DESCRIPTION:

The book of Job will be examined critically from the twin perspectives of its meaning in its ancient context and its continuing significance for the modern community of faith. Significant time will be devoted to the translation and careful exegetical examination of the Hebrew text of representative passages. Lectures will address larger thematic and structural issues, and will explore parallels with other ancient Near Eastern representatives of theodicy literature. Time will be given to discussion of examples of the heritage of Job in Western culture and in the theological reflection of the church.

Students completing this course will have demonstrated: (1) a sound grasp of the book of Job and a consistent, exegetically sound interpretation of its message; (2) an ability to relate Job to the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, and to appreciate the distinctive contributions of this literature to biblical theology and to culture in general; and (3) an ability to articulate responses to the theological challenges posed by suffering, and to reflect on the lessons that Job affords for ministry to a suffering world.

This course will meet twice weekly, two hours per session. One session will be devoted to general and introductory issues; the other will be spent reading the Hebrew text.

Janzen, J. Gerald. Job. Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1985.

Each student will be asked to select one of the major commentaries listed in the class reading list, preferably Dhorme, Good, Gordis, Habel, Hartely, or Rowley, and to be prepared to contribute to class discussion information about that author's treatment of the issue or passage being studied in that session.

In addition to commentaries apart from the one selected for concentrated study, background reading in ancient Near Eastern, classical Jewish and Christian essays, and modern literature from the Bibliography that will be supplied at the beginning of the quarter.

1. Weekly preparation of chosen passages for translation and exegetical discussion.

2. An exegetical paper (12-15 pp.) on a passage of suitable size not chosen for work in class.

3. An essay (15-20 pp.) on the book of Job in relation to one of the following areas of Job studies:

A. Job as against the background of ancient Near Eastern theodicy literature.

B. Job in relation to the entire corpus of biblical wisdom literature.

C. Job in relation to philosophical treatments of the problem of evil.

D. Does the vast range of different readings of the book of Job mean that it has no available meaning?

LG502. PLEASE NOTE: OT 528 and OT 570 are different versions (core and elective) of the same course, meeting together one day and separately the other days. Only one of the two classes may be taken.

Meets M. Div. core requirement in Old Testament "C" (OTCE).

No.