Winter 2020/Pasadena

NT860

Thompson

NT860: THE NEW TESTAMENT IN ITS ANCIENT CONTEXTS (6 Units: 363 hours). Marianne Meye Thompson.

DESCRIPTION: This CATS seminar focuses on specific topics in the study of the ancient contexts of the NT. In the winter quarter, 2020, the topic will be the Interpretation of Scripture In early Judaism, Including translations (LXX, Targums); early commentary (Dead Sea Scrolls, Philo); "rewritten Bible" (Josephus, Jubilees) and a variety of other texts. The seminar Is open to a limited number of advanced 500-level students with permission of the Instructor.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated the ability (1) to employ a range of texts that inform study of the NT in responsible ways; (2) to interact thoughtfully and critically with the work of others; (3) to identify and discuss a variety of important issues in understanding biblical Interpretation In early Judaism; and (4) to design and carry out a research project on a text or theme related to the course material.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course addresses the interpretation of the New Testament in its historical context in early Judaism, which is consistent with the School of Theology program learning outcomes ‘Students will have demonstrated a comprehensive knowledge of the discipline of their study’ and ‘Students will have demonstrated research skills appropriate to their area of study, sufficient to engage in original research and writing that advances theological understanding in the service of the church, academy, and/or society’. (PhD) (ThM, PhD).

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three-hour sessions for a total of 33 hours of classroom instruction for review of assignments, discussion of primary and secondary texts, seminar presentations, and occasional brief lectures plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 43 instructional hours. The final week of the course will involve student presentations of work and critical responses to that work.

REQUIRED READING: 1492 total number of pages required.

Charlesworth, J. H., ed. The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha. 2 vols. Hendrickson Publishers, 2010. ISBN: 978-1598564891, Pub. Price $69.95 [213 pages].

Collins, John J., and Daniel C. Harlow. The Eerdmans Dictionary of Early Judaism. Eerdmans, 2010. [EDEJ]. ISBN: 978-0802825490, Pub. Price $95.00 [382 pages].

Mulder, Martin Jan, et al., eds. Mikra: Text, Translation, Reading, & Interpretation Of The Hebrew Bible In Ancient Judaism & Early Christianity. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004. ISBN: 978-0801047237, Pub. Price $60.00. [276 pages]

Hauser, A. J. and D. F. Watson. A History of Biblical Interpretation. Vol. 1: The Ancient Period. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003. ISBN: 978-0802863959, Pub. Price $50.00 [274 pages]

García Martínez, Florentina and Eibert J. C. Tigchelaar. The Dead Sea Scrolls: Study Edition. 2 vols. Eerdmans, 1999. ISBN: 978-0802844934, Pub. Price $100.00 [67 pages]. (Available as an eBook through the Fuller Library)

The SBL Handbook of Style: For Biblical Studies and Related Disciplines, 2nd ed. SBL Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-1589839649, Pub. Price $39.95. (Available as an eBook through the Fuller Library)

Students will also need access to selected primary texts, including the Septuagint, the Old Testament Apocrypha, the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Philo, and Josephus. A number of these sources are available on line or electronically in Bible software programs. Philo and Josephus can be consulted in the editions of the Loeb Classical Library, which is available electronically through the Fuller Library page on the Loeb Classical Library database. Both are also available through various Bible software programs, but these (public domain) translations need to be checked against those that are more reliable. A total of 280 pages will be read from Philo, Josephus, and sources in the Apocrypha and rabbinic literature.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Attendance at and readiness to participate in all sessions of the Seminar [33 hours].
  2. Assigned primary and secondary reading (1500 pages). [100 hours].
  3. Directed Learning Activities: 5 written assignments on primary sources (1200 words each) and oral presentation (35%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 3] [70 hours].
  4. Directed Learning Activities: 5 written assignments on required secondary reading (500-1000 words each) and oral presentation (15%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2] [20 hours].
  5. Preparation and presentation of a major research paper, on a topic related to the theme of the course, and drawing primarily on primary sources other than the NT: 7000 - 9000 words (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 4] [120 hours].
  6. 1200 word critical response to a final paper prepared by a seminar member (10%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2] [20 hours].

PREREQUISITES: Admission into the ThM or PhD program. Open to a limited number of advanced master’s level students with the following prerequisites: LG502, LG512, NE502 or BI500; NS500 and NS501, or NT500; and written permission of instructor.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Required for the PhD in New Testament.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change. Copyright 2019 Fuller Theological Seminary.