01.01 - Plagiarism, Biblical Genres, and Literary Forms
Plagiarism and Academic Integrity
Don’t plagiarize; credit sources properly. The speaker emphasizes attribution throughout, especially in graduate work.
Personal context: finished PhD in , began teaching in the graduate program that summer; started with graduate students.
The main teaching focus: the gospel of John as the course topic in the summer term.
Lesson to students: cite sources correctly; the instructor stresses credibility by saying he lived and slept with John in the sense of deeply engaging with the literature over the last years of his dissertation work. If anything’s been written on John, he has read it and likely owns the book.
Consequences of plagiarism in the class:
One student produced a paper of pages and failed the course.
Another student wasn’t as blatant but had to repeat the course.
The issue was described as contagious plagiarism in the department.
Media attention signaling consequences:
The Ford newspaper, the Ram, ran a feature on plagiarism and interviewed the instructor, making it clear not to test him on this.
Additional incident: in a seminar, individuals were caught plagiarizing.
Core definition: intellectual dishonesty = passing off someone else’s hard work as your own.
Best practices the instructor follows to verify sources:
If something sounds off, he checks the citation to see if the assertion being refuted is actually what is claimed.
He notes that sometimes a source will omit a crucial element, changing the meaning; he emphasizes reading beyond the surface.
Attitude toward students’ honesty:
He does not expect students at their stage to plagiarize; it’s easier to credit sources and show where one’s own thinking comes from.
Personal organizational philosophy to avoid waste:
He used to throw things away but learned that proper filing saves time.
He can direct someone to a specific shelf and location (e.g., “second shelf on the left”) to find a book quickly; this minimizes wasted time looking for materials.
Teaching style and student engagement:
He responds to students’ raised questions by saying he will address the question next, which keeps students thinking with him.
He believes a good lecturer should guide students through thought processes, rather than deliver disorganized content.
Reflections on his own student experiences:
He disliked teachers who were “all over the place” and preferred a clear sequence of topics.
Class logistics:
A break around – for about minutes; the class then continues.
The Study of Religion: Sacred Books and Approaches
The central idea: theories about why religions have holy books and how those texts shape beliefs and behavior.
Examples of sacred texts by tradition:
Hindus: Vedas and Upanishads
Buddhists: teachings of the Buddha
Muslims: their sacred texts (context mentioned; not named here)
Note on studying religion in class vs. on Sundays:
In class, approach is analytic and critical; on Sundays, preaching would be more devotional.
The New Testament as part of a larger canon:
The Bible is a collection of Hebrew and Christian scriptures, i.e., Old Testament and New Testament.
Etymology: the word “Bible” derives from the Greek word meaning “little books.”
The Bible is an anthology of religious documents spanning roughly a thousand years, not a single, short work.
The Hebrew Bible (TaNaKh):
The Hebrew Bible is often referred to as the TaNaKh (Torah, Nebim, Ketuvim: Law/Teaching, Prophets, Writings).
Primarily written in Hebrew with portions in Aramaic.
Content types across the Hebrew Bible include lyric poetry, legal material, historical narrative, prophecy.
The Torah and the Pentateuch:
Torah is the Hebrew word for law/teaching/instruction.
Pentateuch is the Greek word meaning “five scrolls” or “five books.”
These five books contain the Mosaic covenant between God and Israel.
The relationship of the Hebrew Bible to the New Testament:
For early Christians and Jews, references to Scripture/Law/Prophets often meant the Hebrew Bible.
A Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, the Septuagint, is frequently cited in the New Testament.
The Septuagint and Koine Greek Context
Septuagint (LXX):
A Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, commonly abbreviated as LXX.
Tradition holds that 72 Hebrew scholars produced 72 identical translations in a short period; hence the name “Septuagint” (the work of the seventy).
The LXX became the standard biblical text for Greek-speaking Jews and early Christians.
Why translate into Greek:
The Greek-speaking world under Alexander the Great spread Greek culture and language, making Hebrew less accessible to Jewish and early Christian communities.
This translation helped maintain access to sacred writings across generations and geographies.
Terminology and dating:
The New Testament often cites or alludes to the Hebrew Scriptures via the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament).
Language of the New Testament:
The New Testament is written in Koine Greek (the common or vernacular Greek of the period).
This is sometimes called “Koine” or “common Greek,” distinct from classical Greek.
Timeframe for the New Testament writings:
The letters (epistles) of Paul and others are dated to roughly – CE, with other parts of the New Testament written a bit later.
The Gospels and the Literary purpose of the New Testament
The word “gospel” (euangelion) and its varied uses:
In secular Greek, euangelion referred to public proclamations of good news (e.g., praise for Caesar, financial announcements, or divine honors for rulers).
In the New Testament, gospel refers to the message of salvation through Jesus’ death and resurrection, with the scope varying by author.
Each Gospel’s particular emphasis:
Matthew: presents Jesus’ teachings and inaugurates the gospel message through his ministry and teaching.
Mark: emphasizes the life and actions of Jesus; presents a concise account of Jesus’ ministry.
Luke: broadens the narrative, often highlighting historical context and Jesus’ birth/infancy (though not a full biography).
John: focuses on the life and ministry of Jesus with theological depth; presents the gospel as the sign and significance of Jesus’ identity.
Nature and scope of the Gospels:
The gospels are not full biographies in the modern sense; they do not systematically explain Jesus’ early life, education, or formative years (only Matthew and Luke touch on birth/infancy; Luke mentions Nazareth in one incident).
They concentrate on the final phase of Jesus’ life—arrest, trial, crucifixion, and the resurrection—and interpret these events theologically.
The role of the evangelists:
They are theologians writing to express their understanding of Jesus’ religious significance.
Their portrayal of Jesus is shaped by their theological aims and redaction choices.
The Other Literary Genres in the New Testament
Acts of the Apostles:
A historical narrative celebrating the deeds of early Christian leaders.
Continues the story of Christianity’s origins after Jesus’ ascension; narrates what happened next and how the church spread.
From Jesus’ ascension to Paul’s preaching in Rome.
Letters (Epistles):
A collection of 21 letters attributed to church leaders (e.g., Paul, Peter, James, Jude, John).
These letters address theology, ethics, church practice, and guidance for Christian communities.
Apocalypse (Revelation):
A distinct literary genre; the word is from Greek apokalypsis, meaning uncovering or unveiling.
It reveals what is hidden, presenting a cosmic struggle between God and Satan, involving heaven and earth.
The purpose is to encourage perseverance, affirm that God will triumph, and describe the eventual creation of a new heaven and new earth.
Summary of genres:
Gospel: narrative about Jesus’ life, teachings, death, and resurrection with theological aims.
Acts of the Apostles: historical narrative about early Christian leadership and church growth.
Letters: doctrinal and practical correspondence guiding Christian communities.
Apocalypse: unveiling of divine plans and ultimate cosmic victory of God.
Literary Forms and How We Read Texts
Why literary form matters:
Understanding form changes how we interpret content; it’s essential for accurate reading and interpretation.
Everyday communication relies on recognizable forms (e.g., jokes have setup and punchline; letters have formal/intentional tone).
Example: jokes require a setup and punchline; letters come in distinct formats (friendly vs. business) with appropriate diction and structure.
The impact of context and purpose on form:
The way we write a letter varies with purpose (e.g., applying for a job vs. writing to a loved one).
Word choice and tone shift depending on the form and audience.
Reading strategies beyond religious texts:
In non-biblical texts, such as newspapers, recognizing multiple forms helps reading comprehension.
Newspaper genres (an illustrative microcosm of form):
Potential forms include weather, notices, obituaries, ads, comics, reviews, op-ed pages, editorials, front-page features, and back-page sports.
A newspaper may contain well over 50 different literary types; readers automatically switch mental gears depending on the section.
The same wording can appear in different contexts with different meanings (e.g., a headline about a sport on the front page vs. a back-page sports result).
The death notice vs. obituary:
Death notice: a listing of the deceased with standard details (full name, date of death, close family members, residence, funeral parlor, wake time and place, funeral details).
Obituary: expands on residence history and family background and may include additional biographical details.
Application to biblical reading:
The Bible is a complex compilation with many literary forms; readers must discern whether a passage is history, poetry, prophecy, or apocalyptic writing, among others.
Practical takeaway for robust study:
Recognize genre to interpret content accurately and avoid misreading.
Breaks and Classroom Logistics
Break schedule referenced: around –, a -minute break.
The instructor emphasizes pacing and maintaining student engagement through breaks and orderly progression of topics.
Connections, Implications, and Real-World Relevance
Academic integrity is foundational to credible scholarship and effective teaching.
Understanding biblical genres and historical contexts is essential for accurate interpretation and meaningful discussion.
Recognizing different literary forms improves reading across disciplines (theology, literature, history, journalism).
The relationship between language, translation, and transmission (Hebrew Bible, Septuagint, Koine Greek) shows how text transmission shapes interpretation in different communities and eras.
The practical habit of meticulous filing and organization reduces time waste and enhances scholarly productivity.
Ethical implications extend beyond plagiarism to how we attribute ideas, as well as how we present and interpret evidence in arguments.