In 1960, a Department of Theology was instituted at Unisa, which subsequently evolved to a faculty. In 1965, three sub-departments were established: the Department of Old and New Testament, the Department of Dogmatics, Ethics, and Practical Theology, and the Department of Church History, Missiology, and the Science of Religion.
Prof H Ramantswana
Chair of Department:
Biblical and Ancient Studies
In this Department, we recognise that the past and present are intricately linked, as they continually converge and as we orchestrate their convergence. The trends, cultures, experiences, memories, texts, and artefacts from ancient times influence our understanding of the present, prompting us to rethink the present and shape the future we aspire to create. While we acknowledge that change is a constant and the present will eventually become the past, we embrace the opportunities presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Through technological advances and the expansion of our imaginations enabled by Artificial Intelligence, we engage in dynamic dialogues with the past as we explore biblical or religious texts, ancient writings, ancient histories, and cultural artefacts. Our approach is rich and varied, allowing us to engage with the past and its texts in meaningful ways as we forge ahead.
We are excited to welcome you into our department, whether you are undergraduate students eager to delve into the study of Scriptures, ancient cultures, and histories, or postgraduate students ready to cultivate essential research skills and knowledge to shape a bright future. We invite postdoctoral fellows and research associates to join us on this journey. We also seek to collaborate and partner with scholars, institutions, and organisations across the African continent and beyond.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Department.
