DESCRIPTION:

This seminar, intended primarily for Ph.D. and Th.M. students and open to a limited number of master's level students, bridges a gap between M.Div. core courses and research work. It covers the older perspectives relating to text, forms, sources and redaction, and also more recent approaches, new literary criticism and rhetorical and canonical criticism.

This course has no direct relevance: it prepares for research and academic teaching. However, inasmuch as it reveals the often implicit presuppositions of commentators, it clarifies the general task of exegesis and so lays a foundation for preaching and teaching in the church.

This class will meet for discussion weekly for a three-hour session.

Alter, R. The Art of Biblical Narrative. New York: Basic Books, 1983.

Barton, J. Reading the Old Testament. Rev. ed. Louisville: Westminster, 1997.

Childs, B. S. Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture. Louisville: Westminster, 1979.

Habel, N. Literary Criticism of the Old Testament. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1971.

McCarter, P. K. Textual Criticism. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1986.

McKenzie, S. L. and S. R. Haynes. To Each Its Own Meaning. Rev. ed. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1999.

Sanders, J. A. Canon and Community. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1984.

__________. From Sacred Story to Sacred Text. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1987.

Steck, O. H. Old Testament Exegesis: A Guide to Methodology. 2d ed. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1998.

Trible, P. Rhetorical Criticism. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1994.

Tucker, G. M. Form Criticism of the Old Testament. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1971.

Also such duplicated material as is set in the schedule of sessions.

The reading required for each seminar must be done beforehand, if a good grade is to be achieved. A term paper on one perspective of the course will be required.

For master's level students: OTA, OTB, OTC and written permission of the instructor.

Elective.

None.