Overview
The interpretation of the Old Testament in its historical context, including an introduction to the overall biblical story, methods of interpreting the Pentateuch (Genesis-Deuteronomy) and the historical Books (Joshua-2 Kings), and an in-depth exegesis of selected texts.
This paper offers an insight into the foundational texts of two major world religions (Judaism and Christianity) and Western culture in general, and encourages students to develop skills in close reading and critical thinking, skills that will serve them well not only in their university career, but in the rest of their lives. Students will learn how to read the Hebrew Scriptures in their ancient contexts, as well as how to read and interpret these texts in today’s world.
About this paper
| Paper title | Interpreting the Old Testament |
|---|---|
| Subject | Biblical Studies |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 2
(Distance learning)
Semester 2 (On campus) |
| Delivery mode | The Distance Learning offering of this paper involves in-person assessment |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,103.10 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Restriction
- BIBX 112
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music, Theology
- Eligibility
- All students are welcome to study the Bible regardless of whether they have a particular faith commitment or not. All that is required is an inquiring mind and an interest in acquiring the critical skills common to all subjects in the Humanities.
- Contact
Associate Professor James Harding
- More information link
View more information on the Theology Programme’s website
- Teaching staff
- Paper Structure
This paper is designed to give students a basic understanding of the Hebrew Scriptures.
- Teaching Arrangements
Distance with in-person assessment components.
Campus: Three one-hour lectures per week.
Distance: Seven videoconferences on Zoom spaced throughout the semester.- Textbooks
Required:
Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler, eds., The Jewish Study Bible, second ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014).
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
By the end of this paper, students will:
- have a good knowledge and understanding of the narrative of the Hebrew Bible, from the creation of the world (Genesis 1:1-2:3) to the Babylonian Exile (2 Kings 24:1-25:30)
- be able to use The Jewish Study Bible intelligently to understand the Hebrew Bible in its geographical, historical and cultural contexts
- be able to summarise scholarly arguments about the meaning of particular biblical texts and to offer their own interpretation
- write a brief exegesis of a biblical text, taking account of its literary genre, historical context, and meaning in the context of the Hebrew Bible as a whole, with reference to available scholarly resources
- have shown the knowledge and understanding gained in this paper in a final three-hour written examination
- Assessment details
This paper has four forms of assessment:
- Weekly Reading Responses (20%)
- Exegesis: Part A (15%) and Part B (15%)
- Final Exam (50%)