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CRS211Arts2 Unitsintermediate

Introduction To The Bible

This course provides a basic introduction to the Christian Bible. It explores the Bible's origins, name, and how it came to be regarded as the Word of God. Students will learn about the processes of composition, transmission, and canonization of the Old and New Testaments. The course also covers textual criticism, ancient language versions, and English translations, emphasizing the sacred character and importance of the Bible across faith traditions.

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130h

Study Time

13

Weeks

10h

Per Week

none

Math Level

Course Keywords

BibleInspirationCanonizationTextual CriticismTranslation

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level

Builds on foundational knowledge

65%

intermediate

📚

Math Level

No Math

📖

Learning Type

Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Meaning and Books of the Bible

2

Inspiration of Scripture

3

Infallibility and Inerrancy

4

Formation of Old and New Testament Canons

5

Textual Criticism

6

Ancient Bible Versions

7

English Bible Translations

Total Topics7 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

tutor-marked assessments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

final examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Computer Based Test

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Religious Studies Teacher

Apply your skills in this growing field

Theologian

Apply your skills in this growing field

Biblical Scholar

Apply your skills in this growing field

Religious Leader

Apply your skills in this growing field

Translator

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

Religious OrganizationsEducational InstitutionsPublishingTranslation ServicesResearch

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week

1

Module 1: Understanding the Bible

3h

Unit 1: The Meaning and Books of the Bible

3 study hours

•Read the introduction to the course guide.
•Understand the meaning of the word 'Bible'.
•Identify the different ways of dividing the Old Testament books.
•Explain the reason behind the emergence of the New Testament books.
•Classify the NT into different genres of literature.

Week

2

Module 1: Understanding the Bible

3h

Unit 2: Inspiration of the Scriptures

3 study hours

•Explain the Authorship of the Bible.
•Define the word 'Inspiration'.
•Discuss the evidences of Inspiration in both the Old and the New Testaments.
•Explain the various theoretical positions on the how of biblical inspiration.

Week

3

Module 1: Understanding the Bible

3h

Unit 3: Infallibility and Inerrancy

3 study hours

•Define inerrancy and infallibility as they apply to the scriptures.
•Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the different views on infallibility and inerrancy of biblical truth claims.

Week

4

Module 1: Understanding the Bible

3h

Unit 4: The Formation of Old and New Testaments' Canons

3 study hours

•Explain the meaning of the canon concept.
•Describe the development of the Bible Canon.
•State how Old and New Testaments came into being.
•Give a list of the earliest collections of both Old and New Testament canons.

Week

5

Module 2: Text Criticism of the Old and New Testaments

3h

Unit 1: Introducing Textual Criticism

3 study hours

•Learn about Text Criticism.
•Account for the existence of Textual Variants.
•Discuss the factors that go into determining the authenticity of a Manuscript.

Week

6

Module 2: Text Criticism of the Old and New Testaments

3h

Unit 2: Textual Transmission of the Old Testament

3 study hours

•Identify the texts that were written in Hebrew between 900 – 125 BCE.
•Discuss how OT texts provide the raw materials for textual criticism.
•Discuss the various modes of transmission of OT Manuscripts (MSS).

Week

7

Module 2: Text Criticism of the Old and New Testaments

3h

Unit 3: The Biblical Texts of the Dead Scrolls & Others

3 study hours

•Explain the roles of some scholars in the preservation processes of the text of the Bible.
•Discuss how scholars arrived in the final conclusion of the fairly accepted manuscript.
•Explain the importance of the DSS and the Targums in the Old Testament text.

Week

8

Module 2: Text Criticism of the Old and New Testaments

3h

Unit 4: The Manuscripts of the New Testament

3 study hours

•Discuss variant of uncials
•Explain the meaning of uncials
•Discuss the miniscules
•State the usefulness of Lectionaries to the critics
•Discuss the role of the early church fathers in the text families of the manuscripts
•Discuss the importance of the ancient versions in the textual criticism of both the Old Testament and the New Testaments.

Week

9

Module 3: The Bible: Texts and Versions

3h

Unit 1: Versions of the Old Testament

3 study hours

•Identify the origin of the Septuagint.
•Learn about the versions of the OT discovered in the DSS.
•Learn about other versions of the OT apart from the LXX.

Week

10

Module 3: The Bible: Texts and Versions

3h

Unit 2: English Language Versions of the Bible

3 study hours

•Discuss the emergence of the English versions of the bible.
•Learn about the roles played by scholars in the compilation of the New International Version.
•State the texts that were used to translate The New International Version.
•Name denominations that selected scholars to work on The New International Version.

Week

11

Module 1: Understanding the Bible

4h

Review of Module 1

4 study hours

•Review all units in Module 1.
•Complete assignments for Module 1.

Week

12

Module 2: Text Criticism of the Old and New Testaments

4h

Review of Module 2

4 study hours

•Review all units in Module 2.
•Complete assignments for Module 2.

Week

13

Module 3: The Bible: Texts and Versions

4h

Review of Module 3

4 study hours

•Review all units in Module 3.
•Complete assignments for Module 3.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create a timeline of key events in the formation of the Old and New Testament canons.

2

Compare and contrast the different views on biblical inspiration, focusing on key arguments and counterarguments.

3

Develop a glossary of key terms related to textual criticism, such as 'variant reading,' 'manuscript family,' and 'text type'.

4

Practice analyzing biblical passages from different translations, identifying potential differences in meaning and interpretation.

5

Focus on understanding the historical and cultural contexts of the Old and New Testaments, as this knowledge is crucial for interpreting biblical texts.

6

Review the arguments for and against the infallibility and inerrancy of Scripture, considering the evidence from both sides.

7

Create concept maps linking the different modules and units, highlighting the relationships between key concepts and themes.

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