When most persons think of the Bible today, they think of a physical book, a material object, that can be held, physically, in their hands. But in the ancient Jewish and Christian imagination, the ‘Bible’ and ‘scripture’ were not always conceived of as being ‘bookish’ (i.e., as a single contained unit). This course examines how the Bible became a book from a historical perspective, focusing on key moments from antiquity, the medieval period, the Renaissance, the Reformation period, and modern-day employment. The course also examples how the Bible continues to function as a material object in our world. Topics will include the ancient technologies of scrolls and codices, medieval manuscripts, artistic representations, the influence of the printing press on biblical 'bookishness', 18th and 19th century Bible production, as well as contemporary settings wherein the ‘Bible’ continues to function as a physical, material object, in film and the arts, as well as in both secular and sacred settings today. The course incorporates several hands-on activities, including work with parchment and ink, as well as field trips to the University of Michigan’s papyrology collection, the Book Arts studio, the Clements Library, and contemporary religious communities throughout.

Intended Audience:

Students interested in the Bible, the Ancient Mediterranean World, Jewish Studies, Classical Studies, Women and Gender Studies, and Middle East Studies.

Class Format:

Two 90-minute meetings weekly