Introduction to Scripture for Religious Educators (BS8601Y)

Postgraduate, 16.0 points

Content

This unit introduces teachers to the Scriptures by focussing on particular sections of the First (Old) and Second (New) Testaments and how these are interpreted within the Catholic tradition. It provides an overview of the relationship between Scripture and Revelation and principles and methods of biblical interpretation. This unit studies:

  • overview of key eras in Israelite history
  • the Genesis Creation stories in their Ancient Near Eastern context
  • the social, political and religious context of first century CE Judaism
  • the formation of the Gospels
  • the infancy Narratives
  • the Gospel of Mark

Unit code: BS8601Y

Unit status: Archived (Major revision)

Points: 16.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Foundational

Unit discipline: Biblical Studies

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Yarra Theological Union

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Learning outcomes

1.

Recognise and describe the role of Scripture as witness to God’s revelation for members of the Jewish and Christian faiths
2.

Explain why Scripture was written, and is read, in particular social, political and religious contexts
3.

Demonstrate an understanding that the Gospels present different 'portraits' of Jesus
4.

Identify methods of interpretation and engage in basic literary analysis of texts
5.

Apply learnings to critically assess the appropriate uses of scripture in religious education

Unit sequence

First Unit in GCTRE

Pedagogy

A dialogical approach, encouraging student participation and questioning, using lecturer input, videos, text analysis and revisioning exercises.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Albertz, Rainer. A History of Israelite Religion in the Old Testament Period. Vol. 1, From the Beginnings until the End of the Exile. London: SCM, 1994.
  • ———. A History of Israelite Religion in the Old Testament Period. Vol. 2, From the Exile to the Maccabees. London: SCM, 1994.
  • Boring, Eugene. An Introduction to the New Testament: History, Literature, Theology. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2012.
  • Collins, John J. *Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. *Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2004 (or 2nd. ed., (2014).
  • Moloney, Francis J. The Gospel of Mark: a Commentary. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2002.
  • Mullins, Michael. The Gospel of Mark: a Commentary. Dublin: Columba, 2005.
  • Perkins, Pheme. Reading the New Testament. Revised and updated 3rd ed. New York: Paulist Press, 2012.
  • Rhoads, David, Joanna Dewey & Donald Michie. Mark as Story: Introduction to the Narrative of a Gospel. 2nd ed. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 1999.
  • Ryan, Maurice, ed. Reading the Bible: An Introduction for Students. Tuggerah, NSW: Social Science Press, 2003.
  • Scullion, John J. Genesis: a Commentary for Students, Teachers and Preachers. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1992.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Exegetical Essay 2000 50.0
Essay 2000 50.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Maggie Kappelhoff on 4 Sep, 2020

Unit record last updated: 2025-04-03 15:24:01 +1100