Ecological Interpretation of the New Testament

During the course the students will get acquainted with the method of ecological interpretation of the New Testament as this has been developed recently and they will (a) investigate whether this can be enriched by principles and conceptions of the Orthodox hermeneutical and theological tradition, (b) apply the method on selected New Testament texts, and (c) will evaluate whether and in what respect such an interpretative approach of the biblical text cal offer answers to a contemporary issue, that of ecology, realizing at the same time the potential aw well aw the limits of the biblical text.

Objectives

By the completion of the course the students will be able to: • apply the hermeneutical princliples of the ecological interpretation to the NT texts and come to conclusions regarding the ecological issue • trace the problems and the limits of the text and propose solutions • relate the biblical texts with particular worldviews and anthropologies and discover connections • propose solutions or different perspectives to the ecological issue

Prerequisites

Prerequisite general knowledge: Introduction to the NT No prerequisite courses

Syllabus

Detailed schedule of sessions • 1st session Introduction- The ecological issue, theology and biblical studies • 2nd session Ecological interpretation- Method A • 3rd session Ecological interpretation- Method B • 4th session The Kingdom of God and creation (Mk 1:13 etc) • 5th session The Mount Sermon and creation (Mt 5-7) • 6th session Ecological reading pf Luke's Gospel • 7th session Ecological reading of John's Gospel • 8th session The groaning of creation (Rm 8: 19-23) • 9th session The re- concilliation of all in Christ (Col 1: 15-20) • 10th session Hebrews 11 • 11th session Apocalyptic and ecology A (the book of Revelation) • 12th session Apocalyptic and ecology B (2pE) • 13th session meeting Ecological hermeneytics: potential and limits of the biblical text