Brief Profile of the Biblical Theology Department, CIWA

The Biblical Theology Department of the Catholic Institute of West Africa, Port Harcourt, was one of the first three Departments that began with the Institute from its inception on 8th December 1981 at Ozoba. From onset the Department has been blessed with well qualified and seasoned lecturers who have continued to produce graduates with Masters (MTh), Licentiate (STL) and Doctoral (PhD) degrees. Those graduates in turn have distinguished themselves in Church and society. Among them today are three Bishops.

To oversee the academic matters of the Department, the Biblical Department has had four Heads – Justin S. Ukpong, Kris Owan, Teresa Okure, SHCJ and the current HOD Emmanuel O. Nwaoru.

Coincidentally, two of the HODs, Rev. Fr. Justin Ukpong (late) and Sr. Teresa Okure, SHCJ, became the first two Professors of the Institute in 1999.

Composition of the Department in the current (2015/2016) Academic Year

The Department has a Professor in Residence, Sr. Prof. Teresa Okure, SHCJ and five full-time lecturers – Rev. Fr. Prof. Emmanuel O. Nwaoru, Rev. Fr. Dr. Anthony Umoren, MSP, Rev. Fr. Dr. Luke Ijezie, Rev. Fr. Dr. Ignatius Obinwa and Rev. Fr. Dr. Peter Onwuka and candidates pursuing various programmes – Propaedeutic, Masters, Licentiate and Doctorate.

Biblical Theology Courses

In keeping with Sapientia Christiana the Department offers courses in the following Stress Areas:

1. Introductory courses in Methodology
2. OT Textual Study – Exegesis
3. OT Thematic Study – Theology
4. NT Textual Study – Exegesis
5. NT Thematic Study – Theology
6. Intertestamental Period
7. The Bible and First World Cultures

Courses in these areas help students to acquire mastery of basic exegetical and methodological skills needed in handling Biblical text, knowledge of contemporary interpretative methodologies applied in reading the Bible in context, and major research tools available in all these areas.

This warrants that students in the Department begin with Beginners Course in the first year (Propaedeutic Year) in Old Testament Hebrew Morphology (BIB 4010) and New Testament Greek Morphology (BIB 4030). Here they are introduced gradually to paradigms, while they learn easy translations from the Hebrew and Greek Bible.

The major courses are offered in the following areas:

1. Biblical Languages

• Old Testament Hebrew Syntax and Lexis
• New Testament Greek Syntax and Lexis
• Biblical Aramaic

Here the student acquires the ability for syntactical analysis of chosen Biblical texts as well as for reading and translating the same. There is also introductory study of Textual Criticism of both testaments. Doctoral candidates are expected to demonstrate high proficiency in the knowledge of Biblical Hebrew and Greek and a good working knowledge of Biblical Aramaic (BIB 6032).

Outside the major courses students are also expected to take Elective and Faculty courses which they may choose from or outside the Biblical Department.

1. Biblical Methodologies

The student studies the basic characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of the major methodologies applied in contemporary Biblical studies, Old and New Testaments, particularly

• the Historical Critical (diachronic) method and its different components: Source, Form, Redaction, Literary, Textual, religionsgeschichtliche, etc. criticisms
• Synchronic and Contextual Approaches; Liberative and Inculturation Hermeneutics; Biblical interpretation in Africa
• Women’s Hermeneutics (feminist, mujerista, womanist and African women’s hermeneutics).

1. Exegesis (OT and NT)

The student is introduced to the process of interpreting or explaining select Biblical texts and passages from Biblical books, using major research tools and methodologies.

1. Biblical Themes and Cultures (OT and NT)

Select Biblical themes are treated as courses or Seminars, especially those relevant to the African context. They cover among others:

• The Old Testament Covenants (particularly the Sinai Covenant) and the monarchy in their Biblical and extra-Biblical contexts, and relevance for Africa
• Prophetic Literature and related issues, e.g., “pure” religion, social justice, etc. in Africa
• Parables of Jesus and the Sermon on the Mount in their Biblical and contemporary African contexts
• Contemporary Issues in Biblical Miracles & Faith Healing in African context
• New Testament Attitude towards cultures (OT, Jewish, Gentile), with a focus on African cultures
• Biblical and Contemporary Issues in Sex and Gender and Cultural Hermeneutics