1. In the Beginning
What are the diverse issues, critical methods, and approaches that can play a role in biblical interpretation? How do they shed light on the chapter where God says "let there be light"?
1. In the Beginning (info)
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13. The Book of Judges, Part I
In essence a large type scene of apostasy, punishment, repentance, and rescue, Judges ultimately spirals into idolatry, rape, and near genocide. Yet this deep tragedy is leavened by high comedy, which this lecture introduces even as it raises historical, theological, and moral questions.
13. The Book of Judges, Part I (info)
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2. Adam and Eve
This lecture follows Genesis selectively, episode by episode, to highlight its status as a foundational narrative, its complexity, the possible order of its composition, its ancient Near Eastern connections, and the questions it raises.
2. Adam and Eve (info)
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14. The Book of Judges, Part II
Returning to Gideon's son Abimelech and then introducing the tragic judges of Jephthah and Samson, this lecture unveils the increasing instability of the judge as political leader and the descent of Israel's tribal confederation into moral and political chaos.
14. The Book of Judges, Part II (info)
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3. Murder, Flood, Dispersion
This lecture investigates the major themes of Genesis by analyzing the stories of Cain and Abel, Noah's Flood, the Tower of Babel, and more.
3. Murder, Flood, Dispersion (info)
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15. Samuel and Saul
This lecture begins with Samuel, who represents the transition from charismatic leader to prophet, and then turns to the tragedy of King Saul to reveal the benefits and liabilities of monarchy.
15. Samuel and Saul (info)
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4. Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar
Here we meet Abraham—faithful hero, morally ambiguous trickster, and patriarch—first briefly via historical investigation, and then through a close reading of Genesis 12:10–20.
4. Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar (info)
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16. King David
What is David's status in history? How does the complex story of his relationship with Bathsheba combine the personal and political while revealing his charm, his ruthlessness, and his faith?
16. King David (info)
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5. Isaac
The accounts of Abraham's son Isaac and daughter-in-law Rebecca (Genesis 21–24) provide the opportunity to introduce the method of biblical study known as "source criticism" as well as to demonstrate its limitations.
5. Isaac (info)
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17. From King Solomon to Preclassical Prophecy
Biblical prophets were known less for predicting the future than for communicating divine will, usually through poetry, and often in debate with kings and priests. This lecture focuses on the "preclassical" (nonwriting) prophets, particularly Elijah.
17. From King Solomon to Preclassical Prophecy (info)
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6. The Jacob Saga
The story of Isaac's sons Jacob and Esau (beginning in Genesis 25) provides an example of the insights that can be gleaned from "form criticism." This approach attends carefully to metaphor, double meaning, narrative voice, physical descriptions, handling of motivation, and use of dialogue.
6. The Jacob Saga (info)
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18. The Prophets and the Fall of the North
Amos and Hosea, the first two classical prophets whose words are preserved in the canon, offer poetic critiques of the government of Israel, the priesthood, and the rich. What followed from their warnings about both personal behavior and political machinations?
18. The Prophets and the Fall of the North (info)
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7. Folklore Analysis and Type Scenes
Source and form criticism can help us understand common biblical plot lines, or "type scenes." Type-scene analysis, a method pioneered by folklorists, reveals narrative art and teaches about community heroes and values. Here we focus on betrothal scenes.
7. Folklore Analysis and Type Scenes (info)
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19. The Southern Kingdom
What was the context in which the major prophet Isaiah issues his oracles? How did the Southern Kingdom of Israel respond under its kings Hezekiah and Josiah?
19. The Southern Kingdom (info)
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8. Moses and Exodus
Combining folklore, morality, theology and, perhaps, historical memory, Exodus 1–15 offers quick-witted women, a reluctant hero, and a mysterious deity. This lecture introduces "text criticism" while discussing slavery in Egypt, Moses' infancy and commission, and the Exodus itself.
8. Moses and Exodus (info)
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20. Babylonian Exile
This lecture begins on the eve of the Exile, with the prophetic warnings of Jeremiah. It introduces the prophecies, narratives, and law by which the Judean exiles maintained their identity.
20. Babylonian Exile (info)
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9. The God of Israel
More than an account of the liberation of Hebrew slaves, the opening chapters of Exodus also provide insight into the name of the deity and the sources employed in the Pentateuch's composition.
9. The God of Israel (info)
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21. Restoration and Theocracy
What did the exiles find on their return from Babylon? How did these conditions lead to the breakdown of classical prophecy and an increasing concern with assimilation and intermarriage?
21. Restoration and Theocracy (info)
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10. Covenant and Law, Part I
Knowing the forms that legal contracts could take in the ancient Near East helps us understand the character of the covenants that the deity makes with the people (through Moses), and with individuals such as Noah, Abraham, and David.
10. Covenant and Law, Part I (info)
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22. Wisdom Literature
Since the "Sumerian Job" of the 4th century B.C.E., authors have attempted to make sense of the world and our place in it. Biblical contributions to such "wisdom literature" range from the optimistic Song of Songs to the practical proverbs and the pessimistic Ecclesiastes. But the most famous, and most controversial, is the Book of Job.
22. Wisdom Literature (info)
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11. Covenant and Law, Part II
Likely products of centuries of development, the Torah's laws concerning diet, farming, and sexual practices mar the covenant community as a holy people. Scholars still debate the laws' origin, symbolic meaning, and implementation.
11. Covenant and Law, Part II (info)
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23. Life in the Diaspora
The Babylonian Exile gave rise to the Diaspora ("dispersion") of the Judeans, now known as Jews. New questions of identity arose. The court tales of Esther and Daniel, like those of Joseph and Moses, gave answers at once humorous, macabre, and profound.
23. Life in the Diaspora (info)
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12. The “Conquest”
With this lecture we move to Joshua, the first prophetic book. After looking briefly at the account of Moses' death and the function of "holy war," we address Joshua through three major explanations for Israel's presence in Canaan: conquest, immigration, and internal revolt.
12. The “Conquest” (info)
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24. Apocalyptic Literature
What are the literary devices and sociological origins of apocalyptic writing? How are these typified by the Old Testament's only full-blown apocalyptic account (Daniel 7–12)? We conclude with a few comments on messianic speculation and future hope.
24. Apocalyptic Literature (info)
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1. The Early Christians and Their Literature
In our strictly historical study of the New Testament, our overarching questions will include: Who were the actual authors? To whom did they write?
1. The Early Christians and Their Literature (info)
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13. The Acts of the Apostles
Written by the evangelist Luke, Acts narrates the growth and spread of the church, starting from just after Jesus' ascension. In this lecture we will explore this narrative, examine the historical accuracy of some of its accounts, and discuss Luke's perspective.
13. The Acts of the Apostles (info)
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2. The Greco-Roman Context
Why must anyone who hopes to interpret the New Testament understand its historical context? What was the religious environment of the Greco-Roman world like? How was ancient paganism different from what people today think of as religion?
2. The Greco-Roman Context (info)
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14. Paul—The Man, the Mission, and the Modus Operandi
Apart from Jesus, the most important figure in early Christianity was the apostle Paul. For various reasons, a clear picture of his life and teachings is elusive. Yet a careful reading of his letters and the book of Acts reveals significant information about the life and work of this highly religious Pharisaic Jew who became a Christian missionary, intent on spreading the Gospel among the Gentiles.
14. Paul—The Man, the Mission, and the Modus Operandi (info)
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3. Ancient Judaism
Judaism, into which Jesus was born, was like other religions of the Greco-Roman world in some respects, but very different in others. At the time of Jesus, it had several sects. Many Jews embraced apocalyptic ideas, maintaining that God would soon intervene in history, crushing evil and bringing about his kingdom on Earth.
3. Ancient Judaism (info)
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15. Paul and the Crises of His Churches—First Corinthians
Why can we take Paul's first letter to the Christians at Corinth as representative of all his writings? What are the problems besetting this community of believers? What is the Apostle's impassioned response?
15. Paul and the Crises of His Churches—First Corinthians (info)
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4. The Earliest Traditions About Jesus
Even though the earliest traditions about Jesus go back to eyewitnesses, the Gospels were not written down for several decades. Why do scholars think that during this period, some traditions about Jesus came to be modified or even created?
4. The Earliest Traditions About Jesus (info)
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16. Pauline Ethics
Paul's writings are pervaded by a concern for upright, moral living. He believes that even the Gentiles should strive to follow the ethical laws of the Jewish Scriptures, especially the command of Leviticus 19:18 that one should love one's neighbor as oneself. Given Paul's teaching that salvation cannot be gained through observance of God's law, does his ethical concern represent a paradox? Finally, is there a link between Paul's apocalyptic convictions and his teachings on ethics?
16. Pauline Ethics (info)
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5. Mark—Jesus the Suffering Son of God
Mark is the shortest and oldest of the four Gospels. Its unknown author had access to oral traditions about Jesus. Mark orders these traditions into a portrait of Jesus as the authoritative but almost universally misunderstood Messiah and Son of God, whose mission is to suffer and die for the sins of the world.
5. Mark—Jesus the Suffering Son of God (info)
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17. Paul’s Letter to the Romans
What is unique about the letter to the Romans? What are the two different models of salvation through Christ that Paul propounds here? And what part does God's revealed law, given to the Jews and preserved by them in the Hebrew Bible, play in God's ultimate plan of redemption?
17. Paul’s Letter to the Romans (info)
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6. Matthew—Jesus the Jewish Messiah
Because Matthew, Mark, and Luke share so many of the same stories, they are often called the "Synoptic" Gospels. Their similarities are usually taken to mean that one, Mark, served as a source for the other two. One of the ways to study Matthew and Luke is to compare them to Mark, looking for evidence of modifications. Matthew in particular stresses Jesus' Jewish identity and his relationship to currents within the Judaism of his age.
6. Matthew—Jesus the Jewish Messiah (info)
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18. Paul, Jesus, and James
In previous lectures we have examined the teachings of the historical Jesus and the theological views of the apostle Paul. In this lecture we will compare what we have found, adding the views of the apostle James to gain a rounded sense of the diversity of early Christian beliefs.
18. Paul, Jesus, and James (info)
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7. Luke—Jesus the Savior of the World
Luke emphasizes Jesus as a Jewish prophet. Jesus knows that it is God's plan for his salvation to go out to the whole world, and hence does not predict the imminent end of the age. The message of salvation must first go out to the Gentiles, which will take time. Since the church will be in the world for a long haul, Luke puts a special stress on Jesus' "social" message of compassion for the poor and downtrodden.
7. Luke—Jesus the Savior of the World (info)
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19. The Deutero-Pauline Epistles
This lecture considers some of the Deutero-Pauline epistles, so called because scholars accord them a secondary place within the Pauline corpus. Writing in someone else's name was a well-known practice in the ancient world, and could be a good strategy for getting one's work read. In this lecture, most of our attention will focus on Ephesians, which speaks eloquently of the unity of Jew and Gentile in Christ, but which does not appear to have come from Paul's pen.
19. The Deutero-Pauline Epistles (info)
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8. John—Jesus the Man from Heaven
In John's strikingly singular account, Jesus' own identity is the core issue. Rather than simply being a misunderstood representative of God's will, or a rejected prophet, or a Jewish messiah sent from the Jewish God in fulfillment of the Jewish scriptures, John's Jesus is himself divine, equal with God, an incarnation of God's own Word through which he created the universe.
8. John—Jesus the Man from Heaven (info)
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20. The Pastoral Epistles
What makes the letters 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus pastoral epistles? Why are scholars convinced that Paul himself could not have written them?
20. The Pastoral Epistles (info)
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9. Noncanonical Gospels
More than 20 Gospels survive that did not make it into the New Testament. Most are highly legendary and use earlier written accounts as sources. They can be categorized as either narrative or "sayings" Gospels. In this lecture, you will examine examples of each, including one that is among the most exciting archaeological finds of modern times: the "Gnostic" Gospel of Thomas unearthed at Nag Hammadi, Egypt, in 1947.
9. Noncanonical Gospels (info)
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21. The Book of Hebrews and the Rise of Christian Anti-Semitism
Did you know that the so-called epistle to the Hebrews is neither an epistle nor addressed to the Hebrews? To whom is it addressed, then, and for what purpose? Why does it teach what it does about the superiority of Christianity to Judaism, and why did the early Christians include it in the canon?
21. The Book of Hebrews and the Rise of Christian Anti-Semitism (info)
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10. The Historical Jesus—Sources and Problems
In this lecture, you move beyond a discussion of the early Christian Gospels as literary texts, each with a distinctive portrayal of Jesus, to consider their value as historical sources. How can sources that appear to contain discrepancies and that have their own theological agendas be used to achieve a historical reconstruction of the life of the man who stands behind them all?
10. The Historical Jesus—Sources and Problems (info)
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22. First Peter and the Persecution of the Early Christians
This lecture briefly discusses 1 Peter and its teachings on suffering for the faith. Then it explores more broadly the issue of persecution in early Christianity. What was the status of Christianity under the Roman empire? Why were there outbreaks of persecution against Christians, and how systematic were the abuses inflicted on followers of Christ?
22. First Peter and the Persecution of the Early Christians (info)
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11. The Historical Jesus—Solutions and Methods
What criteria do scholars use to determine which surviving traditions about Jesus preserve historically reliable information? This lecture explores these criteria at greater length, explaining the logic behind each and exploring several examples of how they can be applied.
11. The Historical Jesus—Solutions and Methods (info)
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23. The Book of Revelation
The Revelation of John is probably the most fascinating book in the New Testament, and almost certainly the most widely misunderstood. This lecture explores apocalyptic writing as a symbol-rich literary form, and argues that this particular Christian apocalypse is best read within its own historical context of religious persecution under the Roman Empire.
23. The Book of Revelation (info)
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12. Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet
Why does careful research indicate that the historical Jesus is best understood as a 1st-century Jewish apocalpyticist? What are the beliefs that fit under the rubric "apocalypticist," and how do the words and deeds of Jesus reveal his relationship to them?
12. Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (info)
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24. Do We Have the Original New Testament?
No original manuscript of any book in the New Testament appears to have survived. There are thousands of handwritten copies in Greek, but most date from centuries after the originals, no two match completely, and all are filled with mistakes.
24. Do We Have the Original New Testament? (info)
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