DESCRIPTION: The course introduces study of the Old Testament as the Word of
God, a work of literature, a work emerging out of Israel's history, and a work
that needs to be studied critically to grasp its significance. It focuses on
the third section of the Jewish canon, the Writings: Psalms, Job, Proverbs, the
Scrolls (Ruth, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Lamentations, and Esther), Daniel,
Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The course seeks to induct students into
the study of the Old Testament in a way that will excite them with its
significance and inform and motivate them for further study in seminary, in
their lives, and in their ministry.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who successfully complete the course will have
demonstrated that they (1) have grasped the outline of Israel's history as
portrayed in the Old and New Testaments and in light of modern study; (2)
understand the nature and process of the Old Testament's composition,
especially as illustrated by Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Daniel; (3)
understand the nature of worship, prayer, and wisdom as illustrated by the
Writings and its relationship with ancient Near Eastern equivalents; (4) know
how to interpret Old Testament narrative, as illustrated by the Writings; (5)
have looked at aspects of the Writings from angles other than those of the
male, white, Western world; (6) have reflected on the significance of the
Writings for Christian theology, mission, and discipleship.
COURSE FORMAT: The course meets weekly for one three-hour class; students also
take part in an hour's online discussion each week. Classes combine lecture and
plenary discussion, with some dramatized reading, creative writing, and
listening to recorded material. Classes require about four hours of homework
weekly, including study of the biblical text and other specified reading, which
is then the basis for the online discussion. Recordings of the class are posted
on Moodle and on iTunes.
REQUIRED READING: