Summer 2017/Fuller Online

OT500

Engle

OT500: OLD TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 Units: 160 hours). Cynthia L. Engle.

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.

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: 950 pages required.

Genesis; Exodus; Deuteronomy; 2 Samuel; Job; Psalms 42-106; Isaiah 1-14, 40-53, 63-66; Jeremiah 1-36; Daniel (NRSV, TNIV, or CEB); Enuma Elish, Hammurabi’s Law Code, The Babylonian Theodicy, Akkadian Prophecies, Daniel in the Deutero-canonical version [400 pp.].

Arnold, Bill T. Introduction to the Old Testament. Cambridge University Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-0521705479, Pub. Price $54.99 [400 pages].

On eReserves [150 pages]:

For Genesis: Trible, Phyllis. “Depatriarchalizing in Biblical Interpretation.” (1973). Journal of the American Academy of Religion 12 [pp. 30-48].

For Exodus: Reid, Stephen Breck. Experience and Tradition. Abingdon, 1990. ISBN: 978-0687124008, out of print [pp. 53-81].

For Deuteronomy: Van der Toorn, Karel. “Nine Months among the Peasants.” In W. G. Dever and S. Gitin (ed.), Symbiosis, Symbolism, and the Power of the Past, Eisenbrauns, 2003. ISBN: 978-1575060811, Pub. Price $69.50 [pp. 393-410].

For 2 Samuel: Fritz, Volkmar. The City in Ancient Israel. Sheffield Academic Press, 1995. ISBN: 978-1850754770, Pub. Price $22.50 [pp. 176-89].

For Job: Kepnes, Steven. “Job and Post-Holocaust Theology”. In T. Linafelt (ed.), Strange Fire. New York University Press, 2000. ISBN: 978-0814751664, Pub. Price $25.00 [pp. 252-66].

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

For Isaiah: Stone, Bebb Wheeler. “Second Isaiah: Prophet to Patriarchy.” Journal for the Study of the OT 56, (1992), [pp. 85-99].

For Jeremiah: Wolff, Hans Walter. “Prophets and Institutions in the Old Testament.”Currents in Theology and Mission 13, (1986) [pp. 5-12].

For Daniel: 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].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Alexander, T. D., and D. W. Baker, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch. InterVarsity Press, 2002. 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.

Goldingay, J. AnIntroduction to the Old Testament. InterVarsity, 2015. ISBN: 978-0830840908, Pub. Price $45.00.

King, Philip J. and Lawrence E. Stager. Life in Biblical Israel. Westminster John Knox Press, 2001. 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. For each topic, reading of the biblical text and Ancient Near Eastern writings, with postings on Moodle (400 pages; 500 words each week) (graded each time on an ABCF scale but for the purposes of the final grade treated as pass-fail). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4, 5] [40 hours].

2. For each topic, readings of secondary material, with postings on Moodle (550 pages; usually 3-5 one-sentence comments for each piece of reading) (pass-fail). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3, 4, 5] [45 hours].

3. For each topic, reading of material posted by the professor, with postings on Moodle (usually 3-5 one-sentence comments each week) (pass-fail). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3, 4, 5] [25 hours].

4. Test on the location of the books in the OT, on history, and on geography (10% of final grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1] [5 hours].

5. First midterm paper: interpretive assignment on a passage from Genesis (1500-2000 words) (30% of final grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #5] [15 hours].

6. Second midterm paper: interpretive assignment on a passage from Psalms (1500-2000 words) (signature assignment) (30% of final grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #5] [15 hours].

7. Final paper reflecting on the study over the quarter (1500-2000 words) (30% of final grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3, 4, 5] [15 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.