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Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information
for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
| Unit name |
The Dead Sea Scrolls and Scripture |
| Unit code |
THRS30097 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
H/6
|
| 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 |
Description including Unit Aims
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:
- the overall nature of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the variety of scriptural interpretation found among the so-called sectarian Scrolls;
- the significance of the scriptural manuscripts among the Scrolls;
- different critical perspectives in modern scholarship on the
They will also be expected to have acquired:
- appropriate skills in critical thinking, textual interpretation, historical analysis, and argumentation in written and oral communication, using evidence from primary texts and secondary sources.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the overall nature of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the variety of scriptural interpretation found among the Scrolls
- critically evaluate specific issues of the nature and significance of the scriptural manuscripts among the Scrolls
- discriminate between different critical perspectives in modern scholarship on the nature of the Scrolls and the variety of ancient Jewish scriptural interpretation
- demonstrate skills in critical thinking, textual interpretation, historical analysis, and argumentation in written and oral communication, using evidence from primary texts and secondary sources appropriate to level H/6.
Teaching Information
1 x two-hour seminar per week; 1 x one-hour seminar per week
Assessment Information
One 3000-word summative essay (50%) [ILOs 1-4]
One 2-hour summative exam (50%) [ILOs 1-4]
Reading and References
- Géza Vermès, The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English. Rev ed. Penguin 2004.
- Martin Abegg and Peter Flint, The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible. Harper, 2002.
- L.H. Schiffman & J.C. VanderKam, eds., Encyclopedia' of the Dead Sea Scrolls, vols 1-2, 2000
- Philip R. Davies et al., Complete World of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Thames & Hudson, 2002.
- Jonathan G. Campbell, Deciphering the Dead Sea Scrolls. 2nd ed. Blackwell, 2002.
- Stanley E. Porter and Craig A. Evans, The Scrolls and the Scriptures: Qumran fifty years after. Sheffield, 1997.
