Biblical female patterns and contemporary Church

theology

intermediate

eSTL_W01

STL_W02

STL_W03

STL_W04

STL_W06

STL_K04

STL_K04nter learning outcome code/codes

Preliminary requirements - reading the assigned texts before the classes during which they will be discussed

The main goal of the lecture is to familiarize the student more deeply with biblical female symbols and their meaning, as well as with patterns of femininity and practical possibilities of using these patterns of conduct in teaching, especially in the catechesis of the Church.

The subject of the exegetical lecture is selected biblical texts in which the image of a woman was used to convey didactic content, as well as texts, mainly narrative ones, in which women are the protagonists.

The starting point for joint considerations and discussions are accusations often encountered in contemporary culture that the models of femininity presented in the Bible are outdated and inadequate to the situation of contemporary women and the contemporary Church. The aim of the lecture is, firstly, to extract from selected biblical fragments what is universal and what belongs to old cultural patterns, and secondly, to analyze the language of the Bible, using symbols referring to women, describing the reality of the community of believers and the relationship with God. The distinction between the layer of features of linguistic imagery and cultural dependencies in the transmission of the biblical text from what is the essence of the message is intended to enable the application of biblical patterns in teaching.

I. Introductory issues

Contemporary controversies regarding Christian teaching about women and models of femininity. Issues of a feminist reading of the Bible – excellent or wrong? Hermeneutical assumptions and the effect of interpretation. Woman in Antiquity.

II. Selected Old Testament texts – analysis, interpretation, pragmatic.

1. Eve and the issue of her cultural reception

2. The role of the matriarchs of Israel today

3. The title characters of the OT books

4. Secondary characters of biblical narration – positive, negative and controversial characters

III. Selected New Testament texts

1. Mariological texts of the Gospels - The ideal of femininity or more?

2. Female ancestors of Jesus

3. Patterns and anti-patterns of women in the New Testament

4. The image of women in the Work of Luke and its significance for contemporary catechesis

5. Paul the apostle – misogynist or feminist?

IV. The importance of female symbolism in the Bible - possibilities of pragmatics in teaching about the Church

John J. Collins, Gina Hens-Piazza, Barbara Reid, Donald Senior (eds.), The Jerome Biblical Commentary for the Twenty-First Century (Third Fully Revised Edition), Bloomsbury 2022.

Elizabeth A. McCabe, ed., Woman in the Biblical World. A Survey of Old and New Testament Perspectives, Lanham: University Press of America 2009.

Mayer I. Gruber, Woman in the Biblical World. A Study Guide Woman in the World of Hebrew Scripture, Lanham – London 1995.

Wayne Grudem, ed., Biblical Foundations for Manhood and Womanhood, Crossway Books 2002.

Supplementary and auxiliary literature:

Adele Berlin, Esther (JPS Bible Commentary), Jewish Publication Society 2001.

Frederic Bush, Ruth/Esther (WBC 9), 1996.

T. Mikhailova, „The Book of Judith: From a Symbolic Story to a Historical Mystery”, Historia i świat 7(2018), 15-30.

Carey A. Moore, Judith (The Anchor Yale Bible 40), Yale University Press 1995.

Chris L. de Wet, „Virtue, Ascetism, and Masculinized Woman: Judith in Early Christian Greek and Latin Interpretation from Second to the Fifth Century CE”. In: The Septuagint South of Alexandria, VTSuppl. 193, Brill 2022.

Janelle Peters, „Judith and the Elders of 1 Clement”, Open Theology 7/2021, 60-68.

Kevin R. Brine, The Sword of Judith: Judith Studies Across the Disciplines, Open Book Publishers 2010.

Ciin Sion Siam Hatzaw, „Reading Esther as a Postcolonial Feminist Icon for Asian Woman in Diaspora”, Open Theology 7/2021, 1-34.

Graduate of classes:

1. Knows the essential biblical female characters from the Bible; understands the cultural background of the texts; understands the meaning assigned to these characters and the narratives associated with them; can characterise and explain these texts and creatively use the acquired knowledge for educational activities.

2. Knows the most important biblical symbols using the image of a woman, understands the cultural background of these texts and can explain their meaning.

3. Knows professional biblical terminology and the meaning of technical formulations of the biblical language in its primary cultural context.

4. Knows the basic principles of analysing biblical texts (in the field of narrative analysis and socio-rhetorical aspects) and can apply them practically to studying and interpreting selected biblical texts.

5. Has knowledge of the most important trends in contemporary biblical exegesis and understands the impact of hermeneutical assumptions on the interpretation of texts; knows the most important methods of reception of biblical female figures in culture.

6. Has in-depth knowledge of the contemporary teaching of the Church regarding the value and role of women in society and the Church, which results from the biblical message.

7. Can determine which elements from the biblical narratives about women are priority and universal and is able to use them in practice to perform tasks other than text analysis.

The student is obliged:

- Participate in classes and active discussions

- Prepare a written essay (about 6-7 pages) and its oral presentation during classes (20 minutes of presentation). The essay is the basis for a joint discussion with other class participants. Essay topics and presentation dates will be announced at the semester's beginning (It depends on the number of class participants).

- Pass the final oral exam covering the material discussed during classes and knowledge of the indicated compulsory literature.

Evaluation system:

Final rating – 100% - 100 points

- written essay and oral presentation of the topic discussed in the essay - 50% (1-50 points)

- final exam – 50% (1-50 points)