Biblical and Cognate Languages Concentration

Specific concepts regarding God and salvation have come to human beings primarily in the form of scriptures, i.e., inspired canonical texts in the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek languages. Translations of the Bible are readily available, but every such version is somewhat affected by the interpretive perspective of the translator and limitations of correspondence between biblical and modern languages. To gain a sharper and deeper comprehension of the Bible, especially in view of the many and varying interpretations of it, it is necessary to access the sacred texts in their original languages. This requires knowledge of the languages (grammar, syntax, semantics) and other elements of exegetical methodology for studying literature written in these languages. Texts in other ancient near eastern languages, especially those of the Semitic group to which Hebrew and Aramaic belong (i.e., cognate languages such as Akkadian and Ugaritic), also illuminate our linguistic, cultural (including religious), and historical understanding of biblical texts.

This concentration requires 18 credits in addition to the core requirements for the MA Religion (Specialized).