Fall 2016/Fuller Live!

Houston and Pasadena

OT527

Dearman

OT527: OLD TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: Ruth and Esther, Hebrew Text (4 Units: 160 hours). J. Andrew Dearman

DESCRIPTION: The books of Ruth and Esther will be examined from the twin perspectives of their meaning in their ancient context and their continuing significance for the modern community of faith. Time will be allotted to consider translation and interpretational issues in all four chapters of the book of Ruth. Select passages will be analyzed from the book of Esther. Matters of literary style and theological themes in both books will be explored. Exegetical skills and application to ministry will be part of the subject matter of the course.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated the ability (1) to interpret Ruth and Esther within its socio-historical, literary, and canonical contexts; (2) to identify central issues in the critical study of Ruth and Esther; (3) to articulate primary theological and ethical concerns of Ruth and Esther; (4) to use Hebrew based language tools for interpreting the text; (5) to recognize hermeneutical issues arising from the diverse contexts of contemporary readers; and (6) to interpret this text for faithful use of Scripture in their own lives and ministries.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: 800 total pages required

Bush, Frederic. Ruth, Esther. Word Biblical Commentary, 2015. ISBN: 978-0310522102, Pub. Price $49.99 [500 pp. assigned].

Readings from Andrew Dearman, Sabelyn Pussman, Aquiles E. Martinez, Rachel Held Evans, David Firth, Karen Jobes, Aaron Koller, Athalya Brenner, Daniel I. Block, et al will be on e-reserve. [300 pp.].

BibleWorks 10 software, which includes the following components: an exhaustive Hebrew concordance, the text of the Hebrew Bible, Brown, F. with S.R. Driver & C.A. Briggs. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew English Lexicon. Hendrickson, 1996. Gesenius, W., E.F. Kautzsch, et al. Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar. Dover Publications, 2006. OR Joüon, P. - T. Muraoka. A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew, Parts 1, 2 & 3. Biblical Institute Press, 2006. Koehler, L. and W. Baumgartner. Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. 2 Volumes. Brill, 2002. BibleWorks is priced at $389, or $289 with group discount; see www.bibleworks.com/IPP/. Currently the HALOT module is $159, the standard Greek lexicon (BDAG) is $150, and both together are $212. Students may use print versions of these resources in place of the electronic versions in BibleWorks.

Elliger, K. and W. Rudolph. Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. Hendrickson, 2006. Compact edition: ISBN: 978-1598561630, Pub. Price $69.95.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Levenson, Jon. Esther. Westminster John Knox, 1997. ISBN: 978-0664228873. Pub. Price $30.00.

Nielsen, Kirsten. Ruth. Westminster John Knox, 1997. ISBN: 978-0664227302. Pub. Price $30.00.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT

1. 800 pages of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-6] [55 hours].
2. A class presentation interpreting a passage in either Esther or Ruth and done in conjunction with another classmate. Student pairs and their passage will be assigned during the first week of class and further instructions for the oral presentation will be included in the syllabus (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-6]. [15 hours includes 10 hours of Directed Learning Activities].
3. A brief exegetical paper of 1700 words dealing with a passage in Esther (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-6]. [20 hours].
4. A research paper of 3,500 words employing exegetical methods and the interpretation of the Hebrew text. (50%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-6]. [40 hours].

PREREQUISITES: LG500, LG502, or LG502A/B or passing grade on a waiver exam; BI500 or NE502; OT500 or OT501 or OT502.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the Biblical Language Exegesis requirement in the 120 MDiv program. Meets the OTBE or OTCE in the 144 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.