General information

• Study points: 3.00
• Language: English
• Category: Lectures
• Duration: 26.0 hours 
• Periodicity: Taught every three years (2010-2011, 2013-2014, ...)
• POC: POC Theology and Religious Studies

Taught by

Van Hecke Pierre

Content

• The course will provide a general introduction to the study of the Psalms in general and the characteristics of Hebrew poetry in particular, illustrated by way of examples.
  
• A number of Psalms will be analysed in the course, paying special attention to the interrelation between (poetic) form and content and to the metaphors expressing the (theological) thought of the Psalms in question.
  
• A general introduction to the wisdom literature in the Hebrew Bible will be given, with special attention for the tension between mainstream, didactic wisdom texts and more critical voices within the Bible.
  
• The general line of thought of the book of Job will be presented.
  
• The general line of thought of the book of Qohelet will be discussed.

Course Material

• English translation of the Hebrew Bible (RSV or NRSV preferred)
  
• Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (optional)
  
• Reader with selected articles/book chapters (provided by the lecturer)

Course activities

• The course consists of a number of introductory lectures on the different aspects of the psalmic and sapiential literature.
  
• The students are expected to do some reading assignments and to prepare a literary analysis of a short psalm on the basis of the methodology explained during the course.

General information

• Study points: 3.00
• Language: English
• Category: Lectures
• Duration: 26.0 hours 
• Periodicity: Taught every three years (2010-2011, 2013-2014, ...)
• POC: POC Theology and Religious Studies

Taught by

Van Belle Gilbert

Aims

• To introduce students into the world of the Johannine Literature (Gospel, Letters and Revelation), its contents, theology and christology and the exegetical methods used to study it.
• To provide exegetical strategies for the analysis and the interpretation of the Johannine texts.
• To be able to explain the introductory questions of the Johannine literature.
• To learn how to handle textual and literary problems and to discern the theological contents of the texts.

Content

General study of contents and structure, literary character, sources and the history-of-religions setting, the aim and theological character, the author, time and place of each writing of the Johannine Literature (Gospel, Letters and Revelation).
Special issues: The Johannine Community, dramatisation in the Gospel of John, the interpretation of the miracle stories, the christological titles an the self-declaratory pronouncements in the Fourth Gospel, the Beloved Disciple and the authorship of the Fourth Gospel, the Gospel of John and the First Letter of John, the Apocalypse of John as an apocalyptic and prophetic book.
Reading of some selected passages of Johannine Literature.

Course Material

• Textbook: The New Revised Standard Version; NESTLE-ALAND, Greek-English New Testament, Stuttgart, German Bible Society, 81994; second printing, 1998.
• Manuals: R.E. BROWN, An Introduction to the New Testament (The Anchor Bible Reference Library), New York, Doubleday, 1997; R.A. CULPEPPER, The Gospel and Letters of John (Interpreting Biblical Texts), Nashville, TN, Abingdon Press, 1998.
• Course notes and a reader will be at the disposal of the students.

Evaluation description

Examination type:
    oral with written preparation
When?: final examination during examination period
Evaluation type:
    Closed book
    Paper

Explanation

The examination consists of:

• discussion of the analysis of a psalm prepared by the student
  
• questions concerning material discussed in class and assigned reading.