Postgraduate Course: Passion of the Christ: Texts and Reception (PG) (DIVI11083)
Course Outline
| School | School of Divinity |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course will look at the way in which Jesus' passion has been understood over the centuries, not only by the evangelists and early Church Fathers, but also by poets, dramatists, authors and artists. We'll see how these reflections go to the very heart of the human experience, exploring the depths of betrayal, denial, courage, expediency, faith, and hope. |
| Course description |
Academic Description
The course is an introduction to Biblical Reception, with particular attention to the passion of Jesus Christ. Reception studies have proliferated over recent years, notably with the massive Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception, and several new journals and monograph series. The aim of the course is to encourage students to understand that the gospel passion narratives themselves are examples of reception, an ongoing process that both expands the silences of the narratives through time and rewrites and updates their central themes. Examples of reception will be drawn from a wide range of time periods and media: from patristic texts to plays, mediaeval poems, legends and art, to modern literature, plays and film. What unites them all is the fact that they take their inspiration from Christ's passion. Moving back full circle, students will be encouraged to see how later receptions can inform our understandings of the biblical texts.
The course will attract students who are interested in the Bible and the Arts, and its interdisciplinary nature may attract PG students from other schools (particularly Art History).
Outline Content
After a more theoretical introductory session, each class will have two parts. In the first, we will explore the biblical narratives, noting their differences, gaps and silences. In the second, we will look at examples of later receptions in diverse contexts and media, with a view to understanding how the biblical text has been interpreted throughout Christian history. The course will benefit from the expertise of Prof Carol Richardson (Art History), who will co-teach two sessions, and Suzanne Lofthus (Director, Cutting Edge Theatre), who will share her experiences of producing a passion play. The precise topics will change each year, but we will broadly work our way through the gospel passion narratives, from Jesus' arrest in Gethsemane to the empty tomb and resurrection appearances. (See below for representative outline).
Student Learning Experience
Students will join with the UG version of this course for the first two hours which will be taught through a combination of lectures from the lead teacher (or guests), class discussion, interactive elements, and small groups. It is envisaged that the first hour will tend to be more instructor-led, particularly as we analyse the biblical texts, featuring short lectures and detailed textual work. The second hour will open the topic up to student-led discussions of various receptions. As this course will be taught in the lead-up to Easter, students will be strongly encouraged to bring in further examples of reception as they come across them. PG students will stay for a third hour, during which they will be required to give their own short presentations and to discuss material in greater depth. There will be a greater stress in this hour on reception theory and identifying differing strands of reception across places and time.
All examples of reception (poems, novels, artwork etc) will be electronically available, and students will be given a clear set of guidelines and questions each week to accompany their readings.
Aside from short presentations (10%), the course will be assessed through one lengthy essay which will encourage students to think deeply, critically and creatively about biblical passages and their afterlives (90%).
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 33,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
160 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
90 %,
Practical Exam
10 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Presentation (10%)«br /»
Essay (90%), 4,000 words «br /»
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| Feedback |
Students will be encouraged to discuss their essay with the class teacher and will receive formative feedback on their essay plan.
Students will receive timely feedback on their short presentation.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Critically evaluate the gospel passion narratives, showing an excellent grasp of current biblical scholarship
- Critique and evaluate receptions of Christ¿s passion from a variety of different contexts and media.
- Understand and articulate the complex development of passion traditions in diverse places and settings, including the contemporary world.
- Appreciate the theoretical bases for reception criticism.
- Deliver an informed, clear and engaging presentation to a small group of peers.
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Reading List
Students will be expected to consult relevant works from the reading list (we will not have a set textbook). Representative titles include:
General:
Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception (EBR) - online access
Emma England and William J. Lyons (eds.), Reception History and Biblical Studies: Theory and Practice. London: T&T Clark, 2015.
Robert Evans, Reception History, Tradition and Biblical Interpretation: Gadamer and Jauss in Current Practice. London: Bloomsbury, 2014.
Chris Lawn, Gadamer: A Guide for the Perplexed. London: Bloomsbury, 2006.
Christine Joynes (ed.). Perspectives on the Passion: Encountering the Bible through the Arts. London: T&T Clark, 2007.
_____ 'Changing Horizons: Reflections on a Decade at Oxford University's Centre for Reception History of the Bible,' JBR 1 (2014): 161-71.
Ulrich Luz, Matthew 21-28: A Commentary. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2005.
William John Lyons, 'Hope for a troubled discipline: Contributions to NT Studies from Reception History,' JSNT 33 (2010): 207-220.
Specific Studies:
Sarah Jane Boss, Mary: the Complete Resource. London: Continuum, 2007.
Kathleen Corley and Robert L. Webb (eds.), Jesus and Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ: the Film, the Gospels and the Claims of History. London: Continuum, 2004.
Christine Joynes, 'The Sound of Silence: Interpreting Mark 16:1-8 through the Centuries,' Interpretation 65 (2011): 18-29.
_____ 'Betrayal and Forgiveness,' Art and Christianity 111 (2022).
Todd Lawson, The Crucifixion and the Qur'an: A Study in the History of Muslim Thought. Oneworld, 2009.
William John Lyons, Joseph of Arimathea: A Study in Reception History. Oxford: OUP, 2014.
Kim Paffenroth, Judas: Images of the Lost Disciple. London: Westminster John Knox, 2001.
Joan Taylor, Jesus and Brian: Exploring the Historical Jesus and his times via Monty Python's Life of Brian. London: Bloomsbury, 2015.
Websites:
https://artsandculture.google.com/story/botticelli-featuring-dante-kupferstichkabinett-staatliche-museen-zu-berlin/6gWBKADf-6d1JA?hl=en (on Botticelli)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVVzVD8b9PM (discussion of Dream of the Rood by Prof Mary Flannery)
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Curiosity for learning and openness to different perspectives
Ability to think critically and reflectively
Ability to solve problems creatively
Ability to communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing
Capacity to give a clear and accurate account of a subject, marshal arguments, and engage in respectful debate and dialogue
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| Keywords | Passion,Jesus Christ,Reception,Gospels |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Helen Bond
Tel: (0131 6)50 8923
Email: H.Bond@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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