Biblical Studies: The Bible, Its Content and Theology: An Introduction



Overview

This course explores the Old and New Testament together with the major elements contained in their narratives, and their main theological themes. It will proceed by focusing on the background of the Bible, by overviewing its books and describing their cultural, literary and religious contexts. Then, the course will evaluate the theological interpretations of these texts against this cultural background.

It will begin with an exploration of the Old Testament by focusing on the structure of the Hebrew Bible with its several forms of literature. The module will follow with a second part dedicated to the New Testament. After an introductory session, the major sections will be presented, considering main characters, theological themes, critical-historical issues, biblical-theological views, etc. The course will analyse the theological issues of the Bible and their relevance in moulding Christianity.

This course combines online study with a weekly 1-hour live webinar led by your tutor. Find out more about how our short online courses are taught.

Programme details

This course begins on the 15 January 2026 which is when course materials are made available to students. Students should study these materials in advance of the first live meeting which will be held on 22 January 2026, 7:00-8:00pm (UK time).

  • Week 1: The Hebrew Bible: Introduction and Language 
  • Week 2: The Pentateuch
  • Week 3: The Historical Books
  • Week 4: The Poetical and Wisdom Books
  • Week 5: The Prophets and the prophecies
  • Week 6: The New Testament: Content, Exegesis, and Greek
  • Week 7: The Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles
  • Week 8: Pauline Letters
  • Week 9: The other New Testament Writings
  • Week 10: The Revelation

Certification

Credit Application Transfer Scheme (CATS) points 

Coursework is an integral part of all online courses and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework. All those enrolled on an online courses are registered for credit and will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard.

See more information on CATS points

Digital credentials

All students who pass their final assignment will be eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Upon successful completion, you will receive a link to download a University of Oxford digital certificate. Information on how to access this digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate or share it on social media if you choose to do so. 

Please note that assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail. 

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £360.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Prof Stefano Salemi

Dr Stefano Salemi is a scholar of biblical studies, languages, and theology. He possesses the rare expertise of someone with multiple doctorates from the UK and Italy in Theology and Biblical Studies. He has also held or continues to hold research and/or teaching posts at various universities, including Harvard, Yale, Oxford, King’s College London, AC University College, University of London, Australian University College of Divinity, Chichester University, Pretoria University, North-West University, Sheffield University, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK) and has held a number of academic leadership roles at various institutions. He teaches and conducts research in the fields of biblical exegesis, hermeneutics, Hebrew and Greek languages and semantics, biblical and systematic-historical theology, pedagogy, reception history, the arts and theology, and intertextual studies. His publications include numerous articles and chapters for Brill, De Gruyter, Routledge, T&T Clarks, Mohr Siebeck, and many more, and four books on Christ’s death in John (2014, 2025), Hebrew Semantics and Ezekiel (2024) and on the Christology of the Cross (2025).

Course aims

This course will read through the Old and New Testament, in order to demonstrate a critical and reflective understanding of their content. It will analyse different genres of both testaments in light of their cultural, historical, religious context and evaluate their biblical and theological comprehension.

Course objectives:

  • To formulate a broad understanding of the key issues, stories, composition and characters of the Hebrew Bible and of the New Testament within their historical settings.
  • To acquire an appreciation of the theology of the Bible, and a clear evaluation of the cultural and religious background of the text.
  • To describe the major ideas, literary forms and contexts of the Bible.

Teaching methods

Learning takes place on a weekly schedule. At the start of each weekly unit, students are provided with learning materials on our online platform, including one hour of pre-recorded video, often supplemented by guided readings and educational resources. These learning materials prepare students for a one-hour live webinar with an expert tutor at the end of each weekly unit which they attend in small groups. Webinars are held on Microsoft Teams, and provide the opportunity for students to respond to discussion prompts and ask questions. The blend of weekly learning materials that can be worked through flexibly, together with a live meeting with a tutor and their peers, maximise learning and engagement through interaction in a friendly, supportive environment.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to:

  • acquire knowledge of the formation, composition, content of the Bible, and a precise identification of the major themes of the text
  • demonstrate ability to analyse and interpret the biblical text
  • display critical thinking skills.

Assessment methods

You will be set independent formative and summative work for this course. Formative work will be submitted for informal assessment and feedback from your tutor, but has no impact on your final grade. The summative work will be formally assessed as pass or fail.

Application

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment form for short courses.

Level and demands

The Department's short online courses are taught at FHEQ Level 4, i.e. first year undergraduate level. FHEQ level 4 courses require approximately 10 hours study per week, therefore a total of about 100 study hours.

English Language Requirements

We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but warn that they may be at a disadvantage if their language skills are not of a comparable level to those qualifications listed on our website. If you are confident in your proficiency, please feel free to enrol. For more information visit our English language requirements webpage.  

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support