Course

The Scriptures and Eastern Christianity

Meaning is contextual and understanding is interpretation. In this course, the Bible is therefore approached from the intertwined perspectives of biblical criticism, reception history, and reception theory. The course provides tools to analyze how Bible interpretation began in the biblical texts themselves and to identify the principles of interpretation that developed in the Dead Sea scrolls and in Rabbinic and Early Christian times. The course then focuses on how the Bible was used and understood in Eastern Christian traditions in their relevant contexts. To analyze historical interpretations as well as any reader’s involvement in the process of interpretation, modern reception theories and Bible theologies are also studied during the course. 

At the end of the course, the student is expected to be able to

  • describe divergent and convergent trends in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim interpretations in Late Antiquity
  • analyze and present various bible theologies and interpretational strategies in relevant source material
  • apply ample methods and theories for analyzing biblical theology and biblical interpretations 
  • assess and argue for trends in relevant source material

  • Cordoni, Constanza & Langer, Gerhard , 2014. Narratology, Hermeneutics, and Midrash: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Narratives from the Late Antiquity through to Modern Times (Poetik, Exegese ... and Narrat). Göttingen Niedersachsen : Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. (15–24; 71–106; 145–186; 251–263 , 101 p.)

  • Crawford, Sidnie White , 2008. Rewriting Scripture in Second Temple Times (Studies in the Dead Sea Scrolls and Related Literature). Grand Rapids Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. (149 p.)

  • England, Emma & William , John Lyon (eds.), 2015. Reception History and Biblical Studies, Theory and Practice. Bloomsbury : T&T Clark. (17–44; 95–138 , 72 p.)

  • Farkasfalvy, Denis M. , 2010. Inspiration & Interpretation. A Theological Introduction to Sacred Scripture.. Washington District of Columbia: The Catholic University of America Press. (240 p.)

  • Graves, Michael , 2017. Biblical Interpretation in the Early Church. Minneapolis: Fortress Press. (270 p.)

  • Mead, James K. , 2007. Biblical Theology: Issues, Methods, and Themes: Issues, Methods and Themes . Louisville Kentucky : Westminister/John Knox Press. (1–167 , 167 p.)

  • Perrin, Andrew & Loren, T. Stuckenbruck (eds.), 2020. Four Kingdom Motifs before and beyond the Book of Daniel. Leiden: Brill PP. (13–55; 154–162; 167–204; 251–328, 168 p.)

Articles and additional primary sources will be added and provided by the teacher (ca. 200 pp)

Literature last revised on June 2, 2021.

The schedule is available at the latest one month before the course starts. We do not recommend that you print the schedule as some changes may happen.

Open the Schedule

Miriam Hjälm

PhD, Senior lecturer, Campus Södertälje

08-550 980 66

miriam.hjalm@sanktignatios.org

Grades

A = Excellent, B = Very good, C = Good, D = Satisfactory, E = Sufficient, Fx = Insufficient, F = Insufficient

Examination Format

  • Papers
  • Seminars
  • Written examination

A Bachelor's degree in Theology (equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen) from an internationally recognized university, Including at least 15 credits in Eastern Christian Studies or equivalent. Certicifed proficiency in English documented by means of an internationally recognized proficiency test, e. g. TOEFL, IELTS or equivalent.

Established by Subject Representative College at Enskilda Högskolan Stockholm on December 19, 2018.

Last revised on October 8, 2019.