Summer 2013/Pasadena
OT500
Scalise
OT500: WRITINGS AS INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT. Pamela Scalise.
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 Hebrew Bible, 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 this course will have shown 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 daily for four-hour sessions 6/24-28, 7/1-3. (July 4 is a Federal holiday. Participation in online forum discussions and other activities on Moodle will substitute for the final hours of class meeting time.) Classes combine lecture and plenary discussion, with some dramatized reading and group projects.
REQUIRED READING:
The biblical books Ruth, 1-2 Chronicles, Lamentations, Psalms, Daniel, Esther, Ezra-Nehemiah, Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs, in NRSV, TNIV or CEB.
Anderson, Bernhard W. Out of the Depths. 3rd revised & expanded ed. Westminster John Knox, 2000. ISBN: 978-0664258320, Pub. Price $30.00 [241 pp. assigned].
Brown William P. Character in Crisis. Eerdmans, 1996. ISBN: 978-0802841353, Pub. Price $22.00 [164 pp. assigned)].
Lapsley, Jacqueline. Whispering the Word, Hearing Women’s Stories in the OT. Westminster John Knox, 2005. ISBN: 978-0664224356, Pub. Price $25.00 [pp. 1-19 and 89-108 assigned].
Seow, C. L. Daniel. Westminster Bible Companion. Westminster John Knox, 2003. ISBN: 978-0664256753, Pub. Price $25.00 [118 pp. assigned].
Articles and chapters by authors such as Julie Chu, C. T. Gilkes, Madipoane Masenya, and Itumeleng Mosala (available in eReserves on the class Moodle page) [107 pp. assigned].
RECOMMENDED READING:
Childs, B. S. Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture. Reprint edition. Fortress, 2011. ISBN: 978-0800698331, Pub Price $39.00.
Fox, Michael V. Character and Ideology in the Book of Esther. 2nd ed. Wipf & Stock, 2010. ISBN: 978-1608994953, Pub Price $38.00.
Goldingay, J. E. Daniel. Word Biblical Commentary. Word, 1989. ISBN: 978-0849902291, Pub Price $49.99.
Miller, Patrick D. They Cried to the Lord. Fortress, 1994. ISBN: 978-0800627621, Pub Price $29.00.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
Reading in preparation for class and participation in class activities. A report of reading completed plus one comment or question about each item will be due daily before class (25%).
A paper that includes researched interpretation and theological exposition of a Psalm (2500-3000 words). Due August 5 (25%).
Five exam essays (500 words each; take-home, open book: two due 7/1, three due 7/29 (35%).
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Old Testament “c” (OTC) and Seminary Core Requirement (SCR) for MATM, MAICS, MAFS, MACL (effective Winter 2010).
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes. Take-home, due July 29.