Spring 2020/Fuller Online

OT500

Caudill

OT500: OLD TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 Units: 160 hours). Norah W. Caudill.

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: 1084 total pages required

Genesis;Exodus; Deuteronomy; 2 Samuel; Job; Psalms 42-106; Isaiah 1-14, 40-53, 63-66; Jeremiah 1-36; Daniel in the NRSV, NIV or CEB. [315 pages]

Arnold, Bill T. Introduction to the Old Testament. Cambridge University Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-0521705479, Pub. Price $60.99. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [395 pp. assigned]

Required selections from e-books available from Fuller Library:

Berlin, Adele, “Introduction to Hebrew Poetry” in New Interpreter’s Bible, vol IV. Abingdon, 1996. E-book via “Ministry Matters.” ISBN 978-0687278176, Pub. Price $75.99. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [14 pp. assigned]

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 $57.25.Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library[15 pages assigned].

Goldingay, John. "Servant of Yahweh" in M. J. Boda and J. G. McConville (eds) Dictionary of the Old Testament: Prophets. IVP Academic, 2012. ISBN 978-0830817849, Pub. Price $60.00. Available as an ebook from the Fuller Library [8 pages assigned]

Lapsley, Jacqueline E. “Saving Women: Transgressive Values of Deliverance in Exodus 1-4” in Whispering the Word: Hearing Women’s Stories in the Old Testament. Westminster John Knox, 2005. ISBN 978-0664224350 Pub. Price $27.00. Available as an e-book from Fuller Library [20 pages assigned]

McCann, J. Clinton, “Psalms—Introduction” in New Interpreter’s Bible, vol IV. Abingdon, 1996. E-book via “Ministry Matters.” ISBN 978-0687278176, Pub. Price $75.99. Available as an ebook from the Fuller Library [41 pp. assigned]

Walton, John. "Job 1: Book of" in T. Longman III and P. Enns (eds) Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry and Writings. IVP Academic, 2008. ISBN 978-0830867387, Pub. Price $60.00. Available as an ebook from the Fuller Library [13 pages assigned]

Required selections available via E-Reserves or link in Canvas:

Ademiluka, Sola. “The Use of Therapeutic Psalms In Inculturating Christianity in Africa.” African Ecclesiastical Review 37/4 (1995): 221-227 [7 pp]

Bundang, Rachel. “Home as Memory, Metaphor, and Promise in Asian/Pacific American Religious Experience.” Semeia 90-91 (2002): 87-104. [22 pp]

Claassens, L. Juliana. “Tragic Laughter: Laughter as Resistance in the Book of Job.” Interpretation 69/2 (2015): 143-155. [13 pp]

Clements, Ronald E. “The Messianic Hope in the Old Testament.” JSOT 43 (1989): 3-19 [17 pp]

Ham, T.C. “The Gentle Voice of God in Job 38” JBL 132/3 (2013): 527-541. [15 pp]

Hamilton, Victor P. “Abraham” in Handbook on the Pentateuch, 2^nd edition. Baker Academic, 2005. ISBN 9780801097737, Pub. price $39.99. Limited e-book access in Fuller Library[21 pages assigned]

Jones, Barry A. “Resisting the Power of Empire: The Theme of Resistance in the Book of Daniel,” Review and Expositor 109 (2012): 541-556 [16 pp]

Lambert, W. G., translator. "Babylonian Theodicy." (http://www.etana.org/node/582) [3 pp]

Lambert, W. G., translator. "Enuma Elish - The Babylonian Epic of Creation." In J.J. Mark (ed.) Ancient History Encyclopedia. Creative commons license, 2011. (http://www.ancient.eu.com/article/225/) [15 pp]

LaSor, William S., D.A. Hubbard, F. W. Bush. “Messianic Prophecy” in Old Testament Survey, 2^nd ed. Eerdmans, 2006. ISBN 0802837883. Pub. Price $55.00. Not available as an e-book from Fuller Library [7 pages assigned]

McCarthy, Dennis. “II Samuel 7 and the Structure of the Deuteronomistic History.” Journal of Biblical Literature 84/2 (1965) 131-138. [8 pp]

Milne, Pamela J. "Eve and Adam: Is a Feminist Reading Possible?" Bible Review June (1980): 12-21, 39. [11 pp]

Murrell, Nathaniel Samuel. “Tuning Hebrew Psalms to Reggae Rhythms.” Cross Currents 50, (2000-1): 525-40. [16 pp]

O’Connor, Kathleen M. “Teaching Jeremiah” Perspectives in Religious Studies 36/3 (2009) 273-287. [15 pp]

Oswalt, John N. "The Book of Isaiah: A Short Course on Biblical Theology." Calvin Theological Journal 39 (2004): 54-71. [18 pp]

Sakenfeld, Katharine Doob. “Sarah and Hagar: Power and Privileges (Genesis 16:1-16; 21:1-21)” in Just Wives? Stories of Power & Survival in the Old Testament & Today. Westminster John Knox, 2003. ISBN 978-0664226602. Pub. Price $25.00 Not available as e-book from Fuller Library [19 pages assigned]

Stuhlman, Louis J. “Jeremiah as Messenger of Hope in Crisis.” Interpretation 62 no 1 (Jan 2008): 5-20. [16 pp]

Vogt, Peter T. "Social Justice and the Vision of Deuteronomy." JETS 51/1 (March 2008): 35-44. [10 pp]

Yee, Gale. A. “’Fraught with Background:’ Literary Ambiguity in II Samuel 11.” Interpretation 42 no 3 (July 1988): 240-253 [14 pp]

RECOMMENDED READING:

Allen, Leslie. A Theological Approach to the Old Testament: Major Themes and New Testament Connections. Cascade, 2014. ISBN 978-1625642493. Pub. Price $21.60

Anderson, Bernhard W. with Steven Bishop. Out of the Depths: The Psalms Speak for Us Today. 3rd ed. Revised and Expanded. Westminster John Knox, 2000. ISBN: 978-0664258320, Pub. Price $30.00.

Birch, Bruce C., W. Brueggemann, T. E. Fretheim and D. L. Petersen. A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament. 2^nd ed. Abingdon, 2005. ISBN 978-068706676, Pub. Price $44.99. (Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library)

Goldingay, J. E. Daniel. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word, 1989. 978- 0849902291 Pub. Price $49.99

Gutierrez, Gustavo. On Job: God-Talk and the Suffering of the Innocent. Orbis, 1987. ISBN 978-0883445525 Pub. Price $26.00

Hays, Christopher B. Hidden Riches: A Sourcebook for the Comparative Study of the Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near East.Westminster John Knox, 2014. ISBN: 978-0664237011, Pub. Price $45.00. (Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library)

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Instruction hours (narrated power points, short videos, etc.). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4, 5; assessed in assignments 2, 3, 5, 6] [10 hours].

2. Two interpretive group projects via Bluejeans video link on an assigned biblical text (using a Google doc). (Pass-fail) (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2, 3, 4, 5] [6 hours].
3. Eight discussion forum posts/replies in Canvas (250 words for initial posts plus two 100-200 word responses each week) (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2, 3, 4] [24 hours].
4. Assigned reading, with percentage of reading completed to be reported weekly (1084 pages) (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4; assessed in assignments 2, 3, 5, 6, 7]. [75 hours].
5. Quiz on course content (10%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1] [5 hours]
6. Interpretive Assignment (25%). An interpretive paper that includes close reading, genre identification, description of literary structure, theological reflection and ministry application of an assigned Psalm. [2000-2500 words]. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. [30 hours].
7. Final Exam on course content (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1]. [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.