RELG 313-01(F17)
Introduction to Reading the Hebrew Scriptures: Section 01
An introduction to the various methods and interpretive approaches used to read and appreciate the texts of Ancient Israel and early Christianity that have been canonized as the Bible.
The academic study of the bible in public universities is not the same as bible study in a faith community. The foundation for our study is what the text originally meant in the light of the Near Eastern setting out of which the text emerged. Our goal is to learn to think carefully and critically about what it originally meant.
As an introduction, this course will provide a variety of tools to enable the student to appreciate and to read with insight the Hebrew Scriptures. As it is about the Hebrew Scriptures (the Christian Old Testament) it will emphasize the reading of the text through a variety of lenses that will include but not be limited to the more familiar Christian (New Testament) lens.
The course intends to help the students gain a general familiarity with the contents of the Hebrew Scriptures which span an enormous time frame and include a wide variety of different genre. The course will provide basic tools for interpreting the text and a framework for developing more sophisticated abilities in interpretation.
Presentations Presentations
Reading Journals Journal responses
Guide to Research: Guide to Biblical Research online