Unit name | The Dead Sea Scrolls and Scripture |
---|---|
Unit code | THRSM0132 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
Unit director | Dr. Lindsey Davidson |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | Department of Religion and Theology |
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
How was scripture understood and interpreted in the Dead Sea Scrolls? This unit treats the background and texts of the Dead Sea Scrolls in general, and then focuses on the state and status of the Jewish scriptures in the late Second Temple period of Judaism (c. 250 BCE-70 CE), both within the Qumran community and elsewhere. It will also consider the related issue of the interpretation of those scriptures in the Dead Sea Scrolls against the background of roughly contemporary exegetical literature (e.g. Philo, New Testament). Students will become familiar with the selected primary sources chosen from the Dead Sea Scrolls and related literature, as well as general historical and literary contexts, and there will be a weekly student presentation on a key primary text. All ancient sources will be used through the medium of English translation.
This unit aims to provide an in-depth critical understanding of:
(1) the overall nature of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the variety of scriptural interpretation found among the so-called sectarian Scrolls;
(2) the significance of the scriptural manuscripts among the Scrolls;
(3) different critical perspectives in modern scholarship on the
They will also be expected to have acquired:
(4) appropriate skills in critical thinking, textual interpretation, historical analysis, and argumentation in written and oral communication, using evidence from primary texts and secondary sources.
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1 x two-hour seminar per week; 1 x one-hour seminar per week
One 4000-word summative essay (100%) [ILOs 1-4].