Fall 2015/Pasadena
OT536
Butler
OT536: ISSUES IN OLD TESTAMENT THEOLOGY (4 Units: 160 hours). James T. Butler.
DESCRIPTION: This course will offer an opportunity for the reading and critical discussion of selected literature in the area of Old Testament theology. The majority of the course will be devoted to the analysis of selected themes of the Old Testament and to an exposition of their significance for Christian faith and practice: creation and re-creation; God and the gods; election and the nations; violence and peace. For each topic we will address important theological and hermeneutical issues that have challenged contemporary readers and seek a clear and coherent voicing of the textual witnesses.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will have demonstrated the ability to (1) read and reflect upon biblical passages with critical discernment and faithful imagination; (2) articulate both the diversity and the coherence of biblical testimony on key theological issues; (3) read accurately and engage sympathetically with a variety of secondary literature representative of the diverse contexts of contemporary interpreters; (4) formulate practical, responsible language to help others understand and value the witness of the Old Testament to key issues of Christian faith and practice.
COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three-hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours. Each week class time will be divided between short, focused lectures and structured discussions based upon the readings. For each discussion session, one or more students will be responsible for providing a short analysis of a portion of the reading. Lectures will be designed to situate the readings within the discipline and to provide an introduction and overview for the individual themes.
REQUIRED READING: 1,245 total number of pages required.
Assigned biblical materials [approx. 200 pp.]
Allen, Leslie C. A Theological Approach to the Old Testament: Major Themes and New Testament Connections. Cascade Books, 2014. ISBN: 978-1625642493, Pub. Price $25.00 [174 pp].
Levenson, Jon D. Creation and the Persistence of Evil. Princeton, 1994. ISBN: 978-0691029504, Pub. Price $35.00 [176 pp].
Seibert, Eric A. The Violence of Scripture: Overcoming the Old Testament’s Troubling Legacy. Fortress, 2012. ISBN: 978-0800698256, Pub. Price $23.00 [192 pp].
Smith-Christopher, Daniel L. A Biblical Theology of Exile. Augsburg Fortress, 2002. ISBN: 978-0800632243, Pub. Price $20.00 [203 pp].
Additional readings from e-Reserves [approx. 300 pp.].
RECOMMENDED READING: Bibliography will be provided in class.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
1,245 pages of assigned reading. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 3] [84 hours].
Eight 250-word posts responding to prompts in preparation for discussions. (30%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2, 4] [8 hours].
Four 1,000-word responses to essay questions offering summaries of given topics. (40%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2, 4] [16 hours, including 10 hours of DLAs].
A 3,000 word research paper. (30%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4] [22 hours].
PREREQUISITES: None. However, students will benefit most from the course if they have had some exposure to critical questions in Old Testament studies and have a good ability to read sympathetically and to analyze a wide range of challenging scholarship.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.