Introduction To The Bible
- Arts
- 200 level
- 2 credit units
- 109 pages
- 10 units
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.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 130 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of CRS211, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
CRS211 · UNIT 1: THE MEANING AND BOOKS OF THE BIBLE
This unit is an introduction to the course and its title. Among other things, it teaches the meaning of the Bible, the names of the Books of the Bible, the classification of the Christian Bible into Old and New Testament as well as highlights the contents of each of the Testaments.
What you should be able to do
- Explain the meaning and origin of the Bible.
- Identify the different divisions of the Old Testament.
- Discuss the concept of biblical inspiration and its implications.
- Analyze the formation of the Old and New Testament canons.
- Describe the principles and methods of textual criticism.
- Compare and contrast various ancient and modern Bible translations.
What it prepares you for
- Religious Studies Teacher
- Theologian
- Biblical Scholar
- Religious Leader
- Translator
- Religious Organizations
- Educational Institutions
- Publishing
- Translation Services
- Research
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 2: Text Criticism of the Old and New Testaments
Unit 1: Introducing Textual Criticism
Understanding the complexities of intentional and unintentional scribal alterations requires careful analysis and attention to detail.
- Module 2: Text Criticism of the Old and New Testaments
Unit 2: Textual Transmission of the Old Testament
Grasping the nuances of the Masoretic tradition and its impact on the Hebrew Bible demands familiarity with ancient languages and historical contexts.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 42 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Understanding the Bible
Unit 1: The Meaning and Books of the Bible · 3 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 2Module 1: Understanding the Bible
Unit 2: Inspiration of the Scriptures · 3 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 3Module 1: Understanding the Bible
Unit 3: Infallibility and Inerrancy · 3 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 4Module 1: Understanding the Bible
Unit 4: The Formation of Old and New Testaments' Canons · 3 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 5Module 2: Text Criticism of the Old and New Testaments
Unit 1: Introducing Textual Criticism · 3 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 6Module 2: Text Criticism of the Old and New Testaments
Unit 2: Textual Transmission of the Old Testament · 3 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 7Module 2: Text Criticism of the Old and New Testaments
Unit 3: The Biblical Texts of the Dead Scrolls & Others · 3 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 8Module 2: Text Criticism of the Old and New Testaments
Unit 4: The Manuscripts of the New Testament · 3 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 9Module 3: The Bible: Texts and Versions
Unit 1: Versions of the Old Testament · 3 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 10Module 3: The Bible: Texts and Versions
Unit 2: English Language Versions of the Bible · 3 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 11Module 1: Understanding the Bible
Review of Module 1 · 4 hours
Review all units in Module 1.. Complete assignments for Module 1..
- Week 12Module 2: Text Criticism of the Old and New Testaments
Review of Module 2 · 4 hours
Review all units in Module 2.. Complete assignments for Module 2..
- Week 13Module 3: The Bible: Texts and Versions
Review of Module 3 · 4 hours
Review all units in Module 3.. Complete assignments for Module 3..
Preparing for the exam
- Create a timeline of key events in the formation of the Old and New Testament canons.
- Compare and contrast the different views on biblical inspiration, focusing on key arguments and counterarguments.
- Develop a glossary of key terms related to textual criticism, such as 'variant reading,' 'manuscript family,' and 'text type'.
- Practice analyzing biblical passages from different translations, identifying potential differences in meaning and interpretation.
- Focus on understanding the historical and cultural contexts of the Old and New Testaments, as this knowledge is crucial for interpreting biblical texts.
- Review the arguments for and against the infallibility and inerrancy of Scripture, considering the evidence from both sides.
- Create concept maps linking the different modules and units, highlighting the relationships between key concepts and themes.
Questions students ask about this course
What is CRS211 about?
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.
How many units does CRS211 have?
CRS211, Introduction To The Bible, has 10 units across 3 modules, over 109 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is CRS211?
CRS211 carries 2 credit units, at 200 level in Arts.
Is CRS211 hard?
CRS211 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does CRS211 take to study?
About 130 hours of study, spread across its 10 units.
How is CRS211 assessed?
CRS211 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with CRS211?
Religious Studies Teacher, Theologian, Biblical Scholar, Religious Leader and Translator.