Winter 2015/Fuller Online

OT567

McAlpine

OT567: ISAIAH (English Text) (4 Units: 160 hours). Thomas H. McAlpine.

DESCRIPTION: The course is an exegetically-based, thematic study of the book of Isaiah (English text), with attention to the historical and contemporary contexts of its hearers.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students successfully completing the course will have demonstrated that they (1) have a knowledge and understanding of Isaiah in its historical and cultural context; (2) have a knowledge and understanding of the use and limitations of form-critical and literary approaches to Isaiah; (3) can offer an exegesis of passages from the book in light of a range of appropriate interpretive approaches; and (4) are able to reflect on the significance of Isaiah for their ministry.

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, which is outlined below in the assignment and assessment section. 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: 1,123 pp. assigned.

The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha. 4th edition. Oxford, 2010. ISBN: 978-0195289602, Pub. Price $35.00 [166 pp. assigned.] (The 4th edition is specified for the sake of Marvin Sweeney’s notes).

Hanson, Paul. Isaiah 40-66. John Knox Press. ISBN: 978-0664238759, Pub. Price $25.00 [252 pp. assigned].

Hayes, John H. & Carl R. Holladay. Biblical Exegesis, 3rd edition. John Knox Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0664227753, Pub. Price $25.00 [252 pp. assigned].

Seitz, Christopher. Isaiah 1-39. John Knox Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0664238742, Pub. Price $25.00 [266 pp. assigned].

Course Packet (sample):

Chittister, Joan. “Pride and humility: A New self-acceptance,” pp. 88-106 in Heart of flesh: A Feminist spirituality for women and men (Eerdmans, 1998).

Davis, Ellen F. “Slaves or Sabbath-keepers? A Biblical perspective on human work.” Anglican Theological Review 83/1 (2001): 25-40.

Levenson, Jon D. “The Mastery of God,” pp. 3-50, in Creation and the persistence of evil (Princeton U P, 1994).

Miranda, José. “The God of the Bible,” pp. 35-76, in Marx and the Bible: A Critique of the philosophy of oppression (Orbis, 1974).

Seitz, Christopher. “Isaiah and Lamentations: The Suffering and Afflicted Zion,” pp. 130-149 in Word without end (Eerdmans, 1998).

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 20 hours of weekly lessons (mp3 format). [20 hours].

2. Weekly (10) posts [250 words each, 10 hours, 10% of grade; relates to learning outcome #4]. Posts respond to question “How might this portion of Isaiah be speaking to us regarding our life and ministry?”

3. Occasional responses (5) to another participant’s post [250 words each, 5 hours, 10% of grade; relates to learning outcome #4].

4. Five longer posts on assigned themes relating texts and themes in Isaiah to contemporary life and ministry suitable for publication in a national/regional denominational newsletter or magazine [500 words each, 14 hours, 25% of grade; relates to learning outcome #4].

5. 1,123 pages of required reading [75 hours; relates to all four learning outcomes].

6. 3 quizzes focusing on historical and cultural context of Isaiah [15% of grade; relates to learning outcome #1] [3 hours].

7. 3 quizzes focusing on issues of form-critical and literary interpretation [15% of grade; relates to learning outcome #2] [3 hours].

8. Exegesis paper [10 pages; 30 hours; 25% of grade; relates to learning outcome #3]. Parameters for writing and evaluation of paper included in syllabus.

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Counts as a biblical elective for the 120 MDiv Program and the MATM and MAICS Programs (Winter 2010), and the OTBK requirement for the MAT Program (Winter 2010).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.