BBCL2609: Semester 1, 2020

Units BBCL2609 Semester 1 2020 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

BBCL2609: Historical Jesus to Written Gospels

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

This unit examines the relationship between the historical person of Jesus of Nazareth and the literary-theological achievement of the early Christian Gospels (including non-canonical Gospels). Students are encouraged to apply rigorous historical method and careful literary analysis in order to gain a nuanced understanding of how the leader of a Jewish renewal movement became the object of devotion in earliest Christianity. The unit will read Biblical texts in English translation.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	12 Junior credit points including at least 6 in BBCL1001, BBCL1002, HBRW1111, HBRW1112, RLST1002 and 6 in Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies, Ancient History, Anthropology, Archaeology, History, English, Philosophy, Studies in Religion, Arabic Studies or 6 Senior credit points in BBCL2603, BBCL2607, BBCL2610 or 12 credit points at 1000 level in Biblical Studies and Classical Hebrew or Jewish Civilisation, Thought and Culture or Ancient History
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	BBCL2003
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Ian Young (FASS), ian.young@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	John Dickson, j.dickson@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Murray Smith, murray.smith@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Louise Gosbell, louise.gosbell@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Mark Stephens, mark.stephens@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Presentation	Short tutorial presentation online canvas presentation	10%	-	500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Tutorial participation online canvas	10%	Ongoing	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Research essay 1 Essay	40%	Week 06	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Research essay 2 Essay	40%	Week 13	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	History of research on the historical Jesus	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 02	Graeco-Roman and Jewish sources for the study of Jesus	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 03	Biblical and Gnostic sources for the study of Jesus	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 04	Methods for the study of Jesus	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 05	Galilee and beginnings	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 06	Companions and competitors	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 07	Healers in the time of Jesus	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 08	Death of Jesus: its causes and aftermath	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 09	Gospel of Mark	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 10	Gospel of Matthew	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 11	Gospel of Luke	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 12	Gospel of John	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 13	Origins of Christ devotion	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Pre-recorded lecture 2-hours per week with online discussion Online Canvas discussion of tutorial presentation

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed on the Library eReserve link available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. articulate the main quests for the historical Jesus from the gospels to the present day
LO2. give examples of several Graeco-Roman and Jewish sources for the study of Jesus and the Roman East
LO3. identify the type of literature of the Gospels in an ancient context
LO4. explain why historians take the collection of writings in the New Testament seriously as sources for the study of the historical Jesus
LO5. discuss the criteria (or indices) of historicity most modern scholars employ when reading the New Testament texts
LO6. explain the historical context and significance of several primary texts
LO7. compare and contrast the four Gospels
LO8. discuss the historical evidence for the death and resurrection of Jesus
LO9. understand the account for the rise of earliest Christianity in its Jewish and Roman contexts
LO10. assess the significance of archaeology for the study of a figure like Jesus.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Student feedback has helped shape contents and conduct of lectures and tutorials

Additional information

John Dickson to Lecture at Sydney University

Prominent scholar and writer, Dr John Dickson [http://www.johndickson.org/], will once again be lecturing in this course BBCL2609 “From Historical Jesus to Written Gospels.” John works as an author, academic, and media presenter. In 2007 he co-founded (with Dr Greg Clarke) the Centre for Public Christianity [publicchristianity.org], and has published 18 books and three TV documentaries. Apart from teaching “Historical Jesus” at the University of Sydney, he is a Visiting Academic (2017-2020) in the Faculty of Classics at the University of Oxford, and in 2019 he was appointed Distinguished Fellow and Senior Lecturer in Public Christianity at Ridley College, Melbourne.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

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Useful links