CODE

PGDIP – OVERVIEW OF COURSE IN BIBLICAL STUDIES

CREDITS

SW400

Applied Research Skills (Core)

The first part of the course will concentrate on academic reading and writing of theological texts, and on critical thinking and is meant to create the foundation for postgraduate theological work on which individual courses in different disciplines can build. The second part of the course focuses on research skills and proposal writing.

30

UW401

Pasifika Hermeneutics: Why Context Matters

(Core)

The course aims to develop a deep knowledge of students on the ‘art of relational interpretation’ that is Pasifika and home-grown. Hermeneutics is fundamental to the Pasifika decolonial agenda, especially the decolonisation of the mindset, and the development of Pasifika home-grown research frameworks. The course focuses on allowing the productive role of the student and his/her context to creatively reconstruct new and life-affirming meaning in the reception of texts (such as the Bible), art, dance, songs and poetry, culture, traditions, rituals, bodily language, etc, based on their particular life worlds and challenges. The first half will focus on exploring, discussing, and critically analysing the hermeneutical traditions of the West as well as contemporary approaches from other parts of the world. The second half focuses on developing Pasifika ‘whole of life’ communities-based hermeneutics, to assist with rethinking our understanding of God, faith, culture, development, education, research, and traditions. Thus, the course is transdisciplinary. The aim is to develop decolonial foundations to inform leadership for justice and to underpin the development of sustainable and resilient frameworks, models, and paradigms of life for the

Pasifika churches, society, and academia.

30

BS400

Biblical Interpretation and Hermeneutics

(Specialised)

This course is designed to offer students who specialise in Biblical Studies an advanced orientation to interpretation methods and their hermeneutical presuppositions and assumptions, ranging from various forms of historical criticism to text- and reader-centred approaches, advocacy readings, and various approaches taken by scholars in Oceania. The question of the relevance of all these approaches to church and society in various frameworks within the Pacific will permeate the course. Competent knowledge of the Biblical languages is assumed though not required for this course.

30

XX400

Choose one 400 course from another discipline (eg PM400, TE400, HC400, EC400)

30

BS401

Apocalypse and Empire (Specialised)

This is a joint OT/NT specialisation course, offered for students specialising in either field. It covers two connected, though distinct areas of scholarly concern: Firstly, the course will explore issues that arise from the current scholarly focus on empire as a lived reality which pervaded the world of the Scriptures, and will do this by studying historical, literary, and theological aspects of selected Biblical texts. Secondly, the course will explore apocalyptic literature in the Scriptures and the world they come from. Inter alia, we will study the historical setting of such works (including contexts of empire); symbols, metaphors, and intertextual relationships; and the interpretation of such texts in our context(s) today. The course will work on the basis of English translations, with some reference to the Scriptures in their original languages. 

30

BS402

Job and God and Creation in the Book of Job

30

TOTAL

180

CODE

PGDIP – OVERVIEW OF COURSE IN BIBLICAL STUDIES

CREDITS

SW400

Applied Research Skills (Core)

The first part of the course will concentrate on academic reading and writing of theological texts, and on critical thinking and is meant to create the foundation for postgraduate theological work on which individual courses in different disciplines can build. The second part of the course focuses on research skills and proposal writing.

30

UW401

Pasifika Hermeneutics: Why Context Matters

(Core)

The course aims to develop a deep knowledge of students on the ‘art of relational interpretation’ that is Pasifika and home-grown. Hermeneutics is fundamental to the Pasifika decolonial agenda, especially the decolonisation of the mindset, and the development of Pasifika home-grown research frameworks. The course focuses on allowing the productive role of the student and his/her context to creatively reconstruct new and life-affirming meaning in the reception of texts (such as the Bible), art, dance, songs and poetry, culture, traditions, rituals, bodily language, etc, based on their particular life worlds and challenges. The first half will focus on exploring, discussing, and critically analysing the hermeneutical traditions of the West as well as contemporary approaches from other parts of the world. The second half focuses on developing Pasifika ‘whole of life’ communities-based hermeneutics, to assist with rethinking our understanding of God, faith, culture, development, education, research, and traditions. Thus, the course is transdisciplinary. The aim is to develop decolonial foundations to inform leadership for justice and to underpin the development of sustainable and resilient frameworks, models, and paradigms of life for the

Pasifika churches, society, and academia.

30

BS400

Biblical Interpretation and Hermeneutics

(Specialised)

This course is designed to offer students who specialise in Biblical Studies an advanced orientation to interpretation methods and their hermeneutical presuppositions and assumptions, ranging from various forms of historical criticism to text- and reader-centred approaches, advocacy readings, and various approaches taken by scholars in Oceania. The question of the relevance of all these approaches to church and society in various frameworks within the Pacific will permeate the course. Competent knowledge of the Biblical languages is assumed though not required for this course.

30

XX400

Choose one 400 course from another discipline (eg PM400, TE400, HC400, EC400)

30

BS401

Apocalypse and Empire (Specialised)

This is a joint OT/NT specialisation course, offered for students specialising in either field. It covers two connected, though distinct areas of scholarly concern: Firstly, the course will explore issues that arise from the current scholarly focus on empire as a lived reality which pervaded the world of the Scriptures, and will do this by studying historical, literary, and theological aspects of selected Biblical texts. Secondly, the course will explore apocalyptic literature in the Scriptures and the world they come from. Inter alia, we will study the historical setting of such works (including contexts of empire); symbols, metaphors, and intertextual relationships; and the interpretation of such texts in our context(s) today. The course will work on the basis of English translations, with some reference to the Scriptures in their original languages. 

30

BS402

Job and God and Creation in the Book of Job

30

TOTAL

180