Overview
The biblical text is one of the world’s oldest expressions of faith and one of the foundations of Christian theology, as well as being a cultural treasure. However, precisely because it is an ancient text, it is often difficult to interpret or access, especially for an inexperienced reader. Therefore, it is not enough to simply read it – the reader needs to understand it. To quote the Gospel: “Let the reader understand it” (Mark 13:14). In this course, participants will familiarize themselves with biblical texts through lectures and discussions, examining specific passages from both the Old and New Testaments. Every passage will be approached from three basic angles: its original meaning, patristic interpretation, and contemporary interpretation of the text. Participants are expected to take a proactive role in collaboratively shaping the course. Course reading material (specific biblical passages and stories, patristic and modern interpretations, etc.) will be chosen together with participants, based on their previous knowledge and interests. By engaging with the biblical texts together, participants will co-create an open environment which encourages exploration and questions.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the participants are (individually and collaboratively) expected to be able to:
- identify their initial perceptions and common misunderstandings about the Bible, establishing a shared baseline for further exploration.
- describe key events, figures, and stories from the Old and New Testaments, contributing their individual insights to the group’s collective understanding.
- explore a range of patristic and contemporary interpretations of biblical passages, appreciating a diversity of perspectives.
- analyze and connect different aspects of the Bible and its interpretations, developing a deeper, integrated understanding of its narratives in a theological, cultural and historical context.
- apply and extend their collective understanding to interpret biblical messages in modern contexts, demonstrating creative engagement with the texts.
Requirements
Students are expected to participate in all course activities, both by being present and playing an active role in scheduled course sessions, and by completing assignments to be done outside of scheduled lessons. If participants miss lessons, they may be required to do extra assignments in order to fulfill the participation requirements of the course. 80% attendance and participation (including completion of assignments) are required for the course to be considered to have been completed.
