An Introduction to Biblical Literature This course is a general introduction to biblical history, literature, and interpretation.  It is designed for students who seek a basic understanding of the Bible on its own or as a foundation for further study in religion, art, literature, film, and other disciplines.  It aims to acquaint students with the major characters, narratives, poetry, and compositional features of biblical literature and how these writings became Jewish and Christian scriptures.  The course will also explore various approaches to reading the Bible, both religious and secular.

The Bible and the Lives of Others The Bible contains stories about marginalized people who carry in themselves rich theological ideas about suffering, love, and social justice. Yet, the question of how we as global citizens should read the Bible gives rise to the challenge of considering contested views on minorities in history. In this course we will investigate ways in which the Bible portrays women, children, slaves, foreigners, and people with disabilities, using feminist and minoritized hermeneutics. Asking how these portrayals have been interpreted in modern religio–political contexts, we will reflect upon the impact of biblical interpretation on the lives of others. What does it mean to listen to the voices from the margins in our culturally diverse and politically divided world?

Gender and Sexuality in the Bible What does the Bible say about sex, marriage, and homosexuality? While many people claim “the” biblical perspective on this question, the Bible offers various–often complicated–stories and teachings about gender and sexuality. In this course, we will closely read key biblical passages concerning God’s gender, marriage and divorce, family life, sexual violence, women’s social status, asceticism, and sexual orientation. Special attention will be paid to the ancient Mediterranean sociocultural milieu within which ancient Israelites and early Christians constructed their ideas and practices about sex and gender. We will ultimately ask: how might our nuanced understanding of gender and sexuality in the Bible inform contemporary debates on sexual difference, gender inequality, and sexuality and social leadership?

Historical Jesus and the Gospels Who was Jesus of Nazareth? How does the historical Jesus differ from Jesus Christ in the Gospels? In this course we will explore how early Christians remembered Jesus and developed traditions about him. We will read both canonical (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) and non-canonical (e.g., Thomas, Mary, Peter) Gospels within their historical and literary contexts, focusing on Judaism, the Roman Empire, and Greco–Roman cultures. We will then examine the critical approaches modern scholars take to reconstruct the historical Jesus’ life. By comparing diverse portraits of Jesus both in ancient literature and in modern scholarship, we will evaluate such diversity’s implications for our intellectual and cultural life today. How does the historical Jesus matter and for whom? 3hrs. lect.

Eunyung Lim

Reviews and ratings for Eunyung Lim at Middlebury College.Eunyung Lim teaches Intro to Biblical Literature, The Bible and Lives of Others, Gender and Sexuality in Bible and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Eunyung Lim good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

Great course. Not the most rigorous, but definitely valuable. I 100% would recommend this as a course to hit some distribution requirements you might need, and maybe learn something about your faith too. If you are not religious, don't worry, the class takes more of a historical approach. 

Such an easy class. Prof Lim says that she wants the class to not be stressful and she is really excited about the material. You don't really need to do any of the readings and this class is extremely low stress. 