Biblical studies is the academic application of a set of diverse disciplines to the study of the
Jewish and Christian scriptures, the
Bible. For its theory and methods, the field draws on disciplines ranging from
archaeology,
literary criticism,
history,
philology, and
social sciences.
Many secular as well as religious universities and colleges offer courses in biblical studies, usually in departments of
religious studies,
theology,
Judaic studies, history, or
comparative literature. Biblical scholars do not necessarily have a
faith commitment to the texts they study, but many do.