Timetabling
This unit considers the texts of the New Testament in relation to the development of early Christian moral conviction and practice. We will explore the main contours, principles and themes of the diverse ethical material in the New Testament, set these in the context of the wider Jewish and Graeco-Roman environments and consider the exegetical and hermeneutical issues involved in using New Testament texts appropriately in contemporary ethical reflection.
Description
Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:
Demonstrate an in-depth, coherent knowledge and understanding of ethical teaching in the New Testament, especially its theological basis and contextual location.
Use advanced exegetical skills in the analysis of New Testament texts in relation to early Christian moral conviction and practice.
Critically assess scholarly attempts to use the New Testament as the basis for contemporary ethical reflection and decision making.
Draw upon their knowledge, exegetical skills and scholarly research in order to formulate and present their own interpretation of the place of New Testament texts in ethical reflection and practice.
Demonstrate an advanced ability to engage in independent research on primary and secondary resources relating to the unit.
Prohibited Combinations:
BS/DE420: Use of the Bible in Ethics (Whitley College)
Teaching Methods:
3 hours of lectures and Seminars (including student led seminars) per week for 12 weeks
Assessment:
1 x exegetical seminar presentation and submitted paper of 2000 words (40%)
1 x thematic essay of 4000 words (60%)
Mode of Teaching:
Semester
Bibliography:
Barton, Stephen C. Life Together: Family, Sexuality and Community in the New Testament and Today . Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 2001.
Burridge, Richard A. Imitating Jesus: An Inclusive Approach to New Testament Ethics . Grand Rapids / Cambridge: Eerdmans, 2007.
Countryman, L. William. Dirt, Greed and Sex: Sexual Ethics and Their Implications for Today. London: SCM, 1988.
Fowl, Stephen E. and L. Gregory Jones. Reading in Communion: Scripture and Ethics in Christian Life . London: SPCK, 1991.
Hays, Richard B. The Moral Vision of the New Testament: Community, Cross, New Creation: A Contemporary Introduction to New Testament Ethics . New York: HarperCollins, 1996.
Horrell, David G. Solidarity and Difference: A Contemporary Reading of Paul's Ethics . London / New York: T & T Clark International, 2005.
Matera, Frank J. New Testament Ethics: The Legacies of Jesus and Paul . Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1996.
Meeks, Wayne A. The Origins of Christian Morality: The First Two Centuries . New Haven & London: Yale University Press, 1993.
Schrage, Wolfgang. The Ethics of the New Testament . Translated by David E. Green. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1988.
Siker, Jeffrey. Scripture and Ethics: Twentieth Century Portraits . New York: Oxford University Press, 1996.
Unit Fields
Unit Level
Postgraduate:
Postgraduate
