THBS562 - Introducing the Scriptures

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

Incompatible

THBS501 Biblical Studies

Teaching organisation

Unit rationale, description and aim

This unit lays the foundation for an appreciation of the Bible in the life of the Catholic Church. It explores the Bible's cultural. geographical, literary and historical contexts. The unit introduces course participants to the principles of biblical interpretation and to various approaches and methods of interpretation. The course also invites participants to explore the links between the Bible and their professional world and the relevance which the Bible has for them today. 

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - Give an account of the nature and origins of the Bible and its place in the life of the Church, with reference to historical contexts of biblical literature and the context of the reader today (GA4, GA5)

LO2 - Demonstrate skills in interpreting the Bible, applying the basic principles and processes of Catholic biblical interpretation (GA4, GA5)

LO3 - Assess the implications of a critically informed reading of the Bible for its use within various professional contexts (GA2, GA4)

Graduate attributes

GA2 - recognise their responsibility to the common good, the environment and society 

GA4 - think critically and reflectively 

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

Content

Topics will include: 

• The Bible as literature and the “Word of God”
• An overview of the biblical canon 
• Introduction to the key principles of Catholic biblical interpretation; 
• The historical, geographical, social and cultural contexts of biblical literature 
• Introduction to the Law, the Prophets and the Writings of the First Testament 
• Introduction to the Gospels and other writings in the Second Testament  
• Implications of the Bible for professional settings.  

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

This unit involves 150 hours of focused learning. The total includes formally structured learning activities such as lectures, tutorials, online learning, online forums and discussions and through webinars (using Zoom), or supervision. The remaining hours typically involve reading, research, and the preparation of tasks for assessment. 

The unit is offered in four modes: attendance, intensive, online and ACUonline. Students learn through formally structured and sequenced learning activities that support the achievement of the learning outcomes. Students are asked to reflect critically, analyse, and integrate new information with existing knowledge, draw meaningful new connections, and then apply what they have learned to their professional contexts. Collaborative learning is also emphasized to assist in the acquisition and integration of theoretical and practical insights, through online seminars, forums and other interactive activities. 

Mode of delivery: This unit may be offered in different modes to cater to the learning needs and preferences of a range of participants.

ACU Online

This unit will be delivered in online mode using an active learning approach to support students in the exploration of knowledge, skills and dispositions essential to the discipline. Students are provided with choice and variety in how they learn. Students are encouraged to contribute to asynchronous weekly discussions. Active learning opportunities provide students with opportunities to practice and apply their learning in situations related to their future professions. Activities encourage students to bring their own examples to demonstrate understanding, application and engage constructively with their peers. Students receive regular and timely feedback on their learning, which includes information on their progress. Facilitated, synchronous seminars are also offered during the unit to discuss learning and to practice the skills and dispositions for interpreting biblical passages in professional contexts today.

Attendance Mode

In a weekly attendance mode, students require face-to-face attendance in specific physical location/s. Students will have face-to-face interactions with lecturer(s) to further their achievement of the learning outcomes.

Intensive Mode

In an intensive mode, students require face-to-face attendance in weekends or any block of time determined by the school. Students will have face-to-face interactions with lecturer(s) to further their achievement of the learning outcomes.

Online Mode

This unit may be offered via online scheduled learning activities (i.e. learning activities are accessible anytime, anywhere) or scheduled learning activities (i.e. facilitated online seminars to enable online interaction).

In the synchronous seminar classes students engage and participate in the construction and synthesis of knowledge, while developing dispositions for interpreting biblical passages in professional contexts today. Students are required to participate in a series of online interactive workshops which include activities, knowledge checks, discussion and interactive sessions. This approach allows flexibility for students and facilitates learning and participation for students with a preference for virtual learning. Students will be expected to take responsibility for their learning and to participate actively in the online environment.  

Assessment strategy and rationale

A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements.. 

These assessments are appropriate for the online and multi-mode of student engagement. 

• Assessment Task 1: A recorded document that seeks to articulate some of the key principles of, and approaches to Catholic biblical Interpretation. This task will address Learning Outcomes 1 and 2 and develop Graduate Attributes 4 and 5.  
• Assessment Task 2: A Critical Analysis of a Biblical Text that applies the principles of biblical interpretation. This task will address Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 3, and develop Graduate Attributes 2, 4 and 5. 
• Assessment Task 3: A research essay drawn from the course that will assist the student to address the opportunities and challenges of interpreting the Bible in their professional context. This task will address Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 3, and develop Graduate Attributes 2, 4 and 5. 

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

Aymer, M., Kittredge, C.M. & Sanchez, D.A. (eds). The New Testament: Fortress Commentary on the Bible. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2014.

Bergant, Dianne. Genesis : in the Beginning. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2013.

Bieringer, R., Elsbernd, M. & Susan M. Garthwaite, S.M. Normativity of the Future : Reading Biblical and Other Authoritative Texts in an Eschatological Perspective. Leuven: Peeters, 2010.

Carter, W., & Levine, A. The New Testament : Methods and meanings. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013. 

Chapman, S., & Sweeney, M. The Cambridge companion to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2016. 

Culpepper, R., Parsons, M., Malbon, E., & Anderson, P. Anatomies of the Gospels and beyond. Leiden: Brill, 2018. 

Maier, H. New Testament Christianity in the Roman world. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019. 

Yee, G. A., H. Page, M. Comber. (eds). The Old Testament and Apocrypha: Fortress Commentary on the Bible. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2014.