EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the course, the student will be expected to possess sufficient knowledge of the early Christian texts, with particular regard to the language, style and literary forms of the writings that make up the New Testament, as well as knowledge of some non-canonical texts. In addition, knowledge of the historical and cultural environment in which the early Christian texts were formed and of the religious, linguistic and archaeological situation of Palestine in the Roman era will be required. Knowledge of the elements of textual criticism and the main witnesses of the New Testament is required.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Knowledge and understanding of the lines of historical and literary development of early Christian writings is required. Knowledge of basic and up-to-date bibliographical tools specific to the fields of biblical studies is required. The ability to use scholarly literature in at least one modern foreign language is required.
ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
The teaching will provide the student with the essential indications for critically accessing the early Christian texts, with special attention to the concepts of canonical and apocryphal. Special emphasis will therefore be given to the different modes of transmission of the text and the diversity of Christianity in the first centuries. The historical and cultural background of the surrounding Jewish and pagan environment will be known. The formation of the New Testament canon will be studied, with a brief introduction to the apocryphal texts.
FURTHER EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Autonomy of judgment:
-the student should be able to critically place the New Testament in its historical-archaeological context and distinguish between scholarly and confessional literature.
Communication skills:
-the student should be able to set forth in a simple and clear manner the state of knowledge on the formation and transmission of the early Christian texts, both canonical and apocryphal.
Learning skills:
-the student should show ability to recognize and point out in the New Testament the general structure, history of composition and transmission, various types of sources and literary genres represented.
None
Lectures with extensive use of multimedia aids.
Oral examination
1. R. Maisano, Filologia del Nuovo Testamento, Carocci, Roma 2014; ISBN 978-88-4307-320-7. Pagine 13-83; 85-112.
2.B.D. Ehrman, Il Nuovo Testamento. Un’introduzione, Carocci, Roma 2018; ISBN 978-88-430-7821-9. Pagine 1-390.
3.B.D. Ehrman, Inferno e paradiso. Storia dell'aldilà, Carocci, Roma 2020; ISBN 978-88-290-2434-6. (for further study)
4. The New Testament in translation. Any edition or translation can be used, as long as it is carried out on the original texts and possibly annotated. Full reading of Mark's gospel is required.
I.The historical and linguistic background
1.The Roman Palestine, the sources, the languages. The historical Jesus.
2.The transmission of the words of Jesus, the sources of the gospels, the synoptic problem.
3.The formation of the canon.
II. Contents and structure of the New Testament
1. The Synoptic gospels. Commentary on the Gospel of Mark. The literary structure, the characters, the messianic secret. The exorcisms of Jesus.
2. The Acts of the Apostles
3. The Johannine writings. The Gospel of John.
4. The Revelation
5. The New Testament apocrypha (the Gospel of Thomas, the Protogospel of James and the Acts of Paul)
III. Textual criticism of the New Testament (basic notions)
1.The manuscripts, the papyri, the scroll and the codex, the majuscules, the minuscules, the ancient translations.
IV. The visions of the afterlife in the Bible and early Christian texts
1.The fate of the dead and the resurrection in the Old Testament and the Apocrypha.
2.The Apocalypse of Peter
3. The Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas
Italian
Non-attending students are advised to contact the lecturer for clarification of the syllabus.
