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. 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 use of Job in traditional spirituality and its application to situations requiring pastoral care.

Students completing this course will have demonstrated: (1) a sound grasp of the book of Job and a consistent and 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 in exploring the appropriate use of insights gained from relating Job to real life situations requiring the use of biblical strategies for pastoral care.

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 two of the major commentaries listed in the class reading list, one traditional or devotional, one critical, and to be responsible for contributing to class discussion from those authors' treatment of the issue or passage being studied in that session.

Background reading will be issued at the beginning of the quarter.

1. Weekly preparation of reflections on chosen issues for class discussion.

2. A case study (15-20 pp.) of a crisis known from the student's own experience in which insights gained from the book of Job might be used to bring care to some suffering person.

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?

E. The use of the book of Job in the care of suffering persons.

None. PLEASE NOTE: OT 570 and OT 528 are different versions (elective and core) of the same course, meeting together one day and separately the other days. Only one of the two classes may be taken.

Elective.

No.