Winter 2019/Fuller Online

OT500

Goldingay

OT500: OLD TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 Units: 160 hours). John Goldingay.

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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) have reflected on the significance of the Old Testament for a psychology professional.

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].

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

Arnold, Bill T. Introduction to the Old Testament. CUP, 2014. ISBN: 978-0521705479, Pub. Price $60.99 [400 pages]. Available as an e-book in the Fuller Library.

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, 2003. 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. An Introduction 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, 2002. 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. Instruction hours: reading in the biblical text and Ancient Near Eastern writings. [This assignment relates to Learning Outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4, 6] [40 hours].
2. Forum postings related to the reading in the biblical text (typically 150-250 words each week); graded, but pass-fail for the final grade [This assignment relates to Learning Outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4, 6] [5 hours].
3. Instruction hours: reading in secondary sources, 550 pages. [This assignment relates to Learning Outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4, 6] [40 hours].
4. Forum postings related to the reading in secondary sources, typically 3-5 one-sentence comments each week; graded, but pass-fail for the final grade. [This assignment relates to Learning Outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4, 6] [5 hours].
5. Instruction time online: 10 hours forum discussion on postings, usually 100-200 words each week; graded, but pass-fail for the final grade. [This assignment relates to Learning Outcomes #3, 2, 3, 4, 6] [10 hours].
6. Test on the location of the books in the OT, on history, and on geography. (10% of final grade) [This assignment relates to learning outcome #1] [5 hours].
7. Two midterm papers, each of 1500-2000 words, one on a passage from Genesis, and one from Psalms which counts as the signature assignment (30% each). [This assignment relates to Learning Outcome #2, 3, 4, 5, 6] [40 hours].
8. Final reflection paper of 1500-2000 words (30%). [This assignment relates to Learning Outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4, 6] [15 hours].

PREREQUISITES: SOP students only.

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.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.