Divinity BD (Hons)

Throughout all three years of your degree, you will take the required modules in Divinity only.

Typically, you will take three Divinity modules per semester during your first year, and four modules per semester during your second and third year

1st Year

Students take the following compulsory first-year modules:

• Christian Thought and Practice 1: explores the historical development and present expression of key topics in Christian doctrine and Christian ethics.
• The Early and Mediaeval Church: History, Beliefs and Practices: explores key themes in the organisation, practice and beliefs of the early and mediaeval church, focusing mostly on the period from the first to the ninth centuries.
• New Testament 2: Paul and the Epistles: examines the developing theology of the New Testament, paying particular attention to the issue of unity and diversity, and to the themes of Christology and soteriology.
• Old Testament 2: Wisdom, Psalms, Apocalyptic and Apocryphal Literature: an introduction to the literature and theology of the period of Israel’s history from exile to the consolidation of the canon.

Students will also take two modules from the following:

• Hebrew 1: Introduction to Hebrew Language: aims to give students a sufficient knowledge of the grammar and vocabulary of Old Testament Hebrew to be able to read and analyse prescribed texts.
• Hebrew 2: aims to extend students' skills in reading the Hebrew Bible and in the techniques of textual criticism and of exegesis.
• Introduction to Practical Theology and Theological Ethics: introduces students to the work of a number of practical theologians as well as key concepts from the history of Christian ethics, such as natural law, divine command, virtue ethics, the relation of scripture to ethics, and political theology.
• New Testament 1: Jesus and the Gospels: considers the historical contexts of the New Testament texts, including political, socio-economic and religious factors within the Greco-Roman world and Early Judaism.
• New Testament Greek 1: introduces the essential grammar, morphology, and vocabulary of New Testament Greek.
• Old Testament 1: Torah and Prophets: introduces the life, literature and religion of Ancient Israel, with particular consideration of the main literary types of the Old Testament literature.
• Theology: Issues and History: addresses a variety of themes within Christian theology. Each theme will be approached with a view to its biblical roots and historical development, its critical reception and restatement in the modern period, and its significance for contemporary theological reflection.

During your second and third year in Divinity, you choose from a wide variety of advanced options focusing on primary biblical and theological texts.

Divinity Honours modules which have been offered in previous years include:

• Book of Revelation and Apocalyptic Literature
• Christian Ethics and Contemporary Society
• Creation and Chaos in the Old Testament and Ancient Near East
• Medieval Monastic Spirituality
• The Nature of Theology
• Religious World of Dante
• Theology, Spirituality and Pastoral Care.

In third year, students also undertake a 10,000-word dissertation on a topic of their choice. The School provides significant support for the dissertation, with a breakdown of the assessment into different stages and a programme of seminars to assist in the development of advanced research and communication skills.

The sub-honours modules listed here are the compulsory modules that students must take in order to graduate in this subject. For Honours-level, students choose from a range of Honours modules, some of which are listed above.