Hebrews, Revelation and the Jewish Scriptures (BN9251C)

Postgraduate, 24.0 points

Content

This unit will explore two books of the New Testament from the late first century CE: the so-called Letter to the Hebrews and the Book of Revelation (the Apocalypse). It will examine the context, structure and theology of these works from a historical-critical perspective, with some attention also to other ways in which they have been interpreted. There will be a particular focus on how these two texts engage with the Jewish Scriptures (the Old Testament); to this end, the unit will examine ways in which the Scriptures were interpreted and appropriated in Judaism and emerging Christianity during this period, as well as methods of identifying and studying such uses of the Scriptures.

Unit code: BN9251C

Unit status: Archived (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: New Testament

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Catholic Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Demonstrate knowledge of the overall contents, structure, theology, historical context and rhetoric of the Letter to the Hebrews and the Book of Revelation;
2.

Analyse how Hebrews and Revelation make use of the Jewish Scriptures;
3.

Appraise secondary sources on Hebrews and Revelation, bearing in mind their hermeneutical perspectives
4.

Interpret passages from Hebrews and Revelation using mature exegetical skills
5.

Formulate, research and write up a specific argument related to the unit content in a critically rigorous and self-directed manner.

Unit sequence

BS8001C and BS8002C, or equivalent Any unit that is substantially on Hebrews or on Revelation

Pedagogy

Lectures, seminars, tutorials

Indicative Bibliography

  • Attridge, Harold W. The Epistle to the Hebrews: A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews. Hermeneia. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1989. (recommended for purchase)
  • Aune, David E. Revelation. World Bible Commentary, vols 52A–C. Dallas: Word Books, 1997–98.
  • Bauckham, Richard. The Climax of Prophecy: Studies on the Book of Revelation. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1993.
  • Beale, G. K. The Book of Revelation. NIGTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999.
  • Beale, G. K. and D. A. Carson, eds. Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007.
  • Blount, Brian K. Revelation: A Commentary. NTL. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009. (recommended for purchase)
  • Bruce, F. F. The Epistle to the Hebrews. NICNT. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990.
  • Collins, Adela Y.Crisis and Catharsis: The Power of the Apocalypse. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1984.
  • Gelardini, Gabriella, ed. Hebrews: Contemporary Methods—New Insights. Biblical Interpretation Series 75. Leiden: Brill, 2005.
  • Gelardini, Gabriella, and Harold W. Attridge, eds. Hebrews in Contexts. Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity. Leiden: Brill, 2015.
  • Howard-Brook, Wes, and Anthony Gwyther. Unveiling Empire. Reading Revelation Then and Now. The Bible and Liberation Series. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1999.
  • Koester, Craig R. Hebrews: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor (Yale) Bible 36. New York: Doubleday, 2001.
  • Kugel, James L., and Rowan A. Greer. Early Biblical Interpretation. Library of Early Christianity. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1986.
  • Vanhoye, Albert. A Different Priest: The Epistle to the Hebrews. Translated by Leo Arnold. Rhetorica Semitica. Miami: Convivium Press, 2011.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

Option 1: 3500 word essay on a topic or passage in Hebrews or Revelation, including a consideration of how it engages with the Jewish Scriptures 50% week 8 AND 3500 word essay on a topic or passage in Hebrews or Revelation (whichever book was not written about in the first essay), including a consideration of how it engages with the Jewish Scriptures OR 50% week 13 3500 word essay on a topic that substantially involves both Hebrews and Revelation, including a consideration of how these NT texts engage with the Jewish Scriptures

OR

Option 2: 1,000-word report (essay proposal, including annotated bibliography) 15% week 8 AND 6000 word essay on a topic that substantially involves both Hebrews and Revelation, including a consideration of how these NT texts engage with the Jewish Scriptures 85% week 13

 7000 100.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 20 Jul, 2015

Unit record last updated: 2021-06-07 08:43:51 +1000