Special Regulations for the Preliminary Examination for Theology

A

1. 1. The subjects of the Preliminary Examination for Theology shall be:
   1. (1) The Christian Doctrine of Creation
   2. (2) The Study of Old Testament set texts
   3. (3) The Study of a New Testament set text
   4. (4) The History of the Church from Nero to Constantine
   5. (5) Introduction to the Study of Religions
   6. (6) Introduction to Philosophy
   7. (7) New Testament Greek
   8. (8) Biblical Hebrew
   9. (9) Classical Arabic
   10. (10) Pali
   11. (11) Sanskrit.

1. 2. Candidates must offer at least one from amongst papers (6), (7), (8), (9), (10) and (11).
2. 3. Candidates intending to progress to the Honour School of Theology must satisfy a language requirement for the degree via his or her Preliminary Examination, or will be required to indicate how he or she will attempt to do so via his or her Second Public Examination. Candidates in the Final Honours School of Theology will be deemed to have satisfied a language requirement for their degree if they have passed one of Papers 7 (New Testament Greek), 8 (Biblical Hebrew), 9 (Classical Arabic), 10 (Pali), or 11 (Sanskrit) in their Preliminary Examination.
3. 4. A candidate shall be deemed to have passed the examination if he shall have satisfied the Moderators in three of the subjects from the Preliminary Examination: Provided that he shall have passed in not less than two subjects at one and the same examination and in the third subject at that or a subsequent examination.
4. 5. Candidates may offer an additional subject if they so wish.
5. 6. All candidates must offer at least three subjects in one examination: Provided that a candidate who has failed in one subject (or in two subjects if he has offered four) but has passed in the other subjects offered may offer at a subsequent examination the subject or subjects in which he or she failed.
6. 7. In the case of candidates who have satisfied the Moderators in at least three subjects in a single examination, the Moderators may award a mark of distinction to those of special merit.

B

Candidates must offer at least one from amongst papers 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11.

1. 1. The Christian Doctrine of Creation This paper will serve as an introduction to Systematic Theology through the critical examination of different aspects of one basic Christian doctrine, the doctrine of Creation.
2. 2. The Study of Old Testament set texts: Genesis 1-11 and Amos Candidates will be expected to comment on passages from the set texts and will be expected to show a general knowledge of their historical, literary, and theological background.*
3. 3. Introducing the New Testament with special reference to the Gospel of Mark Candidates will be expected to show a general knowledge of the contents and background of the New Testament and to answer questions on historical and theological issues which are raised by the Gospel of Mark.
4. 4. The History of the Church from Nero to Constantine Candidates will be expected to show a general knowledge of the history of the Church, and its relations to the Roman empire, from the late first century to the death of Constantine in 337 ad. Questions will be set on some but not necessarily all of the following topics: the growth of the church and the meaning of conversion; the causes, scope, and effects of persecution; patterns of ministry and the threefold hierarchy; ecclesiastical discipline and the beginnings of monasticism; schisms caused by Judaizers, Gnostics, Montanists, Novatianists, and Donatists; the development of orthodoxy and synodical government; the evolution of the Biblical canon; the role of Christianity in the Constantinian Empire.
5. 5. Introduction to the Study of Religions The principal aim of this paper is to introduce the Study of Religions through the critical study of some different approaches. Candidates will be expected to understand the main attempts to define ‘religion’ and the problems associated with such definitions, and to have acquired a preliminary insight into the variety of religions, both those that are traditional and new religious movements through the world.
6. 6. Introduction to Philosophy As specified for the Preliminary Examination for Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.
7. 7. New Testament Greek † Candidates will be expected to show a knowledge of Greek grammar, syntax, and vocabulary (as set out in J. Duff, The Elements of New Testament Greek) and its importance for the exegesis of the New Testament, with particular reference to Mark 14:1-16:8 and John 6 and 9, from which passages will be chosen for translation and grammatical comment.
8. 8. Biblical Hebrew + The paper will include questions on elementary Hebrew grammar (to include only the topics covered in J. Weingreen, Practical Grammar of Classical Hebrew, 2nd edn., pp. 1-123), and short passages will be set for translation and grammatical comment from Genesis 1-2.
9. 9. Classical Arabic Candidates will be expected to show knowledge of Classical Arabic grammar, syntax and vocabulary (as set out in André d'Alverny, Cours de langue arabe). Passages from the Qu'ran, the Hadith, or other theological Islamic literature will be chosen for translation and grammatical comment.
10. 10. Pali Candidates will be expected to show knowledge of Pali grammar, syntax and vocabulary (as set out in A. K. Warder: Introduction to Pali). Passages from the Pali Canon will be chosen for translation and grammatical comment.
11. 11. Sanskrit Candidates will be expected to show knowledge of basic Sanskrit grammar, syntax and vocabulary. The course book will be Walter Maurer's The Sanskrit Language) and the texts for study will be Bhagabad Gita chapter 2 and Nala chapter 1. Passages from these texts will be chosen for translation and grammatical comment.