a) The synoptic problem, source, form and redaction criticism – an examination of the relationship between the synoptic Gospels, including two source hypothesis (priority of Mark and ‘Q source’), the idea of proto-Gospels and the four-source hypothesis.
b) Units of tradition and their type/form, the way texts appear to have been translated, edited and transmitted.
c) The significance of this for understanding the texts.

a) An examination of the different purposes of the Gospel and views of its authorship: Jesus as Christ, Son of God, life in his name, Spiritual Gospel, a Gospel to convert Jews and Gentiles, fulfilment of scripture.
b) The strengths and weaknesses of these views based on the text and modern scholarship, and their significance for understanding the text for individuals and communities.
With reference to the ideas of R Brown and C H Dodd.

a) The Bible as inspired: literal, allegorical and moral senses of scripture, modern scholarship on the value of scripture including Barth on scripture as the ‘Word of God’, Bultmann on demythologising the text and an overview of the four main approaches to post-Enlightenment biblical interpretation of rational, historical, sociological and literary.
b) The contexts, strengths and weaknesses of these positions and the significance of these models of interpretation for understanding the text today and its relevance for the modern world.