Spring 2018/Pasadena

OT500

Magallanes

OT500: OLD TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 Units: 160 hours). Sophia A. Magallanes.

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DESCRIPTION: This course orients students to the literature of the Old Testament in its various literary, historical, and theological contexts and to Old Testament interpretation in service of Christian practice. The books of Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, 2 Samuel, Job, Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel will be the focus of study.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who successfully complete this course will have demonstrated that they: (1) have a basic grasp of the contents of Israel’s Scriptures, history, and geography; (2) can use interpretive approaches that explore both the literary features of the Old Testament and the historical and cultural contexts in which it came into being; (3) can assess hermeneutical issues arising from the diverse contexts of contemporary readers; (4) can relate the Old Testament as Scripture to Christian theology, mission, and discipleship; and (5) have used this knowledge and these abilities to interpret some key Old Testament texts.

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: 1250 pp. required.

Genesis; Exodus; Deuteronomy; 2 Samuel; Job; Psalms 42-106; Isaiah 1-14, 40-53, 63-66; Jeremiah 1-36; Daniel. NRSV, TNIV or CEB [250 pp.].

Enuma Elish, Hammurabi’s Law Code, The Babylonian Theodicy, Akkadian Prophecies (all posted on Canvas) [400 pp.].

Arnold, Bill T. Introduction to the Old Testament. CUP, 2014. ISBN: 978-0521705479, Pub. Price $59.99 [400 pages].

On eReserves [150 pages]:

For Genesis: Trible, Phyllis. “Depatriarchalizing in Biblical Interpretation.” (1973). Journal of the American Academy of Religion 12 [pp. 30-48].

For Exodus: Reid, Stephen Breck. Experience and Tradition. Abingdon, 1990. ISBN: 978-0687124008, out of print [pp. 53-81].

For Deuteronomy: Van der Toorn, Karel. “Nine Months among the Peasants.” In W. G. Dever and S. Gitin (ed.), Symbiosis, Symbolism, and the Power of the Past, Eisenbrauns, 2003. ISBN: 978-1575060811, Pub. Price $69.50 [pp. 393-410].

For 2 Samuel: Fritz, Volkmar. The City in Ancient Israel. Sheffield Academic Press, 1995. ISBN: 978-1850754770, Pub. Price $22.50 [pp. 176-89].

For Job: Kepnes, Steven. “Job and Post-Holocaust Theology”. In T. Linafelt (ed.), Strange Fire. New York University Press, 2000. ISBN: 978-0814751664, Pub. Price $25.00 [pp. 252-66].

For Psalms: Murrell, Nathaniel Samuel. “Tuning Hebrew Psalms to Reggae Rhythms.” Cross Currents 50, (2000-1), [pp. 525-40].

For Isaiah: Stone, Bebb Wheeler. “Second Isaiah: Prophet to Patriarchy.” Journal for the Study of the OT 56, (1992), [pp. 85-99].

For Jeremiah: Wolff, Hans Walter. “Prophets and Institutions in the Old Testament.” Currents in Theology and Mission 13, (1986) [pp. 5-12].

For Daniel: Chia, Philip. “On Naming the Subject: Postcolonial Reading of Daniel 1.” In R. S. Sugirtharajah (ed.). The Postcolonial Biblical Reader. Blackwell, 2006. ISBN: 978-1405133500, Pub. Price $54.95 [pp. 171-85].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Alexander, T. D., and D. W. Baker, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch. InterVarsity Press, 2003. ISBN: 978-0830817818, Pub. Price $60.00.

Arnold, B. T., and H. G. M. Williamson, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books. InterVarsity Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-0830817825, Pub. Price $60.00.

Boda, Mark J., and J. Gordon McConville, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Prophets. InterVarsity Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-0830817849, Pub Price $60.00.

Ebeling, Jennie R. Women’s Lives in Biblical Times. Clark, 2010. ISBN: 978-0567196446, Pub. Price $32.95.

Goldingay, J. An Introduction to the Old Testament. InterVarsity, 2015. ISBN: 978-0830840908, Pub. Price $45.00.

King, Philip J. and Lawrence E. Stager. Life in Biblical Israel. Westminster John Knox Press, 2002. ISBN: 978-0664221485, Pub. Price $55.00.

Longman, Tremper, and Peter Enns (ed.). Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings. InterVarsity Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0830817832, Pub. Price $60.00.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Completion of weekly assigned reading material (100-130 pages). Attendance and participation. Regular contribution of answers, comments, and reflections on the instructor and other participants’ questions and comments. Your regular attendance and active participation are crucial in order to succeed in this course. In case of emergency, which requires absence from the class, please notify the instructor via email, at least 24 hrs. in advance. (10%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1-3.] [80 hours reading and class preparation].
2. Weekly participation on Canvas by posting of answers, comments, and reflections on the instructor and other participants’ questions and writings (300-350 words). (30%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1-4.] [10 hours posting and responding].
3. Midterm examination. The in-class exam will test the student’s knowledge of the course material and ability to engage it critically. It will contain brief essay questions dealing with the historical, theological, and interpretive issues relevant to the material discussed in the first half of the course (600-750 words). (30%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1-4.] [10 hours preparation].
4. A final exegesis paper that requires a focused discussion on a specific theme, motif, and/or issue relevant to the biblical passage of the student’s selection (2,500-3,000 words). (30%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 2-5.] [30 hours preparation and writing].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets a core requirement in the 120 MDiv, 80 MAT, 80 MATM, and 80 MAICS Programs (Fall 2015). Meets the OTC requirement in the 144 MDiv. Option to meet requirement in the MAT Program (Winter 2010) and a core requirement for the MATM, MAICS, and MACL Programs (Winter 2010).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.