DESCRIPTION: This course introduces the Old Testament through study of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, the Writings: Psalms, the Wisdom literature (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes), the Festival Scrolls (Ruth, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Lamentations, and Esther), Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Chronicles. Attention will be given to the nature of the Writings as the Word of God, a work of literature, a work emerging from Israel's history, and a work that needs to be studied critically to grasp its significance.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The course seeks to induct students into the study of the Old Testament in a way that will excite them with its significance and inform and motivate them for further study in seminary, in their lives, and in their ministry.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who successfully complete this course will have demonstrated that they (1) have grasped the outline of Israel's history as portrayed in the Old and New Testaments and in light of modern study; (2) understand the nature and process of the composition of the Old Testament, especially as illustrated by Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Daniel; (3) know how to interpret Old Testament narrative, as illustrated by the Writings; (4) understand the nature of worship, prayer, and wisdom as illustrated by the Writings and its relationship with ancient Near Eastern equivalents; (5) have looked at aspects of the Writings from angles other than those of the male, white, Western world; (6) have reflected on the significance of the Writings for Christian theology, mission, and discipleship.

COURSE FORMAT: The course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller's academic calendar. The course requires reading, writing, use of libraries, and use of online resources. Each week students will interact with each other and with the instructor through threaded discussions and other assignments that promote active learning.

REQUIRED READING:

NRSV, TNIV or CEB Bible.

Anderson, Bernhard W. Out of the Depths: The Psalms Speak for Us Today. 3rd ed. revised and expanded. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2000. ISBN: 978-0664258320. Pub. price $30.00.

Arnold, Bill T., and H. G. M. Williamson, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-0830817825. Pub. price $48.00 [68 pp. assigned].

Kidner, Derek. The Wisdom of Proverbs, Job & Ecclesiastes. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1985. ISBN: 9780877844051. Pub. Price $12.80.

Lapsley, Jacqueline E. Whispering the Word: Hearing Women's Stories in the Old Testament. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2005. ISBN: 0664224350. Pub. Price $25.00 [40 pp. assigned].

Longman, Tremper, III, and Peter Enns, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings. Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2008. ISBN: 978-0830817832. Pub. Price $48.00 [95 pp. assigned].

e-Reserves in Moodle: Articles and book chapters by A. Philip Brown II, Walter Brueggemann, Brevard Childs, Julie Chu, John Endres, Daniel J. Estes, John Goldingay, Gregory Goswell, Victor Hamilton, Madipoane Masenya, J. Gordon McConville, Itumeleng Mosala, A. James Rudin, Katherine Doob Sakenfeld, W. Sibley Towner.

Lectures and other resources will be available in Moodle.

*One of the Recommended Texts (below) is required for the Book Review Assignment.

*Billman, Kathleen D. and Daniel L. Migliore. Rachel's Cry: Prayer of Lament and Rebirth of Hope. Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 1999. ISBN: 978-1556356292. Pub. Price $16.80.

*Brown, William P. Character in Crisis: A Fresh Approach to the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996. ISBN: 978-0802841353. Pub. Price $ 20.00.

*Brueggemann, Walter. The Message of the Psalms: A Theological Commentary. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1984. ISBN: 978-0806621203. Pub. Price $19.00.

*Gutiérrez, Gustavo. On Job: God-Talk and the Suffering of the Innocent. Trans. Matthew J. O'Connell. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 1987. ISBN: 978-0883445525. Pub. Price $24.00.

*Janzen, J. Gerald. At the Scent of Water: The Ground of Hope in the Book of Job. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009. ISBN: 978-0802848291. Pub. Price $16.00.

*Peterson, Eugene H. Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980, 1992. ISBN: 978-0802806604. Pub. Price $20.00.

1. Weekly Reading Reports (20%).

2. Weekly Posting in the Discussion Forum and/or Special Projects (30%). The discussion forum includes posting of written reflections and/or answers to specific questions about the reading assignments and interacting with the posts of other students. Special projects include a creative timeline project and 2 in-depth studies of specific psalms with group interaction in a "wiki" forum.

3. Midterm Exam (15%).

4. Journal Article Review (5%).

5. Book Review (10%).

6. Theology Paper (2,500-3,000 words) (20%).