Study Tour of Ancient Asia Minor (BS9000T)

Postgraduate, 24.0 points

Content

In this unit, students will investigate the cultural, political, religious and geographical environment of early Christianity in ancient Asia Minor in order to better understand certain New Testament writings (Acts, certain letters of Paul, Revelation) in their contexts. In addition, students will also experience the modern political and religious diversity in a number of important sites in modern-day Türkiye, places that will be visited during the study tour. The unit is comprised of two elements: a study tour of the modern-day Türkiye (which offers no credit points) and an assessment unit which prepares the students for the experience, offers opportunity to reflect upon the experience, with application to interpretation of texts in light of the tour experience.

Unit code: BS9000T

Unit status: Approved (New unit)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Biblical Studies

Delivery Mode: Intensive

Proposing College: Trinity College Theological School

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Learning outcomes

1.

Critically reflect upon the impact of the context on their understanding and interpretation of biblical texts
2.

Analyse their own responses to the experience of the land in which the Bible stories are grounded
3.

Apply their experience of a particular place, custom, practice, or sociological insight to the discipline
4.

Engage theologically with sites and texts included in the journey of the tour and integrate with other theological and social disciplines
5.

Engage biblically and historically with the political and religious diversity of modern-day Türkiye

Unit sequence

Prerequisite: a foundational (level 8) unit in Field B

Pedagogy

Students will travel to modern-day Türkiye together. Preparation for the tour will include reading and outlining an investigative project for the tour, as well as information about the sites to be visited. During the tour there will be engagement at particular sites with experts in the field and seminars with participants.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Carter, Warren. The Roman Empire and the New Testament. Nashville: Abingdon, 2006.
  • Crossan, John Dominic, and Jonathan Reed. In Search of Paul: How Jesus's Apostle Opposed Rome's Empire with God's Kingdom. San Francisco: Harper, 2004.
  • Fant, Clyde E., and Mitchell G. Reddish. A Guide to Biblical Sites in Greece and Turkey. Oxford University Press, 2003.
  • Ferguson, Everett. Backgrounds of Early Christianity. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003.
  • Gorman, Michael. Reading Revelation Responsibly. Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2011.
  • Kim, Yung Suk. How to Read Paul: A Brief Introduction to His Theology, Writings, and World. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2021.
  • Koester, Craig. Revelation and the End of All Things. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2018.
  • Murphy-O’Connor, Jerome. St. Paul’s Ephesus: Texts and Archaeology. Collegeville, MN: Michael Glazier, 2008.
  • Perkins, Pheme. Paul in Asia Minor. Nashville: Abingdon, 2001.
  • Whitaker, Robyn. Revelation for Normal People: A Guide to the Strangest and Most Dangerous Book in the Bible. Harleysville, PA: The Bible for Normal People, 2024.
  • Wilson, Mark. Biblical Turkey: A Guide to the Jewish and Christian Sites of Asia Minor. Ege Yayinlari, 2020.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Investigation 1500 20.0
Journal 1500 20.0
Essay 4000 60.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 7 Apr, 2025

Unit record last updated: 2025-04-07 14:21:17 +1000