis 2 | 18 | Full Year |
| BIBS224 | 2025 | Special Topic: The Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles | 18 | Not offered, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| BIBS225 | 2025 | Special Topic: Approaches to Hermeneutics | 18 | Not offered, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| BIBS226 | 2025 | Jesus in the New Testament | 18 | Not offered, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| BIBS227 | 2025 | Mātauranga Māori and the Bible | 18 | Semester 2 |
| BIBS311 | 2025 | God, Land and Exile in the Hebrew Prophets (Advanced) | 18 | Not offered, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| BIBS313 | 2025 | Hebrew Old Testament Exegesis 3 | 18 | Full Year |
| BIBS315 | 2025 | Special Topic: Israel's Return from Exile | 18 | Not offered, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| BIBS317 | 2025 | God, Suffering and Justice | 18 | Not offered, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| BIBS318 | 2025 | Judaism in the Time of Jesus (Advanced) | 18 | Semester 1 |
| BIBS321 | 2025 | The Gospels (Advanced) | 18 | Semester 2 |
| BIBS322 | 2025 | The New Testament Epistles | 18 | Semester 1 |
| BIBS323 | 2025 | Greek New Testament Exegesis 3 | 18 | Full Year |
| BIBS324 | 2025 | Special Topic: The Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles | 18 | Not offered, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| BIBS325 | 2025 | Special Topic: Approaches to Hermeneutics | 18 | Not offered, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| BIBS326 | 2025 | Jesus in the New Testament (Advanced) | 18 | Not offered, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| BIBS327 | 2025 | Mātauranga Māori and the Bible (Advanced) | 18 | Semester 2 |
| BIBS411 | 2025 | Hebrew Old Testament Exegesis (Advanced) | 20 | Full Year |
| BIBS412 | 2025 | Special Topic: The Book of Job | 20 | Semester 2 |
| BIBS413 | 2025 | God, Suffering and Justice (Advanced) | 20 | Not offered, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| BIBS421 | 2025 | Greek New Testament Exegesis (Advanced) | 20 | Full Year |
| BIBS423 | 2025 | Special Topic: The New Testament Epistles | 20 | Semester 1 |
| BIBS490 | 2025 | Dissertation | 60 | Full Year, 1st Non standard period, 2nd Non standard period |
Explore your study options further. Refer to enrolment information found on the following qualification pages.
Theology Programme
School of Arts
Email theology@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/theology
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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2024 Calendar and supplementary material.
