Introduction to the Bible and its Interpretation

This course provides an in-depth exploration of the Bible’s origins, development, and interpretation. Students will examine the nature, authorship, structure, and transmission of the Bible, including discussions on revelation, authority, inerrancy, and the formation of the biblical canon. Key topics include textual criticism, manuscript traditions, and the development of modern Bible versions.

The course focuses on how the Bible is interpreted and applied. Students will engage with different hermeneutical approaches, including exegetical and devotional readings, as well as debates surrounding authorial intent versus reader-response theories. The course also covers biblical genres, historical interpretations, and the Bible’s role in church history.

Through critical engagement with biblical texts, historical contexts, and contemporary debates, students will gain a well-rounded understanding of the Bible’s significance and interpretation.

Aims

• To establish an understanding of the formation, transmission and nature of the Biblical text and thereby preparing students to engage in further exegetical studies later in the course.
• To develop knowledge and understanding of varying viewpoints pertaining to the question of the authority of Scripture.
• To encourage students to analyse and engage with contemporary approaches relating to textual criticism and canonicity
• To challenge students to consider scholarly ideas and theories that may not have previously been encountered.
• To develop skills in communicating viewpoints in the above matters in the form of an academic assignment

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

1. Understand and have knowledge of the nature, formation and transmission of the Bible text.
2. Understand the doctrine of revelation from a range of scholarly perspectives.
3. Identify and evaluate key ideas using primary and secondary sources.