This unit aims to provide students with a comprehensive overview of the formation, socio-historical setting and literary forms of the New Testament literature. Whilst studying the various books of the New Testament, students will be introduced to contemporary methods of critical biblical interpretation. The theological issues of these writings will also be explored.
Unit code: BN8000Y
Unit status: Approved (Major revision)
Points: 24.0
Unit level: Postgraduate Foundational
Unit discipline: New Testament
Delivery Mode: Blended
Proposing College: Yarra Theological Union
Show when this unit is running| 1. | Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the social, historical and political milieu of the first century CE |
| 2. | Analyse the relationship between New Testament texts and the Old Testament and articulate implicit and explicit intertextual references |
| 3. | Discuss issues associated with the critical attitude towards Judaism in some of these texts |
| 4. | Describe and discuss the formation of these texts as the source documents of the early Christian communities |
| 5. | Use contemporary critical methods of biblical interpretation to prepare an exegetical essay |
| 6. | Use resources, such as commentaries, dictionaries and concordances, for biblical research and communicate their findings in a research essay |
Lectures, tutorials, and class discussions
Set Text:
Perkins, Pheme. Reading the New Testament. 3rd ed. Revised and Updated. New York: Paulist, 2012. (recommended for purchase, available through Amazon or Book Depository)
Boring, Eugene. An Introduction to the New Testament: History, Literature, Theology. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2012.
Brown, Raymond E. An Introduction to the New Testament. New York: Doubleday, 1997.
Byrne, Brendan. Galatians and Romans. Strathfield, NSW: St Pauls, 2010.
Holladay, Carl R. A Critical Introduction to the New Testament. Interpreting the Message and Meaning of Jesus Christ. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2005.
Johnson, Luke Timothy. The Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation. 3rd. ed. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 2010.
Malina, Bruce J., and Richard L. Rohrbaugh. Social-Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 1992.
––––––. Social Science Commentary on the Gospel of John. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 1998.
Moloney, Francis J. A Friendly Guide to the New Testament. Mulgrave, VIC: John Garratt Publishing, 2010.
Newsom, Carol A., Sharon H., Ringe and Jacqueline E. J., Lapsley. Women's Bible Commentary. 3rd ed. Revised and Updated. Westminster John Knox, 2014.
Rhoads, David M., Joanna Dewey, and Donald M. Michie. Mark as Story: Introduction to the Narrative of a Gospel. 2nd ed. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 1999.
| Type | Description | Word count | Weight (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exegetical Essay | 2000 word exegetical essay |
2000 | 35.0 |
| Essay | 4000 word research essay |
4000 | 65.0 |
Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Maggie Kappelhoff on 30 Aug, 2021
Unit record last updated: 2021-08-30 13:14:12 +1000