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Last modified: 02 Apr 2026 11:16
This course will examine in detail the literary, sociological, ethical, historical and theological dimensions of the letters of the New Testament (e.g., Pauline epistles) through a careful reading of the texts themselves, texts which have exercised enormous influence over the development of Christian theology and ethics through the centuries. This course will involve exploration and critique of new approaches to the interpretation of New Testament letters and the readings they produce in order to explore critically the life, thought, and practice of early Christianity.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 3 |
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| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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This course will examine in detail the literary, sociological, ethical, historical and theological dimensions of the letters of the New Testament (for example, the Pauline epistles) by means of a careful reading of the texts themselves. These letters constitute some of the earliest works of Christian writing and have exercised enormous influence over the development of Christian theology and ethics through the centuries.
Since the end of the Second World War, there have been significant developments in our understanding of Judaism in the early Common Era and of the socio-cultural realities of the wider Mediterranean world. These have led to the emergence of new readings of and new approaches to the New Testament letters and have demanded fresh accounts of the life, thought and practice of the early Christians. This course will involve exploration and critique of some of these new approaches to the interpretation of New Testament letters and the readings they produce. Central to the New Testament letters’ far-reaching and radical theologies and ethics are their particular identifications of Jesus, which shape their distinctive ways of speaking about God, salvation, humanity and the church.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback | ||||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
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| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Free choice. |
Word Count | 3000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Critical book review. |
Word Count | 1500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback | Word Count | 3000 | ||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Analyse | An understanding and practical knowledge of the questions that bear on how New Testament letters are to be read in relation to other early Christian writings. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Detailed knowledge of the issues of context and background usually held to be necessary to a responsible reading of New Testament letters. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Ability to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the different interpretations of Paul. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Detailed knowledge of the various scholarly interpretations of New Testament letters and their methodological dimensions. |
| Procedural | Apply | A high level of competency in the complex interpretative skills required for the analysis of New Testament letters. |
| Factual | Remember | Detailed knowledge of the content of selected New Testament letters. |
| Conceptual | Create | An ability to identify areas of future research in the New Testament letters. |
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