Fall 2012/Pasadena
OT506
Hays

OT506: OLD TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: ISAIAH 40-66 (HEBREW TEXT). Christopher B. Hays.


DESCRIPTION: This course is an eclectic approach to a text that has taken on outsized significance in the Old Testament canon. In part, the course takes a "contextual" approach to Isaiah--that is, it attempts to understand proclamations of chapters 40-66 in their original historical and cultural contexts. This entails some study of the Babylonian Exile and postexilic Judah. The course also looks at Isaiah through diverse theological lenses, exploring the ways in which the book of Isaiah has spoken and continues to speak to readers. Finally, the course uses literary methods to study one of the greatest poets of the ancient world. For all these purposes, the original language of the text is of primary importance, so that the course will have a strong emphasis on Hebrew reading.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: The course will help students gain skill in interpreting Scripture and perceive how Isaiah relates to the church and the world--skills that inform preaching and ministry.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course successfully will have demonstrated a grasp of the historical and cultural worlds of Isaiah 40-66, skill in reading Hebrew and in interpreting particular texts, especially as works of literature. They will have enunciated richer and more nuanced perspectives on the theological issues of the exilic and postexilic periods, and also the question of Christian and Christological appropriation of prophetic texts. They will also have enunciated their understanding of ways in which Isaiah relates to the faith and life of their communities.

COURSE FORMAT: The course meets twice weekly for two-hour sessions. Content will include lecture, plenary discussion, and study of individual passages in Hebrew. Classes require substantial preparation on the part of students, at least two hours of preparation for each class hour, including study of the biblical text and other specified reading.

REQUIRED READING:

Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia.

NRSV or CEB Bible.

Petersen, David L. The Prophetic Literature: An Introduction. Westminster John Knox, 2002. ISBN: 978-0664254537 ($30.00).

Course readings on Moodle site.

RECOMMENDED READING:
See course syllabus.

See the bibliography "Linguistic and Exegetical Books Required in the Master of Divinity Programs" available at http://schedule.fuller.edu/sot/ecds/Ling-Exeg-Biblio.html and in the Academic Advising office.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
  1. Attendance and participation (25%)

  2. Five one-page responses to secondary readings (20%)

  3. One three-page exegetical "working paper" (10%)

  4. Quiz on historical backgrounds (10%)

  5. Final 10-page exegetical paper (35%)
Students who miss more than two classes (including the first class) will take a Hebrew translation exam to demonstrate their ability in that area.

PREREQUISITES: LG502.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Old Testament "B" (OTBE) and MA program requirements for Old Testament book study (OTBK).

FINAL EXAMINATION: Only for students who miss more than two classes.

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (July 2012)