SYLLABUS

Course: RELIGIOUS STUDIES 2: INTRODUCTION TO SACRED SCRIPTURE

Units: 3 units
No. of Hours: 54 hours in a semester (3 hours / week for 18 weeks)
Pre-requisite: None

Course Description:
RS 2 is one of the core course of San Agustin Institute of Technology for all students enrolled in the college department. This course is a study
on the Introduction to Sacred Scriptures in a general perspective and a glimpse on the foundation of our Christian living, engages the Catholic
understanding of Sacred Scripture. It aims to study its nature and purpose in the light of the Church teachings. This core course intends to enliven
students’ understanding and appreciation of Christianity, overall, by studying some of the social, historical, cultural, literary, and theological dimensions
of the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, in particular. We will consider the original meaning of the Bible in its ancient contexts, as well as its
modern significance and application for our own lives and communities.

Introduction to Sacred Scripture will present a basic introduction to the Sacred Scriptures.; a Catholic understanding of God’s self-revelation
through Scripture and Tradition. It will examine the structure and content of the Hebrew (Old Testament) and Christian Scriptures (New Testament),
and the importance of each in Christian life and catechesis.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, the students should be able to:

Doctrines: Fundamentals of Christian Belief

1. Explain the nature and purpose of the Sacred Scripture

2. Demonstrate basic familiarity with the terms, 73 books, content and literary genres of the whole Bible:
 We will read much of the 46 OT and 27 NT books, which include many different literary genres.
 We will learn how these ancient texts differ from one other and from modern literary works.
3. To be able to read the Bible critically, in the light of its social, historical, cultural, and religious contexts:
 We will learn some highlights of Ancient Near-Eastern, Judeo-Christian, and Greco-Roman history.
 We will investigate some important aspects of ancient cultures, which are vastly different from our own. Recognize the value of the Bible in
the life of the Church and of individual Christians, especially in encountering the person of Jesus.
4. Identify God’s revelation through:
 History by means of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament)
 Jesus by means of the Christian Scriptures (New Testament).

Morals: Fundamentals of Christian Living

1. To appreciate the continuing relevance of the Bible, Christianity, and religion in general in our world today:
 We will consider how biblical texts are applicable to spirituality, prayer, liturgy, politics, and social justice.
 We will discuss the interplay between religious texts, personal faith, community praxis, and ecclesial structures.
2. Appreciate the efforts of the Church in preserving through her living tradition and the teachings of Sacred Scripture
3. Demonstrate an appreciation for the reception and use of Sacred Scripture within the life and mission of the Church, and a renewed interest in
Sacred Scripture, with an enlivened sense of its value in one’s own life.

Worship: Fundamentals of Christian Community

1. Approach God in prayer through the Scriptures.

2. Find out the extent of the Bible’s impact to the lives of the Filipino students.
3. Internalize the content of biblical texts so that one could express the specific importance of various passages of Scripture.
4. Practice them to read, grasp and define the fundamental tenets of Christian Catholic Faith

Term Learning Topics/Biblical Methodology Resources Assessment

Outcomes Readings
Explain the A. General Introduction Brainstorming and unveiling the TV Monitor
P nature and meaning of the terms in Biblical Moving/seat down
R purpose of the 1. Meaning Studies Text from Sacred Scripture and Quizzes, oral
E Sacred various Church documents (Dei recitation and
L Scripture 2. Division Verbum and Fides et Ration) Reflection and
I Lecture and class discussion http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_c journal writing
M Demonstrate 3. Chapter and Biblical Literary ouncils/ii_vatican_council/document
basic familiarity Verses
 with the terms, s/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-
73 books, 4. Difference Group activity on the Books of verbum_en.html
P content and between Catholic the Sacred Scripture and its http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-
literary genres of and Protestant division paul-
R the whole Bible: Bible ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-
ii_enc_14091998_fides-et-ratio.html
E B. A Glossary of
Appreciate the Important Terms for Discovering Together God’s Word
L efforts of the Biblical Studies (A Basic background of the Bible).
Church in Video Discussion, Deepening. Monina V. Baybay, FSP, 2017. ST.
I preserving 1. Basic Terms of Group Reaction (Activity) Paul Publication
through her Biblical Studies and
M living tradition Meaning Audio and / or video clips of the
and the general information and
teachings of 2. Literary and Genres Introduction of the Sacred Scripture
Sacred of the Bible
Scripture See:
 https://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=0_8UIMtV6CM
Practice them to (Introduction to Sacred
read, grasp and Scripture, Genres
define the
fundamental  https://www.youtube.com/wa
tenets of tch?v=yNqUq5enWL8
Christian (Hebrew Scriptures – Old
Catholic Faith Testament)

 https://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=8rY8oMGoqic
(Christian Scriptures – New
Testament)
  The Catholic Study Bible:
New American Bible (ed. D.
Senior; Oxford, 1990).

To be able to C. History and TV Monitor

read the Bible Development of the
critically, in the Bible: Ancient Near- Lecture and class discussion Audio and / or video clips of the
light of its social, Eastern, Judeo- Bible History general information and
historical, Christian, Greco- Introduction of the Sacred Scripture Moving/seat down
cultural, and Roman history. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= Quizzes, oral
M religious BoIA6887rnc (Basic Structure – recitation and
contexts: 1. 6 Keys Story Part of Video Discussion Content, History) Reflection and
I the Bible journal writing
To appreciate a. The Creation Online sources (for reading
D the continuing (Genesis 1 &2) assignment)
relevance of the b. The Fall (Gen. 3) Covenant Writing
T Bible, c. The Israelites http://catholic-
Christianity, and (Exodus 4) resources.org/Bible/Glossary-
E religion in d. The Life of Jesus 6%20pages.pdf
general in our (Matthew 5) Students presentation of the their Mapping on the
R world today: e. The Life of Jesus’ selected book from the Bible (Old http://catholic- Genealogy of Jesus
Disciples (Acts 2) – New Testament) resources.org/Bible/Glossary.htm
M Find out the f. The End Times Group activity: Presentation of
extent of the (Rev. 1) the Bible History The Catholic Study Bible: New
Bible’s impact to American Bible (ed. D. Senior;
the lives of the Oxford University Press, 1990).
Filipino
students.

F TV Monitor
I
N
A Identify God’s D.God’s Revelation: A Individual presentation of their Philippine Bible Society (2013), The
L revelation Glimpse at every book in chosen book in the Sacred Bible: A glimpse at every book
through: the Bible Scripture (Reporting) (Catholic Edition). 890 United
 History by Nations Avenue 1000 Manila,
means of the 1. Hebrew Scriptures Philippines. PBS
Hebrew (46 Books)
Scriptures
(Old Lecture, class discussion and
Testament) Deepening of the given guide The Catholic Study Bible: New Moving/seat down
 Jesus by questions to each chosen book American Bible (ed. D. Senior; Quizzes, oral
means of the Oxford, 1990). recitation, reporting
Christian 2. Christian Scriptures and Reflection and
F Scriptures (27 Books) journal writing
(New Students video presentation of
I Testament). the different books of the Old
Testament and New Testament
N Demonstrate an Group Activity (Bible jingle) Catholic Sacred Scripture: The Covenant Writing
appreciation for Bible. http://www.usccb.org/bible/
A the reception
and use of
L Sacred
Scripture within Catholic Bishop Conference of the
the life and Philippines and Episcopal
mission of the Commission on Catholic Education
Church, and a (CBCP- ECCCE) (1997).
renewed Catechism for the Filipino Catholics
interest in Catechism of the Catholic Church
Sacred
Scripture, with
an enlivened
sense of its
value in one’s
own life.
 Approach God
in prayer
through the
Scriptures.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
 Regular attendance in class and other religious school activities
 Journal notebook for daily Bible Journal
 Weekly brief written assignments related to reading (a schedule of readings will be provided)
 Satisfactory completion of short and long quizzes (to be announced), Major Exams (Prelim, Midterm and Final)

REQUIRED READINGS:
 The Holy Bible. New American Bible: Catholic Edition (must have)
 Discovering Together God’s Word (A Basic background of the Bible). Monina V. Baybay, FSP, 2017. ST. Paul Publication
 Church Documents: (can be downloaded from www.vatican.va)
 Vatican II. Constitution on Divine Revelation: Dei Verbum. 1965
http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html
 Benedict XVI. Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini: On the Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church. 2010.
http://w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_ben-xvi_exh_20100930_verbum-domini.html
 Pope Francis. Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium: On the Proclamation of the Gospel in Today’s World. 2013.
http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-
gaudium.html
 Catechism of the Catholic Church. Paragraphs 50-184.

GRADING SYSTEM
Class and other Religious Activities Attendance 15%
Journal Notebook and Weekly Assignments 25%
Quizzes, Assignments, Group Activities 20%
 Major Exams (Prelim, Midterm, Final) 40%

Prepared by: Evaluated by:

MARJORIE G. RESULLAR, LPT, MARE GLENNE A. RIVERA, PhD

RS INSRUCTOR Dean of College
Discovering Together God’s Word (A basic background for the Bible) by Monina V. Baybay, FSP, 2017
Topics:
The BIBLE in General
1. Approaching the Bible (5 steps)
2. Historical Background of the Bible
3. Organizational and Development of the Bible
4. The unity of the Old and New Testament