Summer 2007/Pasadena
Five-week Intensive: July 23-August 24
OT502
Goldingay
OT502: THE HEBREW PROPHETS. John Goldingay.
DESCRIPTION: The course studies the contents of the Former Prophets (Joshua to
Kings) and the Latter Prophets (Isaiah to Malachi), their possible historical
backgrounds, different approaches to their interpretation, and their
significance for us today.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: By the end of the course students should
have
- gained familiarity with the narrative in Joshua to Kings with its insight
on human life, leadership, and the people of God;
- come to appreciate the way the prophets address the people of their day
concerning their past, their present, and their future;
- reflected on issues concerning the historical nature of Joshua-Kings and
the authorship of the prophetic books; and
- considered ways in which the Prophets confront the church today and the
difficulties they raise for it.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: See course objectives/learning outcomes.
COURSE FORMAT: The course meets twice weekly for four-hour sessions for five
weeks. Most classes require specific reading of the biblical text and other
preparation, on average a further eight hours per week. The classroom time then
combines lectures, work in groups of four or five, and plenary discussion. The
course is thus not primarily lecture-based; it emphasizes collaborative
learning, and students need to accept a commitment to working together with
other students.
REQUIRED READING:
- NRSV Bible.
- Arnold, B. T., and H. G. M. Williamson, eds. Dictionary of the Old
Testament: Historical Books. InterVarsity Press, 2005.
- Eaton, J. H. Mysterious Messengers. Eerdmans, 1998.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Brenner, A., ed. A Feminist Companion to Judges, and A
Feminist Companion to Samuel and Kings, and A Feminist Companion to the
Latter Prophets. Sheffield Academic Press, 1993, 1994, and 1995.
- Brueggemann, W. Hopeful Imagination. Fortress, 1986.
- __________. Prophetic Imagination. Fortress, 1978.
- Coggins, Richard, et al., ed. Israel's Prophetic Tradition.
Cambridge University Press, 1982.
- Goldingay, J. Old Testament Theology, Volumes One and Two.
InterVarsity Press, 2003 and 2006.
- Gordon, Robert P., ed. "The Place Is Too Small for Us": The Israelite
Prophets in Recent Scholarship. Eisenbrauns, 1995.
- Knoppers, Gary N. and Gordon McConville, eds. Reconsidering Israel and
Judah: Recent Studies in the Deuteronomistic History. Eisenbrauns, 2000.
- Von Rad, Gerhard. The Message of the Prophets. SCM, 1968.
- Wheaton, Philip, and Duane Shank. Empire & the Word. EPICA,
1988.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Preparation for classes, with submission of notes before each class.
- Attendance at all classes.
- Two 2500-3000-word papers. The grade comes from these papers (50% each),
subject to reduction for missing classes or failure to turn in satisfactory
preparation homework.
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Old Testament "b"
(OTB).
FINAL EXAMINATION: No.