Common Good, Social Ethics and Community s2

AKC 1 General – Autumn Term 2008 – The Good Book: the Bible and its Impact 29/09/08

1. WHAT IS THE BIBLE?

THE REVD PROF RICHARD BURRIDGE, DEAN OF KING’S COLLEGE LONDON

NOTICES

Details of the AKC course are in the new booklet: 1st years should have been sent it over the summer, 2nd and 3rd years please do pick a copy up.
Lectures: you must attend one of the lectures on each site – see timetable in booklet. If both slots on your site are blocked please contact the Dean’s Office ASAP ( or 020 7848 2333).
Registration: fill in the online registration form. All students need to register. 2nd and 3rd year students should have passed the AKC last year (either the exam or AAP) to continue.
Attendance at lectures is a course requirement: there is no compulsory extra reading or essays, only suggested reading.
Exam: 27 March 2009 - please make a note of the exam date, prizes are awarded to the best 1st & final year student in each School.
Website: www.kcl.ac.uk/akc for full details, handouts & Discussion Board.

INTRODUCTION

KCL’s religious foundation and traditions; brief history of KCL and AKC.

General theme of term: to introduce the Bible – Jewish and Christian scriptures and its impact.

1 WHAT IS THE BIBLE?

a) Different meanings of 'read': reading the whole thing, Gen.1.1 to Rev. 22.21?

b) What do you mean by 'Bible'? Lots of different versions, bindings, translations.

c) Biblia = the books - a plural word. Lots of books, over 1,000 years; library.

d) Which people, and which God? Hebrew scriptures 24 books in three sections. Protestant Bible in two sections: Old Testament (24 reordered to make 39), plus New Testament (27) = 66. Catholic Bibles have 12 extras: Deutero-canonical books.

e) English translations: Authorised/King James Version – RV – RSV – NRSV. New English– REB. Jerusalem– NJB. New International Version. Good News – TEV.

2 HOW/WHO WROTE IT/THEM?

a) Process of writing was complex:

Stories define communities; passed on from one generation; Abraham, or Moses; early leaders and kings. Stories included God - and God's people, especially prophets. Being told by 1,000BC and being passed on. Five books of the Law of Moses (Genesis; Exodus; Leviticus; Numbers; Deuteronomy) were held as central - but the different Jewish groups accepted other different books. Translations into Greek (Septuagint or LXX). Collections of gospels and letters into the New Testament.

b) Process of canon was also complex

Circulation of early texts. Initial lists and debates in church fathers.

Jerome (331-420) in Latin West. The 24/39 Hebrew books were considered as core by both Jews and early Christians; the second list - deutero-canonical books, Catholics. The Reformation, Protestants (Calvin) v Lutherans and Church of England.

Conclusion: the Bible is not a single book, but a collection of books.

3 WHAT KIND OF BOOKS DOES IT CONTAIN?

a) Old Testament/Hebrew Scriptures (T-N-K) (See lectures 2 and 3)

The Law (torah) (Genesis; Exodus; Leviticus; Numbers; Deuteronomy)

The Prophets (nebi’im) Former prophets (Joshua; Judges; 1 & 2Samuel; 1 & 2Kings) and Latter Prophets (Isaiah; Jeremiah; Ezekiel; 12 minor prophets).

The Writings (ketubim) - Psalms, Job, Proverbs, and the rest – collection.

Christian order reveals a different analysis - of historical-narrative (Genesis-Esther), poetical books (Job-Psalms-Proverbs-Eccl-Song of Songs), prophets (Isaiah- Malachi). (See lecture 5)

b) New Testament (See lectures 4 and 6)

Four Gospels – ‘according to’ Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

The Acts of the Apostles, also written by Luke

Epistles – written by Paul and other early church leaders

Book of Revelation – or Apocalypse

4 HOW TO READ IT/THEM?

a) What kind of books? – genre criticism

b) What does text actually say? - textual criticism

c) Where/how did it come from/come to be written? - source criticism

d) What units make it up? - form criticism

e) What about the authors? - redaction criticism

f) What literary methods can be used? - literary criticism, narrative, composition, plot, structure, rhetoric.

g) Who was it written for? - sociological criticism; reader-response.

h) What effect or impact has it had? – history of influence.

5 APPROACHES TO THE BIBLE (See lectures 7, 8 and 9)

a) The Bible and History: Werner Keller's book The Bible as History (1956); Bible as Science - origins of universe, story of Genesis, etc.

b) The Bible and Morality: Back to Basics. 10 Commandments; over 600 commands, 365 negatives! How are we to interpret it today?

c) The Bible and Politics; large element of political and radical teaching; social justice; liberation theology (S. America), and movements in the West; feminism.

d) The Bible, Arts & Literature: Bible crucial to understand Western culture; phrases in everyday speech, and stories. The Bible as Literature. Old language loved.

e) The Bible and Religion; theories of inspiration? Problem of authority at Reformation - church v Bible. Is the Bible infallible? 2 Tim. 3.16 Bible as inspired.

CONCLUSION