This version of the course guide is provisional until the period for editing the new course guides ends.

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The Bible. Origins and Tradition

Code: 104228 ECTS Credits: 6
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Ancient Studies OT 4

Contact

Name:
Oscar Luis de la Cruz Palma
Email:
oscar.delacruz@uab.cat

Teachers

Jordi Vidal Palomino

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

The English version of this teaching guide has been developed with the Google-translator.

Advanced proficiency in Greek and Latin is considered a requirement, and completion of the course "History and Civilization of the Near East" is recommended. Students enrolled through the Universitat a l'Abast are exempt from these prerequisites.


Objectives and Contextualisation

The English version of this teaching guide has been developed with the Google-translator.

Acquire a specialized lexicon on the tradition of the biblical text.

Achieve a comprehensive understanding of the history of the books of the Bible.

Know the historical framework in which the actions of the biblical texts take place.

Acquire work systems that allow identifying characteristics of biblical texts in their Greek and Latin redactions.

Deepen the linguistic study of Greek and Latin through the reading of biblical texts.Know the various translations into later languages, especially those of the Catalan and Spanish tradition.

Acquire awareness of the importance of the biblical text in the formation of various literary or scientific traditions that depend on it.

Relate the biblical tradition with other sacred texts: the Talmud and the Qur'an.


Competences

  • Be able to express oneself orally and in writing in the specific language of history, archaeology and philology, both in one's own languages and a third language.
  • Carry out projects on aspects of the ancient world using a holistic approach.
  • Interrelate linguistic, historical and archaeological knowledge of the ancient world with knowledge of other areas of the humanities, mainly ancient literature, philosophy and art.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Autonomously searching, selecting and processing information both from structured sources (databases, bibliographies, specialized magazines) and from across the network.
  2. Effectively communicating and applying the argumentative and textual processes to formal and scientific texts.
  3. Identify different literary elements and their insertion in different texts and styles of discourse.
  4. Preparing an oral and written discourse in the corresponding language in a proper and organized way.
  5. Recognise the influence of the Greco-Latin literary genres and works in texts of the post-classical European literary tradition.
  6. Write a commentary on a Greek or Latin literary text based on an analysis of the text itself, its cultural context and its subsequent influence.

Content

 The English version of this teaching guide has been developed with the Google-translator.

1. Structure of the Bible

2. Versions of the Bible: Hebrew version: Hebrew biblical traditions; Greek versions: the Septuagint translation; Latin versions: the Latin Vulgate of St. Jerome.

3. Comparative grammatical study between the Septuagint/Greek version of the New Testament and the Latin Vulgate.

4. Spanish versions; Catalan versions of the Bible.

5. Biblical traditions and use of the Bible: apocrypha, Qumran, deuterocanonical texts, patristic literature, exegesis, devotional texts, medieval chronicles, legal texts, hagiographic literature, etc.

6. An approach to the relationship between biblical texts and Talmudic and Quranic traditions.

7. Historical Interpretations: Jewish Hermeneutics, Christian Hermeneutics, Modern and Postmodern Hermeneutics

8. History of the biblical text: Precedents: the literature of the Near East; The period of the first temple (origins - 586 BC); The period of the second temple (538 - 333 BC); Maccabean epoch (164 - 37 BC); Herodian Period (37 BC - 70 CE); Rabbinic - Apostolic - Subapostolic period (70 - 135 CE)


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Classroom practices and learning exercises 55 2.2 6, 4, 2, 3, 5
Type: Supervised      
Tutorials 20 0.8 1, 6, 4, 2
Type: Autonomous      
Individual study and readings. Writings and bibliographical research 75 3 1, 6, 4, 2, 3, 5

The English version of this teaching guide has been developed with the Google-translator.

A dossier will be distributed with texts that facilitate the study of the various topics of the subject.

The students will have to deepen in the study of the contents with the delivery of diverse essays, whose delivery will be determined at the beginning of the course.

In the event that the number of students does not exceed 30 enrollments, the work will be publicly displayed in the classroom.

Since the writing of coursework, its contents, and the required methodology depend on the content acquired during the course and in accordance with the theoretical exposition plan, class activities will include the practical acquisition of these systems on a regular and progressive basis. Equally important for understanding the subject is viewing existing editions of the Bible, historical exposition through maps or various images, and other material resources that professors cannot provide through a text or image portfolio. Visiting, consulting, or reading handwritten editions and those from the humanistic period are also part ofthe work tools, an activity that requires the practical application of paleographic or diplomatic reading in the classroom. Professors will accept advance submission of coursework (on a previously indicated date and without a grade) to verify whether the required techniques and knowledge are being correctly applied. This methodology justifies the determination that the single assessment system cannot be applied to this subject, since, in this case, we consider that classroom activity cannot be completely replaced by independent study.

15 minutes of a class will be reserved, within the calendar established by the center/degree, for the completion by the students of the surveys to evaluate the teacher's performance and the evaluation of the subject.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Essay 1 30% 0 0 1, 4, 2, 3
Essay 2 30% 0 0 1, 6, 4, 2, 3
Exam 1 20% 0 0 6, 4, 2, 3, 5
Exam 2 20% 0 0 6, 4, 2, 3, 5

 

Two course projects will be requested to be submitted within the deadlines indicated at the beginning of the course (maximum 10 pages each and worth 30% + 30% of the grade: total 60%).

The topics of the essays will be the following:

* Historical analysis of a passage from the Old or New Testament (a selection of texts will be provided in class) (30%)

* Comparative study on a biblicalpassage (to be determined) with the use of various versions and editions of the Greek and Latin redactions [with the format indicated by the teacher] (30%)

Two final exams (20% + 20%): despite the result of the evaluation of the indicated tests, this test will be mandatory.

 

At the time of each evaluation activity, the teacher will inform the students (Moodle) of the procedure and date of review of the grades. The student will receive the grade of "Not assessable" as long as she has not delivered more than 60% of the evaluation activities.

For the three reviews, this subject allows the use of AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology or any other virtual information medium (websites, blogs, PDF books, videos, etc.) provided that they are properly cited during writing. Therefore, we consider that the citation of AI or other virtual information sources should be treated in the same way as the citation of information from traditional sources, such as books, articles, newspapers, magazines, etc. Lack of transparency in the use of AI or other information media in this evaluable activity will be considered a lack of academic honesty and will result in the activity being graded with 0, or greater sanctions in the case of seriousness.

 

In the event that the student performs any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the rating of an evaluation act, this evaluation act will be scored 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that may be instructed. In the event that there are several irregularities in the evaluation acts of the same subject, the final grade for this subject will be 0.

 

Single evaluation

This subject does not support the single evaluation system.

 


Bibliography

 The enormous existing bibliography on the Bible and its tradition forces us to choose some propaedeutic-type references and affordable editions so that students can immediately access the biblical texts. We leave aside in this selection the editions of Catalan or Spanish translations, editions of apocryphal texts, Qumran, hagiographic texts, etc. Throughout the course, reference will be made to different versions, editions and a more specific bibliography.

 

General Descriptions

Barton, John (2014), Historia de la Biblia (trad. L. Noriega), Barcelona: Ático de los libros.

Casciaro, José María (dir.) (2018), Sagrada Biblia. Comentario, Pamplona: Eunsa, Universidad de Navarra.

De Hamel, Christopher (2001), The Book. A History of The Bible, London: Phaidon.

De tuya, Manuel – Salguero, José (1967), Introducción a la Biblia: vol. I: Inspiración bíblica. Canon. Texto. Versiones, Madrid: BAC.

Pérez, Miguel – Trebolle, Julio (2006), Historia de la Biblia, Madrid: Trotta.

Piñero, Antonio – Beláez, Jesús (1995), El Nuevo Testamento. Introducción al estudio de los primeros escritos cristianos, Córdoba: Ediciones El almendro.

Porter, J.R. (1995), The illustrated Guide of the Bible, London: Duncan Baird Publishers Ltd. (trad. cast. La Biblia. Las Sagradas Escrituras, los Libros Apócrifos, la llegada de Roma (Palestina en tiempos de Cristo) y el Nuevo Testamento, Barcelona, 2007).

Römer, Thomas et al. (eds.) (2008), Introducción al Antiguo Testamento, Bilbao: Desclée de Brouwer (orig. fr. Introduction à l’Ancien Testament, 2004).

Trebolle, Julio, (1993), La Biblia judía y la Biblia cristiana, Madrid: Trotta.

 

Cultural and Historical Topics

 

Armstrong, Karen (1997), Jerusalén. Una ciudad y tres religiones, Barcelona: Paidós (orig. angl. Jerusalem. One city, three faiths, New York, 1996).

Encyclopaedia Judaica (1971-2007), 26 vols, Jerusalem–New York. (actualiza su redacción en la versión on-line).

Encyclopaedia of Islam (EI1: 1913-1938; EI2: 1954-2005; EI3: 2007-), Boston: Brill.

Gerard, André-Marie (1989), Dictionnaire de la Bible, Paris: Robert Laffont (trad. cast. Diccionario de la Biblia, Madrid: Anaya, 1996).

Keller, Werner (1994), Historia del pueblo judío. Desde la destrucción del Templo al nuevo estado de Israel, Barcelona: Omega (orig. alem. Und Wurden Zerstreut unter alle Völker, München–Zürich, 1966).

Küng, Hans (1993), El judaísmo. Pasado, presente, futuro, Madrid: Trotta (orig. alem. Das Judentum, 1991)

Liverani, Mario (2005), Más allá de la Biblia. Historia antigua de Israel, Barcelona: Crítica (orig. it. Oltre la Bibbia, 2003).

Montserrat Torrents, José (1989), La sinagoga cristiana. El gran conflicto religioso del siglo I, Barcelona: Muchnik Editores.

Ohler, Annemarie (dir.)(2004), dtv-Atlas. Bibel, München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag.

Wigoder, Geoffrey (dir.) (1989), Dictionnaire encyclopédique du judaïsme, Paris: Cerf–Robert Laffont.

Rinaldi, Giancerlo (2008), Cristianesimi nell’Antichità. Sviluppi storici e contesti geografici (Secoli I-VIII), Chieti–Roma: Edizioni GBU.

Schürer, Emil (1985), Historia del pueblo judío en tiempos de Jesús, 175 a.C-135 d.C.: vol. I: Fuentes y marco histórico; vol. II: Instituciones políticas y religiosas, Madrid: Ediciones Cristiandad (orig. alem. Leipzig, 1901-1909; rev. angl. Edinburg, 1979).

Zwickel, Wolfgang (dir.) (2000), calwer-Bibelatlas, Stuttgart: Calwer Verlag.

 

Dictionnaires and Words for the study of the Literature and Biblical Languages

 

Abreviaturas y sistemática de citación: AA.DD. (2008), Llibre d’estil per a escrits de Teologia i Filosofia, Barcelona: Facultat de Teologia de Catalunya – Facultat de Filosofia de Catalunya (URL) – Associació Bíblica de Catalunya.

 

Semitical Tradition

Aranda Pérez, Gonzalo – García Martínez, Florentino – Pérez Hernández, Miguel (2019), Literatura judía intertestamentaria, Estella: Verbo divino.

Chapman, Stephem B. – Sweeney, Marvin A. (eds.) (2008), The Cambridge Companion to the Hebrew Bible / Old Testament, Cambridge.

Farfán Navarro, Enrique (1998), Gramática elemental del hebreo bíblico, Estella: Verbo divino.

Millás Vallicrosa, José Maria (1967), Literatura hebraicoespañola, Barcelona: Labor.

Seijas, Guadalupe (dir.) (2014), Historia de la literatura hebrea y judía, Madrid: Trotta.

Tarragona Borrás, Judit (1995), Diccionariohebreo–español (bíblico, rabínico, medieval, moderno), Madrid: Riopiedras.

Schniedewind, William M. (2024), Who Really Wrote the Bible. The Story of the Scribes, Oxford Univ. Press.

 

Greek Tradition

Delgado Jara, Inmaculada (2011), Gramática griega del Nuevo Testamento, 2 vols. morlogía – sintaxis, Salamanca: Universidad Pontificia – Verbo divino.

Delgado Jara, Inmaculada (2014), Diccionario griego–español del Nuevo Testamento, Salamanca: Universidad Pontificia – Verbo divino.

García Santos, Amador Ángel (2011), Diccionario del griego bíblico. Setenta y Nuevo Testamento, Estella: Verbo divino.

García Santos, Amador Ángel (2018), Introducción al griego bíblico. Instrumentos para el estudio de la Biblia, Estella: Verbo divino.

Trebolle, Julio (2024), El proceso de edición de la Biblia hebrea y griega, Madrid: Trotta.

Zerwick, Max (1997), El griego del Nuevo Testamento, Estella: Verbo divino (orig. Roma, 1996).

 

Latin Tradition

Berger, Samuel (1893), Histoire de la Vulgate pendant les premiers siècles du Moyen Âge, Paris.

Blaise, Albert (1955), Manuel du latin chrétien, Turnhoult: Brepols.

Blaise, Albert (19751), Lexicon Latinitatis Medii Aevi, Turnhoult: Brepols.

Niermeyer, Jan Frederik – Van de Rieft, C. – Burgers, J.W.J. (19761), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon minus, Leiden-Boston: Brill.

Mohrmann, Christine (1961-1997), Études sur le latin des chrétiens, 4 vols. Roma: Edizioni di Storia e Letteratura. (recoge el conjunto de estudios publicados de la autora).

Norberg, Dag (1968), Manuel pratique de latin médiéval, Paris: Éditions A. & Picard.

Stegmüller, Fridericus (1950-1980), Repertorium biblicum medii aevi, 11 vols., Madrid: CSIC. [en línea: Repertorium Biblicum Medii Aevi [digital] (uni-trier.de)]

Stotz, Peter (2013), Il latino nel medioevo, Firenze: Sismel (és una part trad. a l’it. del seu monumental Lateinische Sprache des Mittelalters, 5 vols., München: Verlag C.H. Beck, 1996-2004)

  

Editions of the Biblical Text (easy access) 

Aramaic-Hebraic Text

Kittel, Rudolf (19371), Biblia hebraica, Stuttgart: Würgtembergische Bibelamstalt Stuttgart.

Berlin, Adele – Brettler, Marc Zvi (19851), The Jewish Study Bible, Oxford: Oxford University Press. (trad. ingl. del texto hebreo con comentarios de tradición judía).

Díez Macho, Alejandro (dir.) (1984), Apócrifos del Antiguo Testamento, VI vols., Madrid: Ediciones Cristiandad.

Levine, Amy-Jill – Brettler, Marc Zvi (2001), The Jewish Annotated New Testament, Oxford: Oxford University Press. (trad. ingl. del texto hebreo con comentarios de tradición judía)

 

Greek Text

Rahlfs, Alfred (19351), Septuaginta, id est Vetus Testamentum graece iuxta lxx interpretes, Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft.

Nestle, Erwin– Aland, Kurt (2014) [NA28], Novum Testamentum graece et latine (con el texto latino fijado para la Nova Vulgata Bibliorum Sacrorum NVulg), Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft.

 

Synoptical Gospels

Lagrange, M.J. – Carreras, Ll. –Llovera, J.M. (1927), Sinopsi evangèlica. Text grec i versió catalana, Barcelona: Fundació Bíblica Catalana – Ed. Alpha.

Leal, Juan (1954), Sinopsis de los cuatro Evangelios, Madrid: Biblioteca de Autores Cristianos [solo traducción cast.]

 

Latin Text

Vetus latina Hispana

Only exist two partial editions:

Ayuso Marazulea, Teófilo (1953), La Vetus Latina Hispana, vol. I: Prolegómenos, Madrid: CSIC).

Ayuso Marazulea, Teófilo (1962), La Vetus Latina Hispana, vol. V: El Salterio, Madrid: CSIC).

Ayuso Marazulea, Teófilo (1967), La Vetus Latina Hispana, vol. II: El Octateuco, Madrid: CSIC).

Morano Rodríguez, Ciriaca (1990), Glosas marginales de Vetus Latina en Biblias Vulgatas Españolas: 1-2 Samuel, Madrid: CSIC.

Moreno Hernández, Antonio (1992), Glosas marginales de Vetus Latina en Biblias Vulgatas Españolas: 1-2 Reyes, Madrid: CSIC.

Cañas Reíllo, Manuel (2000), Glosas marginales de Vetus Latina en Biblias Vulgatas Españolas: 1-2 Macabeos, Madrid: CSIC.

 

Vulgata latina

Weber, Robertus (19691), Biblia sacra iuxta vulgatam versionem, Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft. [da preferencia a la versión anterior a la Sixto-Clementina]

Nestle, Erwin– Aland, Kurt (2014), Novum Testamentum graece et latine (con el texto latino fijado para la Nova Vulgata Bibliorum Sacrorum NVulg), Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft.

Gasquez (ed.) (1922ss.), Biblia Sacra iussu Pii PP XII, Roma.

Nova Vulgata Latina (1979),Roma.

 

Prefaces of the VL

De Bruyne, Donatien (19201, reed. 2015), Prefaces to the Latin Bible, Turnhout: Brepols.

De Bruyne, Donatien (19141, reed. 2014), Summaries, Divisions and Rubrics of theLatin Bible, Turnhout: Brepols.

 

on-line access

Hebrea: The Sefaria Library - Read the Bible text :: academic-bible.com

LXX: Read the Bible text :: academic-bible.com

NT: Read the Bible text :: academic-bible.com

Vulgata latina: Read the Bible text :: academic-bible.com

Neovulgata latina: Nova Vulgata - Bibliorum Sacrorum Editio (vatican.va)

Biblia Medieval - Página principal

Biblia Paralela

Erasmus Roterodamus: Novum instrumentum UCM - Biblioteca Histórica Marqués de Valdecilla - también en (con imágenes de las páginas): Printed Books = Novum Instrumentum - CSNTM

Bibliadel oso: LA BIBLIA DEL OSO  RV1569 ONLINE (bibliatodo.com)

Glosa ordinaria (ed. Adolf Rush, Strasbourg, 1480-1481): on line: Rusch - Glossa Ordinaria Project (google.com)

 

Estudies about the Bible and Literature and Science

Del Olmo Lete, Gregorio (2015), La Biblia hebrea en la literatura. Guía temática y bibliográfica, Barcino Monographica Orientalia 5, Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona [actualitzación y ampliación de su trabajo anterior: La Biblia hebrea en la literatura moderna. Guía temática y bibliográfica, Textos Docents 215, Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona, 2000].

Fernández López, Sergio (2003), Lectura y prohibición de la Biblia en lengua vulgar. Defensores y detractores, León: Universidad de León.

Reinhardt, Klaus – Santiago-Otero, Horacio (1986), Biblioteca bíblica ibérica medieval, Madrid: CSIC.


Software

Pdf - PowerPoint - Regular Programms for the Editions of Texts (Word) - Publisher


Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed