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DR453Q: GOD AND SALVATION IN THE LETTERS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT (2024-2025)

Last modified: 05 Aug 2024 15:46


Course Overview

The letters of the New Testament (texts after the Gospels and Acts in the canon) have exercised significant influence over Christian theology. However, much scholarship would question whether they have been interpreted correctly. Significant developments in our understanding of Judaism in the early Common Era and of the socio-cultural realities of the wider Mediterranean world have led to the emergence of new readings of these texts and have demanded fresh accounts of Christian origins. This course will involve exploration and critique of these some of these new approaches.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Term Second Term Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Grant Macaskill

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
  • Either Programme Level 4 or Programme Level 5

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

This course will examine in detail the theologies of the letters of the New Testament (for example, the Pauline epistles) by means of a careful reading of the texts themselves. These letters constitute some of the earliest works of Christian writing and have exercised enormous influence over the development of Christian theology through the centuries. Since the end of the Second World War, there have been significant developments in our understanding of Judaism in the early Common Era and of the socio-cultural realities of the wider Mediterranean world. These have led to the emergence of new readings of New Testament letters and have demanded fresh accounts of Christian origins. This course will involve exploration and critique of some of these new approaches to the interpretation of New Testament letters, but always in relation to the content of the biblical texts themselves. Central to the New Testament letters’ far-reaching and radical theologies are their particular identifications of Jesus, which shape their distinctive ways of speaking about God and salvation.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Gobbet Analysis

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 25
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 25
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Critical book review.

Word Count 2000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Free choice.

Word Count 4000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback Word Count 4000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualCreateAn ability to identify areas of future research in the New Testament letters.
ConceptualUnderstandDetailed knowledge of the issues of context and background usually held to be necessary to a responsible reading of New Testament letters.
ConceptualEvaluateAbility to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the different interpretations of New Testament Letters.
FactualRememberDetailed knowledge of the content of selected New Testament letters.
ProceduralApplyA high level of competency in the complex interpretative skills required for the analysis of New Testament letters.
ConceptualUnderstandDetailed knowledge of the various scholarly interpretations of New Testament letters and their methodological dimensions.
ProceduralAnalyseAn understanding and practical knowledge of the questions that bear on how New Testament letters are to be read in relation to other early Christian writings.

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