Annotation
A two-semester series of lectures aimed at providing (a) a factual knowledge of the biblical texts (the Old Testament including the deuterocanonical books), (b) a basic knowledge of the Bible, its forms and constituent parts (the books and groups of books), and their literary and factual characteristics, and (c) an understanding of the basic issues relating to biblical studies, especially how Scripture has been read, used, and interpreted in the Christian tradition.
The aim is for students to acquire a basic knowledge of the biblical material, an orientation in the biblical texts, their kinds and nature, and a knowledge of the Bible and the methodological approaches to studying it.
The course is arranged so as to roughly follow the order of the books in the Hebrew Bible (the Palestine Canon). In the winter semester the course covers a general introduction and the books of the Pentateuch (Torah), and in the summer semester the Former and Latter Prophets, the Writings (Ketuvim), the deuterocanonical books, and the most important pseudepigrapha.
The lectures assume ongoing preparation and independent work from students, especially reading the biblical texts (translated into the vernacular) and studying recommended literature.
Students have to pass a separate test at the end of each semester.
The final examination is part of the comprehensive examination before a commission at the end of the first year, which also covers the courses Introduction to New Testament Studies and Introduction to the Study of Theology.