- Overview
- Module description
The Earliest Christian Communities (THE2212)
Staff | Professor David Horrell - Convenor |
---|---|
Credit Value | 30 |
ECTS Value | 15 |
NQF Level | 5 |
Pre-requisites | None |
Co-requisites | None |
Duration of Module | Term 1: 11 weeks; |
Module aims
This module aims to:
- Examine social aspects of the earliest Christian communities, by focusing on a range of topics and their diverse interpretation in contemporary scholarship
- Introduce relevant textual and other (e.g., archaeological) evidence and to the debates that are current in research
ILO: Module-specific skills
- 1. Demonstrate knowledge of relevant primary evidence relating to specific topics in the social history of earliest Christianity
- 2. Demonstrate knowledge of scholarly discussion of the topics addressed in the module and the ability to appraise scholarship critically
- 3. Formulate ones own ideas and perspectives on the topics outlined in the syllabus plan, using the relevant primary sources and in critical interaction with scholarly discussion
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
- 4. The ability to assess primary evidence (primarily in biblical texts) and to develop ones own deductions and suggestions based on it
- 5. To critically appraise the work of scholars, especially the methodological bases of their work
ILO: Personal and key skills
- 6. The ability to present ones own arguments cogently and coherently, in written form
- 7. To summarise material clearly and accurately, to demonstrate critical reflection, to organise ones own study-time effectively
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Introduction: methods and sources
- The earliest Christian communities: ancient and modern analogies
- The socio-economic status of the first Christians
- Early Christian meeting places
- Ritual and worship in the Christian communities
- Patterns of power: developing structures and leadership patterns
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
---|---|---|
33 | 267 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
---|---|---|
Scheduled learning and teaching | 22 | Lectures |
Scheduled learning and teaching | 11 | Seminars |
Guided independent study | 267 | Private study |
Formative assessment
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|
Seminar presentations | 5 minutes | 2, 5, 7 | Oral feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
---|---|---|
100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|---|
Reading journal | 40 | 1500 words | 2, 5, 7 | Written feedback |
Essay | 60 | 3000 words | 1-7 | Written feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
---|---|---|---|
Reading journal | 1500 words | 2, 5, 7 | Written comment |
Essay | 3000 words | 1-7 | Written comment |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- W.A. Meeks, The First Urban Christians (London & New Haven: Yale University Press, 1983)
- T.D. Still and D.G Horrell (eds), After the First Urban Christians (London & New York: T&T Clark, 2009)
Module has an active ELE page?
Yes
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
- D G Horrell (ed.) Social-Scientific Approaches to New Testament Interpretation (Edinburgh: T&TClark, 1999).
- E Stegemann and W Stegemann, The Jesus Movement: A Social History of its First Century (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1999)
- G Theissen, The Social Setting of Pauline Christianity (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1982)
- M Y MacDonald, The Pauline Churches (Cambridge: CUP, 1988)
Available as distance learning?
No
Origin date
Feb 2016
Last revision date
18/04/2019
Key words search
Early Christianity, New Testament