THEO3215 Voices of Jewish Christianity

Reverend Doctor Vicky Balabanski

2016

4.5

1 x 2-hour seminar weekly

1 THEO1101 - Interpreting the Old Testament
2 THEO1204 - Synoptic Studies. Engaging the Gospel of Matthew, Mark or Luke
Must Satisfy: (1 and 2)

THEO3208 has been successfully completed

This topic explores the process by which Christianity came to be distinguished from Judaism during the 1st and 2nd Centuries, by means of a study of certain canonical and extra-canonical texts. Within the New Testament canon these include the Gospel of Matthew, the Epistles of James and Jude and the Epistle to the Hebrews. Extra-canonical writings include the pseudo-Clementine epistles. These are studied with a view to understanding them against their socio-historical background as voices struggling for the survival of authentic Jewish expressions of Christianity.

The aims of this topic are to:

encourage an appreciation of the diversity of early Christianity in general, and early Jewish Christianity in particular
refine exegetical, research and interpretive skills
grapple with the contemporary significance of the presence of minority expressions of faith within the canon
appreciate the implications of the interpretation of the New Testament for Jewish-Christian dialogue and relations

By the end of this topic students will:

recognise key aspects of early Jewish Christianity
understand the diversity of early Jewish-Christian groups
have knowledge of extra-canonical as well as diverse canonical witnesses to the variety of early Jewish-Christianity
recognise the consequences of Gentile expropriation of the Christian Jewish writings in the history of anti-Semitism
have extended their facility with exegetical methods
explain the key emphases of the Gospel of Matthew, the Epistle to the Hebrews and the Epistles of James, and Jude

Key dates and timetable

Timetable details for 2016 are no longer published.

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