A journey of biblical scholarship : the department of sacred scripture, Hebrew and Greek at the University of Malta

Abstract

The study of Sacred Scripture, alongside the biblical languages of Hebrew and Greek, has long served as a cornerstone of theological formation and intellectual inquiry within Christian academic tradition. At the University of Malta, the formalisation and development of this field found a dedicated home within the Faculty of Theology through the establishment of the Department of Sacred Scripture, Hebrew and Greek. The history of this Department is deeply intertwined with the shifting fortunes of religious education on the island, shaped by ecclesiastical authority, colonial influence, and post-conciliar renewal. Initially conceived within a broader theological curriculum dominated by dogmatic and moral instruction, the scriptural disciplines gradually acquired a more autonomous and specialised identity. This transformation was facilitated by the emergence of dedicated academic chairs, the contributions of key scholars, and the progressive inclusion of lay students, especially in the post-Vatican II era.