PhD: Second Temple Judaism

Once considered the inferior tail end of the history of ancient Israel recent scholarship increasingly recognizes the centrality of the Second Temple Period (539 BCE - 70 CE) for the emergence of the Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament).

Whereas few scholars are agreed on which portions of the Hebrew Bible pre-date the post-exilic period, most would agree that the whole and many of its constituent parts were shaped in the Second Temple Period. This period witnessed important social struggles and competing claims between various strata in society including those who returned from the Babylonian exile and those who had remained in the land. A fruitful avenue of fresh scholarly work is comparative study of texts, ideologies, and beliefs reflected in the Hebrew Bible and the earliest strands of post-scriptural material witnessed by the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Funding Notes

There are a limited number of funding opportunities within the School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion; however, competition for these scholarships is fierce and only those with the highest credentials are likely to be successful. For more information see:

http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/calgs/scholarships/index.aspx

Enquiries from self-funded students are also welcome.