Last modified: 20 Aug 2024 15:46
What does it mean to read the Bible responsibly? This question is vitally relevant to anyone working closely with biblical texts, whether in academic study or in the context of faith communities who consider the biblical texts to be their Scriptures. This course will bring together the theory or philosophy of biblical interpretation with the associated methods and skills. Students will learn how the way we think about biblical interpretation has changed through the modern period and will learn how to implement the critical methods associated with the various theories. As well as acquiring and refining an interpretive skill-set that will immediately benefit their own engagement with the Bible, students will be exposed to theories of interpretation that are radically different to traditional approaches. Whether or not they agree with these, the knowledge will allow them to understand why other readers of Scripture hold very different beliefs about what is “biblical”.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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This course will offer students an opportunity to reflect on what it means to read the Bible responsibly and to acquire the skills involved in good biblical interpretation. The practices involved are far more heavily affected by cultural and philosophical factors than we may recognize: approaches to the biblical texts that are considered acceptable at certain times or in certain contexts may be regarded as problematic or even reprehensible in others.
Understanding these issues will enable students to become responsible interpreters of the Bible, with an appropriately diverse skill set and a sensitivity to the motivating factors behind alternative interpretations. In order to accomplish this goal, the course will trace the major movements in traditional and modern “hermeneutics” while explaining the practical methods associated with each and allowing students the opportunity to practice these. As well as the key methods in historical criticism (including form-, source-, redaction-criticism), the course will engage with literary and social-scientific methods along with developments in ideological criticism (feminist, queer, black readings), as well as the recent renewal of interest in “theological interpretation.”
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 18 | Feedback Weeks | 21 | |
| Feedback |
Reflective Journal – 250 words per week for weeks 1-10 of the course. Written feedback will be provided. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | A developing ability to understand the underlying principles that shape these movements and critically evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. |
| Conceptual | Understand | An awareness of the movements in modern hermeneutics and their influence on interpretative methods. |
| Procedural | Understand | An understanding of the methods and critical skills involved in the practice of exegesis. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 19 | Feedback Weeks | 26 | |
| Feedback |
Essay 2. Written feedback will be provided approximately 3 weeks after submission. |
Word Count | 1500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | A developing ability to understand the underlying principles that shape these movements and critically evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. |
| Procedural | Apply | An ability to practice these methods in the interpretation of a range of genres within the biblical collections. |
| Procedural | Apply | A resultant transferable skill-set that will assist in interpreting and explaining biblical texts and will facilitate engagement with more advanced biblical scholarship. |
| Procedural | Understand | An understanding of the methods and critical skills involved in the practice of exegesis. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 13 | Feedback Weeks | 16 | |
| Feedback |
Essay 1. Written feedback will be provided approximately 3 weeks after submission. |
Word Count | 1000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Apply | A resultant transferable skill-set that will assist in interpreting and explaining biblical texts and will facilitate engagement with more advanced biblical scholarship. |
| Procedural | Apply | An ability to practice these methods in the interpretation of a range of genres within the biblical collections. |
| Procedural | Understand | An understanding of the methods and critical skills involved in the practice of exegesis. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Resubmission of failed elements of coursework with marks carried over for final grade. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Apply | An ability to practice these methods in the interpretation of a range of genres within the biblical collections. |
| Conceptual | Understand | A developing ability to understand the underlying principles that shape these movements and critically evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. |
| Procedural | Understand | An understanding of the methods and critical skills involved in the practice of exegesis. |
| Conceptual | Understand | An awareness of the movements in modern hermeneutics and their influence on interpretative methods. |
| Procedural | Apply | A resultant transferable skill-set that will assist in interpreting and explaining biblical texts and will facilitate engagement with more advanced biblical scholarship. |
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