DESCRIPTION: The book of Job will be examined critically from the twin perspectives of its meaning in its ancient context and its continuing significance for the modern community of faith. Lectures will alternate between close exegetical treatment of selected passages of Job and surveys of larger thematic and structural issues, including the place of Job within the contexts of Israelite and ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature. Significant time will be given to discussion of the implications of Job for the theological reflection and praxis of the church: how is suffering consistent with our confessions about God, how can we learn from the suffering of others, and how can we minister faithfully to those who suffer?

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated (1) a sound grasp of the book of Job and a consistent, exegetically sound interpretation of its message; (2) an ability to relate Job to the wisdom literature of the Old Testament and to appreciate the distinctive contributions of this literature to biblical theology; and (3) an ability to articulate responses to the theological challenges posed by suffering; (4) an increased awareness of the way that diverse communities experience and interpret suffering.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Job offers crucial lessons for ministry to a suffering world: the limits of our theological systems in the face of unexplained suffering; the need for humility and self-scrutiny in our efforts to help those who suffer; the need to recognize and to advocate for those who suffer in our midst and "outside the gate," in the very diverse social and cultural settings of our world.

COURSE FORMAT: This course will meet once each week for three-and-a-half-hour sessions; each week will include both lecture and structured discussions.

REQUIRED READING:

English text of Job.

One of the following two commentaries:

Hartley, J.E. The Book of Job. NICOT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988. OR

Balentine, Samuel E. Job. Macon, GA: Smyth and Helwys, 2006.

Gutiérrez, Gustavo. On Job: God-Talk and the Suffering of the Innocent. Maryknoll: Orbis, 1987.

MacLeish, A. J.B. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1958.

A published personal narrative or reflection on suffering and its theological implications (a list of suggestions will be provided in class).

Billman, Kathleen D., and Daniel L. Migiore. Rachel's Cry: Prayer of Lament and Rebirth of Hope. Cleveland: United Church Press, 1999.

Hall, Douglas John. God and Human Suffering: An Exercise in the Theology of the Cross. Augsburg, 1986.

Lewis, C. S. A Grief Observed. Harper & Row, [1961].

Murphy, Roland E. The Tree of Life: An Exploration of Biblical Wisdom Literature. Eerdmans, 2002.

Sittser, Gerald L. A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows through Loss. Zondervan, [1996].

Soelle, Dorothee. Suffering. Fortress, 1975.

Yancey, Philip. Where is God When It Hurts? Rev. ed. Zondervan, 1997 (reissue).

_________. Disappointment with God: Three Questions No One Asks Aloud. Zondervan, 1988.