30358 - Philology and Exegesis of the New Testament (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

The students will get a deep knowledge on exegetical methods, from introductory notions to guided use of research instruments applied to the text of the New Testament.

Course contents

"Another Gospel"? From P.Oxy 5575 to the Fragmentary Gospels and Back.

The recent re-discovery of P.Oxy 5575 (II century CE?) has once again exposed the frailty of ideological distinctions such as that between 'canonical' and 'apocryphal' as well as too rigid reconstructions of the tradition of texts later included in the New Testament canon. This course aims to philologically and exegetically deconstruct such discursive practices and narratives. After a brief methodological introduction (first three lessons), we will be reading and analyzing both the Greek text of P.Oxy 5575 and other fragmentary gospels, transmitted either in Greek or in Latin: the attempt will be made to critically re-imagine the historical processes of written transmission of biographical material on Jesus in the first three century CE. 

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Readings/Bibliography

a) Sources:

Le parole dimenticate di Gesù, ed. by M. Pesce, Fondazione Lorenzo Valla - Arnoldo Mondadori Editore 2004, pp. 48-73 e 98-147;

b) Comprehensive Studies:

A. Destro - M. Pesce, Il racconto e la scrittura. introduzione alla lettura dei Vangeli, Carocci 2021;

B.D. Ehrman, Prima dei vangeli. Come i primi cristiani hanno ricordato, manipolato e inventato le storie su Gesù, Carocci 2016;

C. Gianotto, I vangeli apocrifi, Il Mulino 2018;

S. Guijarro Oporto, La memoria vivente di Gesù. Dinamiche della trasmissione orale, Morcelliana 2024;

R.F. Walsh, The Origins of Early Christian Literature. Contextualizing the New Testament Within Greco-Roman Literary Culture, Cambridge University Press 2021;

c) Short Essays:

E. Norelli, Considerazioni di metodo sull’uso delle fonti per la ricostruzione della figura storica di Gesù, in L'enigma Gesù. Fonti e metodi della ricerca storica, ed. by E. Prinzivalli, Carocci 2017, pp. 19-67;

M. Pesce, Introduzione, in Le parole dimenticate di Gesù, ed. by M. Pesce, Fondazione Lorenzo Valla - Arnoldo Mondadori Editore 2004, pp. XI-XXXI;

K. Schmid - J. Schröter, La formazione della Bibbia. Dai primi testi alle Sacre Scritture, Morcelliana 2024, pp. 257-284.

Teaching methods

Lectures; analysis of literary texts; use of bibliographic and electronic databases; audio- and video resources.

Assessment methods

Oral exam. Students will have to prove their abilities

• to read, understand, and discuss the gospel texts analyzed;
• to interpret and profile the gospel texts analyzed as cultural, historical, and literary artifacts, supplementing and integrating class notes with the reading of the gospel fragments published and commented in the collection cited supra in Bibliography under the entry Sources;
• to sketch and discuss the material and literary-historical processes that led to the production and written transmission of gospel material, in the light of two of the three volumes enlisted supra in Bibliography under the entry Comprehensive Studies.

Students who cannot attend the lessons will substitute class notes with two readings of their choice to be selected from those cited supra in Bibliography under the entry Short Essays.

Alternatively, upon agreement with the teacher, attending students can substitute the oral exam as a whole with a written paper focusing on the translation and interpretation of a selected passage from a fragmentary gospel.

Skills will be assessed according to the following guidelines:
- failing grade (< 18): inability to translate passages from fragmentary gospels in Greek or Latin; inability to provide a correct interpretation of the texts discussed during the course and/or to comment on the selected critical essay(s).
- passing grade (between 18 and 24): elementary ability to translate passages from fragmentary gospels in Greek or Latin; inaccuracy and lack of autonomy in providing a correct interpretation of the texts discussed during the course and/or in commenting on the selected critical essay(s).
- positive grade (between 24 and 30): good comprehension of the grammatical and syntactical structures of passages from fragmentary gospels in Greek or Latin; interpretation of the texts discussed during the course is correct, but mostly superficial and not entirely autonomous; the critical discussion of the selected essay(s) is vague and cursory.
- excellent grade (30L): in-depth knowledge of the grammatical and syntactical structures of passages from fragmentary gospels in Greek or Latin; precision and full autonomy in interpreting, contextualizing and critically comparing the texts discussed during the course; the critical discussion of the selected essay(s) is detailed and deep-ranging.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Every academic year 6 exam sessions are scheduled for the following months: February, April, June, October, November, December - for all students, written/oral mode.

Teaching tools

Computer and projector; bibliographic and electronic databases; fotocopies; texts and segments of texts in PDF format uploaded by the teacher as teaching materials (downloadable from https://iol.unibo.it). Students who require specific services and adaptations to teaching activities due to a disability or specific learning disorders (SLD), must first contact the appropriate office: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students.

Office hours

See the website of Daniele Tripaldi