Biblical Studies

Contact the program coordinator for more information.

The Hebrew Bible in translation forms the major focus of this program. The two junior units provide an introduction to the study of the texts. The formation of the Bible, literary, religious and historical elements of the texts of Law and early Prophets, and the relationship between Ancient Israel and surrounding peoples and cultures are examined and analysed. An important aim is the development of the ability to read texts critically, with an awareness of the range of scholarly approaches.

In the four senior units of study, the focus moves, in BBCL2603, to an exploration of the phenomenon of prophecy and particular prophetic works and in BBCL2604 to narrative, poetic and wisdom texts from the Writings. The other two units deal with post-biblical material. There is an examination in BBCL2605 of early post-biblical works linked to the Hebrew Bible, and an investigation in BBCL2606 of apocalyptic literature found in the Hebrew Bible, the Christian Scriptures and in apocryphal and pseudepigraphic works. All sections of the program consider relevant material from the Qumran discoveries (the Dead Sea Scrolls).

The four senior units are offered cyclically over a two-year period. In 2008 the units available will be Prophets (BBCL2603) and Biblical Writings (BBCL2604).

To obtain a major in Biblical Studies, students must successfully complete the above units as well as 12 credit points of Classical Hebrew. RLST2611 may be substituted for one of the senior units.

Please note that not all of the units listed below may be offered in any given year. For a complete list of what units are currently available and unit of study outlines, visit the Units of Study Online website.

• BBCL1001 Biblical Studies 1
  This unit provides an introduction to the study of the Bible including: textual, literary and structural criticism; the relevance of other academic disciplines to the study of the Bible; material from the Dead Sea Scrolls and other non-biblical texts. The first five books of the Bible are the focus of textual study in this semester. There are weekly tutorials at which students present papers.
• BBCL1002 Biblical Studies 2
  This unit focuses specifically on books of the Hebrew Bible such as Judges, Samuel and Kings. The course explores events of the period, the historiography of the texts, and religious and historical viewpoints conveyed. Attention will be directed to other relevant writings of the period in the Ancient Near East. There are weekly tutorials at which students present papers.
• BBCL2603 Prophets
  This unit presents an overview of prophetic works of the Hebrew Bible, examining literary, socio-political, and religio-historical apsects of the texts.
• BBCL2604 Writings
  This unit examines the third and final section of the Tanakh, the 'Ketuvim', or 'Writings'. Such works as the book of Job, Psalms, and the Song of Songs provide a rich field of investigation into areas of narrative, poetry, philosophy, and religious belief.
• BBCL2605 Literature of the second temple era
  This unit considers a range of biblical and extra-biblical texts composed during the Second Temple period (500 BCE - 100 CE). Students will read and analyse English translations of works originally composed in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. Our critical approach to these texts will incorporate an examination of literary, historical and religious issues.
• BBCL2606 Jewish apocalyptic literature
  This unit considers biblical and extra-biblical apocalyptic writings of the Second Temple period of Judaism (c 500 BCE - 100CE). Apocalyptic works are concerned with the revelation of transcendent knowledge, especially eschatology and the nature of the heavenly realm. Texts will include the Book of Daniel from the Hebrew Bible, extra-biblical works such as the Book of Enoch, and, from the Christian Scriptures, the Book of Revelation. We will examine the development of the literary form of the apocalypse, and explore how these texts express religious, socio-cultural, and historical developments of the period.