University of Sydney Handbooks - 2016 Archive

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Biblical Studies

Biblical Studies

BBCL1001 Reading Bible: Narrative, Law and Ritual

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: 1x2hr lecture/week, 1x1hr tutorial/week Assessment: Tutorial participation (10%), 1xTutorial presentation (equivalent to 500wds) (10%), 1xEssay (2000wds) (40%), 1x2-hr exam (40%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit provides an introduction to the study of the Bible, focusing on understanding the literary techniques biblical authors used to convey their message when writing narrative, legal and ritual texts. The first five books of the Bible are the focus of textual study in this semester.
BBCL1002 Biblical Themes: Joshua to Kings

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: 1x2hr lecture/week, 1x1hr tutorial/week Assessment: Tutorial participation (10%), 1xTutorial presentation (equivalent to 500wds) (10%), 1xEssay (2000wds) (40%), 1x2hr exam (40%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit focuses specifically on narrative books of the Hebrew Bible including Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings. The unit focuses on the themes of these biblical books, as well as exploring the historical background of the texts and the events they describe. Attention will be directed to other relevant writings of the period in the Ancient Near East.
BBCL2603 Messianism in Biblical Prophetic Texts

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: 1x2hr lecture/week, 1x1hr tutorial/week Prerequisites: 12 Junior credit points including at least 6 from (BBCL1001 or BBCL1002 or HBRW1111 or HBRW1112 or HBRW2631 or HBRW2632 or RLST1002) and 6 from (Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies, Ancient History, History, English, Studies in Religion or Arabic Studies) Assessment: 1x1500wd tutorial report (30%), 1x3000wd Essay (60%), Tutorial participation (10%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit presents an overview of prophetic works of the Hebrew Bible, examining literary, socio-political, and religio-historical aspects of the texts, with special emphasis on the theme of Messianism in the biblical prophets.
BBCL2607 Biblical Poetic Books

This unit of study is not available in 2016

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: 1x2hr lecture/week, 1x1hr tutorial/week Prerequisites: 12 Junior credit points including at least 6 from (BBCL1001 or BBCL1002 or HBRW1111 or HBRW1112 or HBRW2631 or HBRW2632) and 6 from (Hebrew, or Biblical and Jewish Studies, or Ancient History, or History, or English, or Studies in Religion, or Arabic Studies) Prohibitions: BBCL2003 Assessment: 1x1500wd Tutorial report (30%), 1x3000wd Essay (60%), Tutorial participation (10%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit examines the Biblical Poetic Books such as Psalms, the Song of Songs and Lamentations. The main focus of the course is on how the literary conventions of the genre of Hebrew poetry are used by the poets to set out the theological and philosophical concepts the texts are designed to express. These literary conventions will be studied in the light of other Ancient Near Eastern literature of a similar genre.
BBCL2609 Historical Jesus to Written Gospels

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: 1x2hr lecture, 1x1hr tutorial/week Prerequisites: 12 Junior credit points including at least 6 from (BBCL1001 or BBCL1002 or HBRW1111 or HBRW1112 or HBRW2631 or HBRW2632 or RLST1002) and 6 from Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies, Ancient History, History, English, Studies in Religion or Arabic Studies Prohibitions: BBCL2003 Assessment: 1x2000wd research essay 1 (40%), 1x2000wd research essay 2 (40%), 1xequivalent to 500wds short tutorial presentation (10%), tutorial participation (10%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit examines the relationship between the historical person of Jesus of Nazareth and the literary-theological achievement of the early Christian Gospels (including non-canonical Gospels). Students are encouraged to apply rigorous historical method and careful literary analysis in order to gain a nuanced understanding of how the leader of a Jewish renewal movement became the object of devotion in earliest Christianity. The unit will read Biblical texts in English translation.
BBCL2610 The New Testament as Literature

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: 1x2hr lecture/week, 1x1hr tutorial/week Prerequisites: 12 Junior credit points including at least 6 from (BBCL1001 or BBCL1002 or HBRW1111 or HBRW1112 or HBRW2631 or HBRW2632 or RLST1002) and 6 from Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies, Ancient History, History, English, Studies in Religion or Arabic Studies Assessment: 1x2700wd research essay (50%), 1xequivalent to 1500wds tutorial presentation and paper (30%), 1x300wd research proposal (10%), tutorial participation (10%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit of study provides an overview of the New Testament as a literary and theological work, seeking to understand both the early Christian 'story' and the various modes in which it was retold and applied in the first century CE. Students explore the various genres of NT literature, including 'gospel', epistolary forms, parable and apocalyptic. Particular attention is paid to reader-response criticism of the Gospels and intertextuality in the NT epistles. Documents will be read in English translation.
BBCL2801 Biblical In-Country Study A

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Assessment: As prescribed by the host institution. On successful completion of this unit of study, students will receive a "Satisfied Requirements" result at the University of Sydney. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Approved course in an overseas tertiary level institution.
BBCL2802 Biblical In-Country Study B

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Corequisites: BBCL2801 Assessment: As prescribed by the host institution. On successful completion of this unit of study, students will receive a "Satisfied Requirements" result at the University of Sydney. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Approved course in an overseas tertiary level institution.
BBCL3601 Daniel and Revelation as Apocalypses

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: 1x2hr lecture/week, 1x1hr tutorial/week Prerequisites: BBCL2603 or BBCL2607 or BBCL2609 or BBCL2610 or BBCL3602 or HBRW2623 or HBRW2625 or HBRW2632 or HBRW3601 or HBRW3602 Prohibitions: BBCL2006 or BBCL2606 Assessment: 1x1500wd exegesis assignment (30%), 1x3000wd research essay (60%), tutorial participation (10%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
The books of Daniel in the Hebrew Bible and Revelation in the New Testament are the only "apocalypses" found in any western Bible. In this unit students will apply advanced methods in analysis of biblical texts (literary, thematic, linguistic, and text critical) in order to analyse these texts in the context of the most relevant extra-biblical apocalyptic texts, such as 1 Enoch, 4 Ezra and 2 Baruch.
BBCL3602 Job, Proverbs and Other Biblical Wisdom

This unit of study is not available in 2016

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Assoc Prof Ian Young Session: Semester 2 Classes: 1x2-hr lecture, 1x1-hr tutorial/week Prerequisites: (BBCL2603 or BBCL2607 or BBCL2609 or BBCL2610 or BBCL3601) or (HBRW2623 or HBRW2625 or HBRW2632 or HBRW3601 or HBRW3602) Prohibitions: BBCL2608 Assessment: 1x1500wd research assignment (30%), 1x3000wd research essay (60%), tutorial participation (10%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
The Books of Job, Ecclesiastes and Proverbs form the bulk of wisdom literature in the Hebrew Bible. In this unit students will apply advanced methods in analysis of biblical texts (literary, thematic, linguistic, and text critical) in order to understand the nature of Biblical wisdom literature on all levels. This will include examining these texts within the context of other wisdom literature both within the Hebrew Bible, such as wisdom psalms and in Deuterocanonical texts, such as Sirach.
BBCL4011 Biblical Studies Honours A

Credit points: 12 Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: two seminars in semester 1 and one seminar in semester 2, each two hours per week Assessment: A thesis of 15000 words and 5000 words of written work or its equivalent for each seminar Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Honours is an intensive year-long program of advanced study based around research. Honours is undertaken after successful completion of a Bachelor degree and where the overall mark is a minimum credit average (70%). Entry into Honours is selective and work at this level is challenging. Honours is available in most subjects areas taught in the Faculty, and which are listed under Tables A and B in the Handbook. Students will complete a thesis and coursework seminars throughout the year. For further information contact the Honours Coordinator in the department or consult the Handbook entry for the relevant subject area.
BBCL4012 Biblical Studies Honours B

Credit points: 12 Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Corequisites: BBCL4011 Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Refer to BBCL4011
BBCL4013 Biblical Studies Honours C

Credit points: 12 Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Corequisites: BBCL4012 Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Refer to BBCL4011
BBCL4014 Biblical Studies Honours D

Credit points: 12 Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Corequisites: BBCL4013 Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Refer to BBCL4011