MPhil in Judaism and Christianity in the Graeco-Roman World

Please consult the relevant Faculty Handbook and ‘Grey Book’ (exam) Regulations for this course. There is also a limited selection of recent exam papers on OXAM. For the Christian side of the course, choose Paper 1 and one other from the list below. Follow the links for tutorial topics and suggested reading lists. Jewish and Christian papers are taught alternately.

B1: Christianity to 200 CE (required paper)

No Prescribed Texts 

B2: The Gospels and the Historical Jesus

Prescribed Texts for 2023:  Mark 1-16; Luke 9-24

B3: Acts and the Pauline Corpus

Prescribed Texts for 2023:  Acts 16-28, Romans 1-11, Hebrews

B4: The Apostolic Fathers

Prescribed Texts (last set in 2021):  Epistle of Barnabas, Didache, Epistle of Polycarp, Epistle to Diognetus (in The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations, ed. & trans. Michael W. Holmes (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007). 

B5: The Apologists

Previously prescribed texts: (1) In Greek: Justin, Dialogue with Trypho 40-47, 130-141; Justin, Apology II; Theophilus, Ad Autolycum. (2) In English: Justin, Dialogue with Trypho (all); Dialogue of Jason & Papiscus; Tatian, Ad Graecos