Content

Israel between 200 BCE and 70 CE was a complex society affected by the domination of empires past and present. Political, social, economic and religious aspects will be studied. People such as the Samaritans, Sadducees, Pharisees, the Dead Sea Sect (Essenes?), the Zealots, and the poor will feature, as will attitudes to women, the main Jewish festivals, modes of worship and their institutions. Sources, which include some Biblical and apocalyptic books, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the works of the Jewish historian Josephus, and of Philo the Jewish philosopher, will be explored. Together these illuminate the world of Jesus.

Unit code: BS2501Y

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 2

Unit discipline: Biblical Studies

Proposing College: Yarra Theological Union

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Learning outcomes

1.

Demonstrate familiarity with the political, social, economic and religious history of the people of Israel from c.200 BCE to c.70 CE

2.

Incorporate archaeological data where it is available and use it critically in conjunction with the literary evidence

3.

Exegete passages from the primary texts with the aid of commentaries

4.

Assign a piece of literature to a genre and be aware of the methodologies used to interpret various genres

5.

Identify the ways in which and why, theological ideas about how to live in accordance with God’s wishes were diverse

Unit sequence

First level units in BA and BN

Pedagogy

Lectures, readings, focus texts assigned to each week for group work, class discussions

Indicative Bibliography

Secondary Works

  • Vanderkam, J.C., An Introduction to Early Judaism. Grand Rapids, MI/Cambridge, UK: Eerdmans, 2001
  • Heyler, L.R., Exploring Jewish Literature of the Second Temple Period: A Guide for New Testament Students. Downers Grove, Il: Intervarsity Press, 2002
  • Schürer, E., A History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ (rev. ed.), Vols. 1, 2, 3, 3.2. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1979-1986
  • Sanders, E.P. (ed), Jewish and Christian Self-Definition, Vol. 2. London, SCM, 1981.
  • Portier-Young, A.E., Apocalyptic Against Empire: Theologies of Resistance in Early Judaism, Grand Rapids, MI, Eerdmans, 2014
  • Collins, J.J., Between Athens and Jerusalem. Jewish Identity in the Hellenistic Diaspora. Grand Rapids, MI/ Cambridge UK: Eerdmans, 2000

Primary Sources in addition to the Bible:

  • Charlesworth, J.H., The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, Vols 1&2. London: Darton, Longman and Todd, 1983-85.
  • Garcia Martinez, F., The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated: the Qumran Texts in English. Trans. W.G.E. Watson. Leiden/New York/ Cologne: Brill, 1994
  • Philo of Alexandria, Works. Trans. F.H. Colson, and G.H. Whittaker, Loeb Classical Library, London/Cambridge, Mass: Heinemann/Harvard University Press, various dates.
  • Josephus, The Works of Josephus. Trans. W. Whiston, Peabody, Mass: Hendrickson, 1987

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Exegetical Essay

1,000 word exegetical essay

1000 25.0
Essay

2000 word essay

2000 50.0
Exegetical Essay

1,000 word exegetical essay

1000 25.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 27 Sep, 2019

Unit record last updated: 2021-06-07 08:43:49 +1000