DESCRIPTION: This seminar studies the biblical foundation, theological meaning, and moral significance of the idea of covenant in organizing our personal and social life. Relying on Daniel Elazar's monumental survey on the history of the covenant tradition in politics/ethics, the seminar examines the contribution of the covenant tradition to the rise of a modern democracy, human rights, and constitutionalism, while exploring its enduring significance in today's global, pluralistic society for the renewal and ordering of various spheres of life--politics, economics, family, medicine, international laws, and religious organizations.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Covenant is biblically the most prominent way that the triune God relates to God's creation, and has made a huge impact on the shaping of the modern Western civilization. The knowledge of its biblical and theological meaning is, therefore, crucial for Christians to understand God's nature, economy (oikonomia), and demands for human sanctified life. Its significance grows especially as American society increasingly loses its covenantal underpinning in its cultural and institutional life through the rise of secularization, postmodernism, and individualism. The reconstruction of the idea of covenant is vital for the public witness of the church in proclaiming the fullness of God's sovereignty over every aspect of human life.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who pass this seminar (1) will have demonstrated their understanding of the significance of the biblical, theological, and ethical meanings and significance of covenant for the Christian life; (2) will have displayed their enhanced appreciation of the covenantal nature of our relationship with God and other human beings/creatures in the context of their personal, institutional, and social life; (3) will have shown their ability to contrast and compare a covenant model of ethics from other forms of ethics; and (4) will have demonstrated ability to apply covenant ethics to major social issues of contemporary society.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar discussions, weekly for three hours, to analyze, compare, and assess the meaning and significance of covenant in Christian ethics.

REQUIRED READING:

Elazar, Daniel J. Covenant and Polity in Biblical Israel. Volume 1 of The Covenant Tradition in Politics. Transaction Publishers, 1995. ISBN: 1560001518. Pub. price: $29.95 [450 pages].

_______. Covenant and Commonwealth. Volume 2 of The Covenant Tradition in Politics. Transaction Publishers, 1996. ISBN: 1560002085. Pub. price: $59.95 [360 pages].

_______. Covenant and Constitutionalism. Volume 3 of The Covenant Tradition in Politics. Transaction Publishers, 1998. ISBN: 1560002352. Pub. price: $37.50 [380 pages].

Horsley, Richard. Covenant Economics: A Biblical Vision of Justice for All. Westminster/John Knox Press, 2009. ISBN: 978-0664233952. Pub. price: $25.00 [180 pages].

Horton, Michael. Introducing Covenant Theology. Baker Books. 2009. ISBN: 9780801071959. Pub. price: $17.99 [194 pages].

May, William. Testing the National Covenant: Fears and Appetites in American Politics. Georgetown University Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-1589017658. Pub. price: $24.95 [164 pages].

Stackhouse, Max L. Covenant and Commitment. Westminster/John Knox Press, 1997. ISBN: 064254675. Pub. price: $30.00 [160 pages].

Wright, N. T. The Climax of the Covenant. Fortress Press, 1993. ISBN: 0800628276. Pub. price: $27.00 [267 pages].

Allen, Joseph L. Love and Conflict: A Covenantal Model of Christian Ethics. University Press of America, 1995. ISBN: 978-0687228065. $54.00.

Brueggemann, Walter. The Covenanted Self. Fortress Press, 1999. ISBN: 0800631765. Pub. price: $19.00.

May, Williams. The Physician's Covenant: Images of the Healer in Medical Ethics. Westminster/John Knox, 2000. ISBN: 0664222749. Pub. price: $30.00.

Moot, Glenn. Politics Reformed: The Anglo-American Legacy of Covenant Theology. University of Missouri Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0826218858. Pub. price: $44.95.

Mount, Eric. Covenant, Community and the Common Good: An Interpretation of Christian Ethics. Pilgrim Press, 1999. ISBN: 978-0829813555. Pub. price: $18.95.

1. Attend all seminar sessions, prepared to analyze the readings of the day.

2. Two brief reflection papers (4 pages, double spaced), in addition to two in-class presentations (5 pages, double spaced).

3. A term paper that discusses a methodological significance of covenant for Christian ethics, or the application of covenant ethics to one major contemporary moral issue in the areas of marriage and sex, politics, medicine, economy, or international relations.

4. At the 500 level, 3 brief reflection papers and 1 term paper.