Winter 2020/Fuller Online

OT500

Smoak

OT500: OLD TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 Units: 160 hours). Jeremy D. Smoak.

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.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course will introduce students to content and interpretation of the OT in its historical and contemporary context, which is consistent with the SOT PLO “Students will have demonstrated competence in the practice of biblical interpretation for faithful use of Scripture in their own lives and ministries” (MDiv, MAT, MATM).

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

REQUIRED READING: [1,000 pages]

Genesis; Exodus; Deuteronomy; 2 Samuel; Job; Psalms 42-106; Isaiah 1-14, 40-53, 63-66; Jeremiah 1-36; Daniel, (NRSV, TNIV, or CEB); Selections from Enuma Elish and Atrahasis, and The Babylonian Theodicy [340 pp.].

Balentine, Samuel. The Torah’s Vision of Worship (Overtures to Biblical Theology). Philadelphia: Fortress, 1999. ISBN: 978-0800631550, Pub. Price $26.16 [160 pp. assigned]. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library.

Brenner, Athalya, Archie Chi-chung Lee, and Gale A. Yee, eds. Genesis: Texts and Context. Augsburg Fortress, 2010. ISBN: 978-0800659998, Pub. Price $40.00 [30 pp. assigned]. On e-reserves.

Brueggemann, Walter. “The Costly Loss of Lament.” Journal for the Study of the OT 36 (1986), 57–71. Available as PDF Full Text.

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, Daniel]. Available as an e-book.

Coogan, Michael D. A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament. 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, 2015. ISBN: 978-019023599, Pub. Price $64.95 [320 pp. assigned]. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library.

Kepnes, Steven. “Job and Post-Holocaust Theology,” in Strange Fire: Reading the Bible After the Holocaust T. Linafelt (ed.). New York University Press, 2000. ISBN: 978-0814751664, Pub. Price $27.00 [pp. 252-66, Job]. On e-reserves.

Moran, William. “The Ancient Near Eastern Background of the Love of God in Deuteronomy,” Catholic Biblical Quarterly 25 (1963), 77–87. Available as PDF Full Text.

Murrell, Nathaniel Samuel. “Tuning Hebrew Psalms to Reggae Rhythms.” Cross Currents 50, (2000-1), [pp. 525-40, Psalms]. Available as PDF Full Text

Trible, Phyllis. Texts of Terror: Literary-Feminist Readings of Biblical Narratives. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1984. ISBN: 978-0800615376, Pub. Price $20.00 [pp. 9–29]. On e-reserves.

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.

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. Assigned readings (1,000 pages). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-5] [66 hours].
2. Class lectures and discussion [20 hours].
3. 250-word weekly forum posts (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-2] [20 hours].
4. Two close reading assignments on selected biblical texts, 4-pages each (20%; 10% each). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-4] [24 hours].
5. Interpretive Assignment of 8-10 pages [An interpretive paper that includes close reading, genre identification, description of literary structure, theological reflection and ministry application of an assigned Psalm] (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1–5] [20 hours].
6. Final Exam (20%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1 & 2] [10 hours].

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: Yes.

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. Copyright 2019 Fuller Theological Seminary.