Courses

This course exposes students to a variety of Greek texts that are important for understanding the language and literature of the Greek New Testament. These texts include the Septuagint, papyri, inscriptions, and various extra-biblical writings such as the apocryphal gospels. Students are led to appreciate the literary conventions and genres of the Greco-Roman world.

This course reviews the historical prophet Isaiah and the political circumstances in which he lived. It also considers the subsequent formation of the Book of Isaiah, including its various components and perspectives, its unified message and various features of inner-interpretation.

This course explores the nature of Paul's argument in his letter to the Roman Christians, with special emphasis on the apostle's scriptural defence of the Christian gospel and his understanding of the relationship of Gentiles to Israel.

This course examines the Psalms as the primary window into Israel's worship, especially during the pre-exilic period. Features of both corporate and individual faith are brought to light.

This course reviews the various questions of sources, relationship to the Synoptic Gospels, Christology, use of the Old Testament, religious background, and early Jewish/Christian polemic.

This course offers an analysis of the biblical and intertestamental wisdom literature with a special emphasis on the Book of Ecclesiastes, i.e. Qohelet.

This course surveys the Dead Sea Scrolls and the light they shed on Second Temple Judaism and early Christianity. Themes of major sectarian scrolls are studied; recently published scrolls and fragments are evaluated.

This course introduces students to various technical features involved in the study of New Testament Greek. These studies include treatment of aspects of advanced Greek grammar, textual criticism, the influence of the Septuagint on the New Testament, the literary and linguistic influence of literary Greek on the New Testament, and the relevance of Greek study for New Testament exegesis.

This course introduces the student to the most important rabbinic writings (e.g., Mishnah, Talmud, and the Midrashim). Sessions consist of readings and introductory lectures concerned with the origin and editing of this literature, its purposes, and the types of scriptural and logical arguments employed. Selected writings are studied in greater depth; depending on the makeup of the class, some passages are read in Hebrew and others in English.