DESCRIPTION: The course covers the books in the third section of the Hebrew Scriptures: Psalms, Job, Proverbs, the Scrolls (Ruth, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Lamentations, and Esther), Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Chronicles.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: By the end of the course students should have (1) become excited about these books with their wide-ranging significance for our life with God; (2) considered the importance of the wisdom books in the modern world against their Middle Eastern background; (3) gained expertise in approaches to interpreting the Psalms and let this bring about developments in the way they pray; (4) considered the way Israel's story is retold and extended in the Old Testament and its significance for the modern church; and (5) considered approaches to the interpretation of Old Testament short stories and their significance for women and men today.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: See learning outcomes.

COURSE FORMAT: The course meets weekly for one three-hour class; in addition students take part in one hour's on-line discussion over each weekend. Classes then combine lecture and plenary discussion, with some dramatized reading, creative writing, and listening to recorded material. Classes require substantial preparation on the part of students, on average four hours of preparation for each three-hour class, including study of the biblical text and other specified reading, which is then the basis for the on-line discussion.

REQUIRED READING: Students do not need to possess any books except an NRSV or TNIV and a copy of the Syllabus and Course Notes, which will be available online at www.fuller.edu/sot/faculty/goldingay during Finals Week in the quarter before the course runs.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Brenner, A., ed. A Feminist Companion to the Wisdom Literature, A Feminist Companion to the Song of Songs, A Feminist Companion to Ruth. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1995, 1993, and 1993. Also subsequent volumes in this series edited by Brenner.

Brueggemann, W. The Message of the Psalms. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1984.

______. The Psalms and the Life of Faith. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1995.

Crenshaw, J. Old Testament Wisdom. Atlanta: John Knox, 1981/London: SCM, 1982; rev. ed., 1999.

Goldingay, J. Old Testament Theology, Volumes One and Two. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2003 and 2006.

Gunn, D., and D. N. Fewell. Narrative in the Hebrew Bible. Oxford/New York: Oxford University Press, 1993.

Kidner, D. The Wisdom of Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1985 (= Wisdom to Live By. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1985).

1. Preparation homework for classes (pass/fail).

2. Participation in on-line discussion (pass/fail)

3. Attendance at classes (pass/fail)

4. Two papers each of 2500-3000 words. The grade comes from these papers (each 50%), subject to reduction for missing a class or failing to turn in satisfactory preparation homework or to take part in on-line discussion.