Fall 2016/Fuller Online

OT500

Bunn

OT500: OLD TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 Units: 160 hours). Daniel Bunn.

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; (5) have used this knowledge and these abilities to interpret some key Old Testament texts; and (6) can produce a well-documented researched based project.

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: 1,000 pp. of required reading.

Genesis; Exodus; Deuteronomy; 2 Samuel; Job; Psalms 42-106; Isaiah 1-14, 40-53, 63-66; Jeremiah 1-36; Daniel (NRSV, TNIV, or CEB) [375 pp. assigned].

Brueggemann, Walter. From Whom No Secrets are Hid: Introducing the Psalms. Westminster John Knox, 2014. ISBN: 978-0664259716, Pub. Price $30.00 [160 pp. assigned].

Collins, John J. A Short Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. 2^nd ed. Fortress, 2014. ISBN: 978-1451472943, Pub. Price $45.00 [175 pp. assigned].

Available on eReserves:

Brown, William P. Character in Crisis: A Fresh Approach to the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament. Eerdmans, 1996. ISBN: 978-0802841353, Out of Print [70 pp. assigned].

Dalley, Stephanie. Myths from Mesopotamia: Creation, the Flood, Gilgamesh, and Others. Oxford University Press, 1998. ISBN: 978-0199538362, Pub. Price $13.95 [55 pp. assigned].

Weems, Renita J. Just a Sister Away: A Womanist Vision of Women's Relationships in the Bible. Publishing/Editing Network, 1988. ISBN: 978-0931055522, Out of Print [22 pp. assigned].

Additional articles, including ones by Coomber, Gilkes, Goldingay, Kelly, Rendtorff, Rudin, Thomas, Wenham, Westermann [183 pp.].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Alexander, T. Desmond. From Paradise to the Promised Land: An Introduction to the Main Themes of the Pentateuch. Paternoster, 1995. ISBN: 978-0801039980, Pub. Price $29.99.

Alexander, T. D., and D. W. Baker, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch. IVP Academic, 2002. ISBN: 978-0830817818, Pub. Price $60.00.

Anderson, Bernhard W. Out of the Depths. 3rd revised & expanded ed. Westminster John Knox, 2000. ISBN: 978-0664258320, Pub. Price $30.00.

Arnold, B. T., and H. G. M. Williamson, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books. IVP Academic, 2005. ISBN: 978-0830817825, Pub. Price $60.00.

Boda, Mark J., and J. Gordon McConville, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Prophets. IVP Academic, 2012. ISBN: 978-0830817849, Pub. Price $60.00.

Lapsley, Jacqueline. Whispering the Word: Hearing Women’s Stories in the OT. Westminster John Knox, 2005. ISBN: 978-0664224356, Pub. Price $25.00.

Longman, Tremper, and Peter Enns, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings. IVP Academic, 2008. ISBN: 978-0830817832, Pub. Price $60.00.

Mann, Thomas W. The Book of the Torah: The Narrative Integrity of the Pentateuch. 2^nd edition. Cascade Books, 2013. ISBN: 978-1610978958, Pub. Price $27.00

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Class activities, including short video lectures, visual presentations, and group activities. [20 hours].

2. 250-word weekly forum posts (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1–4] [10 hours].

3. 250-word weekly replies (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1–4] [10 hours].

4. 1,000 pages of required reading. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1–6] [70 hours].

5. Book review, from one of a few options (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1, 3, and 4.] [15 hours].

6. Online quizzes consisting primarily of objective elements: identifying events, characters, concepts, etc. (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 1]. [5 hours]

7. Interpretive Assignment: A research essay on an interpretation of an Old Testament text [2,000–3,000 words] (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 2–6]. [30 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: None.