Master 2 Concentration: Biblical Studies

Length: 1 year (can be spread over 2 calendar years)

Preparing for degree : Master of Arts in Theology

Entry requirements: MA1 in Religious Studies or MA1 in Theology (or equivalent)

Choose 4 courses and 1 research seminar from below - to be approved by the Director of Studies

YEAR 2 OF THE MASTER’S IN THEOLOGY - CONCENTRATION: BIBLICAL STUDIES

The program of the second year of Master’s in Theology (M2, Master 2) - Concentration: Biblical Studies provides, as its name suggests, specialized training in the field of biblical studies. It allows the student to delve into the different methods of reading and studying the Scriptures. The student studies more specifically certain books of the Bible, while acquiring a good knowledge of the languages, history and cultures of the Bible.

During this year, the student writes a research thesis under the direction of a qualified professor, which he or she is required to defend before a jury. The thesis is to be of 350 000 characters - (including spaces). Successful completion of the Master’s degree would enable students to teach and to go on to PhD studies.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

The program is structured into:

an Educational component with specialized courses and interactive online seminars
a Research component with a thesis, supervised by a research director

Courses and assignments	4 courses	24 ECTS
Online seminars and assignments	1 seminar	6 ECTS
Research	1 thesis	30 ECTS

The courses available for the Master 2 in Theology program - Concentration: Biblical Studies can be seen below, with a detailed description for each one. The student should choose their courses after completing the administrative registration application and this choice will be validated by the Board of Studies.

SEMINARS

The pedagogy of Domuni does not rely solely on reading. The interactive seminars are regularly offered for Master’s students. These are research seminars where students work synchronously: the seminars take place at fixed times and all participants study at the same time. Seminars are an opportunity for real dialogue-based research, led by a professor. The findings from seminars can lead to publication in Telos, the university’s journal.

ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE

Each course is evaluated by

- a 10-question quiz

- a long paper (10-15 pages)

At the end of the academic year

- The thesis defense concludes the MA 2

FLEXIBILITY

In addition to the fact that students can take more time and study one academic year over two calendar years, examinations, since the Covid 19 pandemic, can be done by videoconferencing, in front of the jury. For the thesis defense, assessments last one hour and are recorded. This arrangement helps to protect the environment (by avoiding travel), to save time and money and of course to avoid transmitting the Covid 19 virus.

It is also worth noting that enrollment happens daily. As soon as the registration process is completed, students receive a code that allows them to access the Domoodle teaching platform and begin studying. As mentioned above, each academic year can be spread over two calendar years without the need to re-enroll or pay tuition fees again.

List of Courses

Prophets Part I

An Introduction to the Prophetical Phenomenon

The prophets understand themselves as inspired by God and claim that what they say is word of God. This is obvious from the very frequent formula they use « Thus speaks the Lord »...

Prophets Part II

Minor Prophets

Study of the Writing Prophets in Chronological Order

Prophets Part III

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel

Study of the Writing Prophets in Chronological Order: from the Exile to the New Testament

The Gospel of St John

The principal aim of the course will be to furnish an appreciation of Johannine literature as Good News, with particular reference to the theological perspective of the author. The course will further aim at providing a basic familiarity with, and a critical assessment of, contemporary critical thinking on the Johannine writings, particularly the Gospel of John.

The Book of Tobit

The name which designates the book has not always been the same through the centuries. The name « Tobiah » in English or « Tobie » in French comes from the Latin Vulgate which gives the same Latin name, Tobias, to the father and the son. It has been used in the past decades but is generally no longer in use.

The Book of Esther

The story of Esther

The Book of Judith

The book of Judith is named after its main hero whose achievements it tells and glorifies. Like the books of Tobit and Esther, the book of Judith focuses on a main character and tells in detail the salvation given by God in a critical situation.

Gerald O'Collins' Understanding of Symbols, Experience and Divine Revelation

An Accommodation for a Christian Approach to the World Religions and Interreligious Dialogue in the Line of Jacques Dupuis

Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels - Part II

This course introduces you to the debates about the meaning of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke/Acts. What were the theological interests of the authors of the Synoptic Gospels?

Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels - Part III

What is the Jesus presented in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke like? How did he understand himself? How did the Evangelists understand him? Is that the same or different to the understanding of the disciples?

Introduction to the Pentateuch

All the Bibles, either Hebrew or Catholic or Protestant or Orthodox, agree on the first part of the Biblical Canon, that is the Pentateuch.

Historical Books of the Old Testament

In this course we look at the Hebrews’ arrival in the Promised Land and continue right up to the end of their existence as an independent nation when disaster overwhelmed them.

New Testament Events

This course is part of the book of Bieke Mahieu, Between Rome and Jerusalem. Herod the Great and His Sons in Their Struggle for Recognition: A Chronological Investigation of the Period 40 BC-39 AD, with a Time Setting of New Testament Events. Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta 208. Leuven: Peeters, 2012.

Newman's Theory of Doctrinal Development

Application of the Newmanian Criteriology on the Axiom "Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus"

Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels - Part I

How are the Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke interrelated? Did Matthew and Luke both use a written source 'Q' and Mark, when composing their Gospels? Did they each have their own sources as well?

Introduction to the Gospel of Mark

The Gospel of Mark is distinctive within the New testament. It may be the oldest Gospel, but it post-dates some of Paul’s letters, from which we already have a good picture of the preaching of Peter and Paul. Mark paints Jesus in down to earth human form, willing to change his mind, vulnerable to the opinions of others, and especially those of the ones who opposed him.

An Introduction to the New Testament using the Historical-Critical Method

The first thing to say is that the New Testament is the second half of the Christian Bible, and follows the Old Testament and what Protestants call the Apocrypha – mostly intertestamental writings which continue to speak of God’s grace and his care for his people, the people of Israel. The New Testament is about Jesus, a Jew from Israel, who lived and died and was brought back to life again by God.

The Epistles of John

This course places the Epistles of John within their context in the New Testament with the Gospel of John. It invites you to think for yourself about the meaning of the texts, and the relationship between the Epistles and the Gospel.