University of San Diego - Spring Semester 2004

Syllabus for TRS 16 Introduction to Biblical Studies

Class meets MWF 8:55- 9:50 am; M 226

Instructor: Dr. Florence M. Gillman

Office: M 254; Office Hours: M,W 10-12:30; other times by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Biblical studies is a major component of the humanities division in a liberal arts curriculum. It should be pursued by students who wish to gain a comprehensive perspective on both world and western civilizations with respect to the origins, development and impact of the major religious faith traditions of Judaism and Christianity via the Bible in both the ancient and modern worlds.

The Bible itself is a veritable library of books produced by Jews and Christians. Taking into account the centuries of oral tradition that preceded the actual writing of the texts, the dating of the origins, writing and editing of this material ranges from the Middle Bronze Age of the Ancient Near East until the period of Roman domination of the Mediterranean region, that is from about 2000 BCE to 150 CE. This course surveys that literature as it was originally contextualized in Judaeo-Christian history. Emphasis is placed upon the formation, content and interpretation of the material, giving attention especially to the religious, socio-political and cultural development of Judaism and Christianity. When these two major religious traditions developed in the ancient world, they interacted politically, socially and religiously with the great civilizations and/or empires of the Sumerians, Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks and Romans. This survey of biblical history and literature is therefore done in dialogue with the geo-political history and religious literature/beliefs of these many other groups.

This course also places much emphasis on how the Bible is variously interpreted in contemporary life via the introduction it provides concerning the methods and concerns of modern historical-critical biblical studies. Both literary and theological analysis, as well as pastoral use of some texts will be discussed.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to

‘ Trace the overall history of Judaism and early Christianity from ca. 2000 BCE to 150 CE

‘ Relate the history of Judaism and Christianity to the traditions= emergence from and/or encounters successively with the cultures of the Sumerians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks and Romans

‘ Comprehend how the geo-political location of Palestine determined its role in ancient history

‘ Demonstrate a facility in using multiple, physical and chronologically sequential political maps of the ancient world and timelines to explain all of the above

‘ Recognize basic archaeological concepts (e.g. tel, baulk, stratigraphy, pottery chronology, artistic, especially religious artifacts such as stelae, ostraca, amulets,) and be able to discuss how archaeology contributes to knowledge of the ancient world.

‘ Situate the books of the Bible in their historical context.

‘ Relate the importance of literary genre analysis of the biblical literature to the interpretation given to the historical/theological meaning of the content of those documents both in the past and in current biblical interpretation

‘ Explain the complexity involved in transferring Ameaning@ from an ancient text to the modern situation of Jews and Christians

‘ Discuss a variety of interpretive methods, such as source, form, redaction, rhetorical and narrative criticisms as applied to biblical texts.

MAIN COURSE CONTENT:

‘ Historical overview of the emergence of Judaism and Christianity and the history of both traditions from ca. 2000 CE to 150 CE.

‘ Analysis of the major political/religious intellectual traditions developed by Judaism and early Christianity which they ultimately contributed to the western world.

‘ Introduction to map/atlas work in studying the ancient world of the two traditions and their neighboring civilizations.

‘ Analysis of the geo-political location of the biblical lands as factors in both their cultural and religious development and as factors with respect to trade and commerce (which enabled the spread, integration and growth of these religious traditions throughout the Ancient Near East)

‘ Introduction to the books of the Bible with respect to their historical context and content.

‘ Analysis of the genre of various biblical books and texts

‘ Introduction to literary and other analytical methods of exegesis (interpretation) of the contents of the biblical books, such as textual, source, form, redaction, rhetorical, narrative, and feminist criticism

‘ The history of the physical transmission of the biblical text, including the extant textual and archaeological evidence (e.g. manuscript history, especially the Dead Sea Scrolls and later manuscripts)

‘ Introduction to the contemporary debate between historical-critical analysis of biblical texts and that done by fundamentalists.

REQUIRED TEXTS:

1. Bible (NAB recommended; exam questions will be based on this version)

2. James B. Pritchard, HarperCollins Concise Atlas of the Bible. HarperSanFrancisco, 1997.

(= Atlas on reading assignments)

REQUIREMENTS:

This course emphasizes learning via attendance, note-taking/participation at class lectures and intensive self-study of the readings assigned in the Atlas, the Bible and the CSB Reading Guides. Stress is placed on mastering both general concepts and a vast amount of factual information. Learning will be assessed primarily through a series of five exams (objective questions plus essays and special research essays where a student demonstrates research on topics assigned by the instructor; *see below). Each exam is 20% of the final grade. The exams are comprehensive, but not cumulative; they cover lecture material, media content, and all assigned readings.

Textbooks and notes may not be used on exams. The Bible may be used for certain sections of some exams; when that is possible students will be notified ahead of the exam, and it is each student=s responsibility to bring his or her Bible. Questions on all exams are based on the NAB translation.

No extra credit is given during this course.

Exams may not be taken either before or after they are administered to the class. If it is necessary to miss an exam, consult the instructor and a special research essay exam will be constructed.

*With respect to exam research essays, one or two questions will be given to you a week or more before the exam. You should do research on the topics. Prepare (in your mind) a carefully worked out, data-filled answer to each essay. Your answer must reflect research on the topics beyond the material available in the textbooks. On the day of the exam, the instructor will choose one of the questions and you will write an essay on that subject. You are required to submit with the exam three 3 x 5 bibliographic cards showing the sources you used (in standard bibliographic format) in preparing that research essay. This essay is meant to be a demonstration from your perspective of both a quantity and quality of information you have assembled and then taught yourself about the subject.