DESCRIPTION:

This seminar, shared with PhD and ThM students, bridges a gap between MDiv core courses and research work. It covers the older perspectives relating to text, forms, sources and redaction, and also more recent approaches, new literary criticism and rhetorical and canonical criticism.

This course has no direct relevance: it prepares for research and academic teaching. However, inasmuch as it reveals the often implicit presuppositions of commentators, it clarifies the general task of exegesis.

This class will meet two hours a week for discussion.

Alter, R. The Art of Biblical Narrative. New York: Basic Books, 1983.

Barton, J. Reading the Old Testament. Louisville: Westminster, 1984.

Childs, B. S. Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture. Louisville: Westminster, 1979.

Habel, N. Literary Criticism of the Old Testament. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1971.

McCarter, P. K. Textual Criticism. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1986.

McKenzie, S. L. and S. R. Haynes. To Each Its Own Meaning. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1993.

Sanders, J. A. Canon and Community. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1984.

__________. From Sacred Story to Sacred Text. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1987.

Steck, O. H. Old Testament Exegesis: A Guide to the Methodology. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1995.

Trible, P. Rhetorical Criticism. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1994.

Tucker, G. M. Form Criticism of the Old Testament. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1971.

Also such duplicated material as is set in the schedule of sessions.

Noble, P. R. The Canonical Approach. Leiden: Brill, 1995.

The reading required for each seminar must be done beforehand, if a good grade is to be achieved. A term paper on one perspective of the course will be required.

OTA, OTB, OTC. The professor's permission is necessary for this course.

Elective.

None.