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Bible

The Bible Area focuses on the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and related works. Faculty and students engage them literarily, historically, and intellectually. Study ranges from the context of their formation through their reception in Late Antiquity. 

 

Faculty: Simeon Chavel, Marshall Cunningham, Jas Elsner, David Martinez, Margaret M. Mitchell, Jeffrey Stackert, Erin Galgay Walsh

Associated Faculty: J. David Schloen

Students choose one of four concentrations, which guides their ancient and modern languages, selection of courses, and qualifying exams: 1. Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East;  2. Hebrew Bible and Early Jewish Literature; 3. Jewish and Christian Bible; and 4. New Testament and Early Christian Literature. 

Progress Conference format

The progress (or pre-exam) conference is normally held in the spring quarter of the second year or in the third year. The student meets with the panel of examiners for the qualifying examinations, and normally they discuss coursework to date, a paper written by the student, ideas regarding the dissertation project, and the course of study petition. Following that, the student’s advisor submits a summary to the Dean of Students.

Written Examinations

The Bible Area offers five exams:

1. History and Religion of Israel and Judah
2. The Hebrew Bible and Related Literature
3. Historical Contexts of New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature
4. Literary Analysis of New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature
5. Special topical exam (determined with advisor)

Course offerings reflect a mix of key books and topics and tailoring to student interests. 

Sample courses:

  • Introduction to the Hebrew Bible
  • Introduction to New Testament: Texts and Contexts
  • Introduction to Papyrology
  • Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible: The Book of Samuel
  • The Radiant Pearl: Introduction to Syriac Literature and its Historical Contexts
  • Critical Methods in the Study of the Hebrew Bible
  • The Documentary Hypothesis
  • Law in Biblical Literature
  • Poetry and the Hebrew Bible
  • Novellas of the Hebrew Bible
  • Ritual, Cult, and Magic in the Hebrew Bible
  • Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi
  • Zion and Zaphon: History and Memory in Texts from Seventh Century BCE Judah
  • Disability Studies and the Hebrew Bible
  • Philo of Alexandria
  • Partings, Encounters, and Entangled Histories: The Formation of Judaism and Christianity
  • Race and the Bible
  • #Blessed: The Prosperity Gospel, the Bible, and Economic Ethics
  • The Controversial Apostle (Paul)
  • The Gospel According to Mark
  • Interpreting the Gospel according to Matthew
  • Gospel of John
  • Johannine Epistles
  • The Acts of Paul and Thecla and the Pastoral Epistles
  • The Epistle to the Hebrews and the Epistle of Barnabas
  • The Corinthian Correspondence
  • The Corpus Hermeticum
  • Muses and Saints: Poetry and the Christian Imagination
  • Debating Christians and Other Adversaries: Greek and Syriac Dialogues in Late Antiquity
  • Early Christian Rhetoric
  • Early Christian Biblical Interpreation
  • The Apostolic Fathers
  • Lucian of Samosata