DESCRIPTION: This seminar is intended for PhD and ThM students and is open to a limited number of master's level students. Its primary goal is to develop understanding and use of various methodological approaches to Old Testament texts. Among the approaches that the seminar will include are canon, form-, historical-, ideological-, literary-, redaction, and text-criticism.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The seminar enables students to use critical approaches in their research, writing, and other academic work and to recognize and distinguish the methods when employed in commentaries and other modern publications. Such skills enable informed evaluation of the use of exegetical results as the basis of theological and hermeneutical reflections.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able (1) to understand the place of critical methods in the history of Old Testament scholarship; (2) to discuss the critical issues that shape the present interpretation of the Hebrew texts; (3) to use particular methods in analyzing Old Testament texts; and (4) to recognize and distinguish the methods when they are employed in commentaries and other modern publications.

COURSE FORMAT: This seminar will meet once weekly in a three-hour session for discussions (including the week of final exams).

REQUIRED READING:

Alter, Robert. The Art of Biblical Narrative. Basic Books, 1981.

Habel, Norman. Literary Criticism of the Old Testament. Fortress, 1971.

Kille, D. Andrews. Psychological Biblical Criticism. Fortress, 2001.

Knight, Douglas A. (Foreword.) Methods of Biblical Interpretation. Abingdon, 2004.

Knight, Douglas A. Rediscovering the Traditions of Israel. 3d ed. Atlanta: SBL, 2006.

*McCarter, P. Kyle, Jr. Text Criticism: Recovering the Text of the Hebrew Bible. GBS. Fortress, 1986.

McKenzie, Steven. L., and Stephen R. Haynes, eds. To Each Its Own Meaning: An Introduction to Biblical Criticisms and Their Application. Rev. ed. Westminster/John Knox, 1999.

Sanders, James A. Canon and Community: A Guide to Canonical Criticism. GBS. Fortress, 1984.

Schottroff, Luise, Silvia Schroer, and Marie-Theres Wacker. Feminist Interpretation. Fortress, 1998.

Steck, Odil Hannes. Old Testament Exegesis: A Guide to Methodology. 2d ed. Scholars Press, 1998.

Trible, Phyllis. Rhetorical Criticism. Fortress, 1994.

Tucker, Gene M. Form Criticism of the Old Testament. Fortress, 1971.

Tucker, Gene M., David L. Petersen, and Robert R. Wilson, eds. Canon, Theology, and Old Testament Interpretation. Fortress, 1988.

Tov, Emanuel. Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible. 2d ed. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2001.

Other books and articles on library reserve (see Library reserve).

Gottwald, Norman K. The Hebrew Bible: A Socio-Literary Introduction. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1985.

Kitzberger, I.R., ed. Autobiographical Biblical Criticism: Between Text and Self. Deo Publishing, 2002.

Knight, D.A., and G.M. Tucker, eds. The Hebrew Bible and Its Modern Interpreters. Scholars Press, 1985.

Rast, Walter E. Tradition History and the Old Testament. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1972.

Sweeney, Marvin, and Ehud Ben Zvi, eds. The Changing Face of Form Criticism for the Twenty-First Century. Eerdmans, 2003.