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Graduate Department of Religion
  2. Degrees
  3. New Testament, Second Temple Judaism, and Early Christianity

New Testament, Second Temple Judaism, and Early Christianity

The Ph.D. program is designed to prepare students for teaching and advanced scholarship in the New Testament and related literature in their historical, literary, and cultural contexts as well as in the history of their reception. 

Admission Requirements:  Candidates are expected to have adequate preparation to carry out advanced study in New Testament/Second Temple Judaism, and Early Christianity and to possess a knowledge of the requisite languages (see below).  

Language Competency:

  1. Primary Source languages: Students will sit for examinations in which they demonstrate competence in Koine Greek and biblical Hebrew. Passages will be determined in relation to the dissertation.
  2. Modern languages: Candidates must demonstrate a reading knowledge of German as well as another research language (e.g., French, Modern Hebrew, Spanish, the student’s native language if not English).
  3. Students are strongly encouraged to study other primary source languages (e.g., Aramaic, Coptic, Syriac, Latin).

Primary Language examinations are given twice a year at the beginning of the semester (August and January) and must be passed before the student may take the Qualifying Examinations.

Minor Field:

The minor field, consisting of a minimum of twelve hours of course work taken normally at Vanderbilt, may be chosen for its supportive role in contributing to the student's particular research interest or for its value in preparation for teaching. The student should select the minor area by the beginning of the second year in the program.  

Dissertation Committee

By the end of the third semester in the program, the student should convene a dissertation committee,

  1. The advisor
  2. The faculty member representing the minor area
  3. Two or more other faculty with expertise in the dissertation area.
  4. Note: At least three members of the committee must be active faculty at Vanderbilt. Emeritus professors and faculty from other schools can serve on the committee.

Proposal: In the semester prior to sitting for the Qualifying Examinations (QEs), the student will prepare, in consultation with the dissertation advisor, a proposal (approximately 5 pages) as well as bibliography. This material will guide the dissertation committee in their composing of the QEs.

Qualifying Examinations:

  1. QEs are to be taken after the student completes at least 48 course hours and has passed all required language examinations.
  2. QEs are to be taken after the student submits a dissertation proposal and the proposal is approved by the advisor.
  3. The written parts of the examinations are administered at the times specified by the Graduate School. The oral examination by the student's Ph.D. Committee is held within four weeks after the written portions are completed.  
  4. The QEs are:
    1. A four-hour field examination on the New Testament and its history of interpretation (including questions of content, historical context, theological and Christological arguments, approaches). The student will submit a bibliography (approximately 50 works) that members of the Committee may choose to supplement.
    2. A four-hour examination on the topic of the dissertation.
    3. A four-hour examination on how the topic of the dissertation relates to the rest of the New Testament canon, other relevant Jewish, Christian, and pagan texts, and material culture.
    4. A minor examination or project. Demonstration of competence in the minor area, to be certified by a faculty member in that field in conjunction with the student's Ph.D. adviser.  

Oral examination: An oral examination, lasting one to two hours in length, with the full Ph.D. Committee, will consider the content of the written exams.

  1. Should there be no problems with the written examinations, the student's dissertation proposal will serve as the basis for the discussion.
  2. In light of this discussion, the student will, if necessary, revise the proposal and submit it to the committee for approval. The revised proposal must be submitted within four weeks of the oral examination. 

NOTE:  This description of requirements supplements The Bulletin of Vanderbilt University Graduate School and "The Guidelines of the Graduate Department of Religion." Students are expected to meet all of the common requirements of the graduate program as described in those publications.