Spring 2018/Fuller Online

OT500

McAlpine

OT500: OLD TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 Units: 160 hours). Thomas H. McAlpine.

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: 1200 pages required

Arnold, Bill T. Introduction to the Old Testament. Cambridge University Press, 2014. ISBN:978-0521705479. Pub. Price $59.99. [248 pp. assigned]

Coogan, Michael D., ed. The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha. 4th edition. Oxford University Press, 2010. ISBN:978-0195289558. Pub. Price $45.00. [Chosen for the accompanying notes, essays, tables and maps. The version without the Apocrypha is acceptable, but the page numbers in the assignments assume the version including the Apocrypha.] [388 pp. assigned]

Fowl, Stephen E., ed. The Theological Interpretation of Scripture. Blackwell, 1997. ISBN:978-1557868350. Pub. Price $72.95 [99 pp. assigned]

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 [154 pp. assigned]

Additional readings from authors including Ellen Davis, Tikva Frymer-Kensky, Gustavo Gutiérrez, Abraham Heschel, Kosuke Koyama, Ada María Isasi-Díaz, A.C.C. Lee, Gerhard von Rad, available through eReserves. [311 pp. assigned]

RECOMMENDED READING: The recommended reading draws on additional material from the texts listed in the required reading and additional readings from authors including Linda Day, Abraham Heschel, G. M. Soares-Prabhu, Rowan Williams available through eReserves.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

The professor’s lectures in audio (MP3) and text (PDF) format. Assessed in assignments #3-5. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5]. [20 hours].
1,200 pages of required reading. Assessed in assignments #3-5. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5]. [80 hours].
Weekly 500-word initial forum posts and two 125-word replies in each forum (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2-5]. [30 hours].
Weekly cumulative quizzes covering the history and historical and geographic setting of ancient Israel (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-2]. [5 hours]
An interpretive 10 page (2,500 word) paper that includes close reading, genre identification, description of literary structure, theological reflection and ministry application of an assigned Psalm (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2-5]. [25 hours research and writing].

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.