This course introduces the history, literature, and impact of the Bible, including both the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and the New Testament, for students with no or limited previous knowledge. It surveys the writing and compilation of the Bible, its linguistic and literary forms, and its role as a foundational document for Western civilization. Lectures will cover major topics including the content and structure of the Bible; the history of its formation; the diversity of literary genres within it; its linguistic characteristics in terms of the original languages of its texts, Hebrew and Greek; and its impact on the literary and cultural developments in Western society. Group discussions and readings will emphasize contextualized and critical interpretation of selected biblical texts and scholarly articles.
