Fall 2019/Fuller Online

OT500

Lee

OT500: OLD TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 Units: 160 hours). Kerry D. Lee, Jr.

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.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course will introduce students to content and interpretation of the OT in its historical and contemporary context, which is consistent with the SOT PLO “Students will have demonstrated competence in the practice of biblical interpretation for faithful use of Scripture in their own lives and ministries” (MDiv, MAT, MATM).

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: 1047 pages required.

Genesis; Exodus; Deuteronomy; 2 Samuel; Job; Psalms 42-106; Isaiah 1-14, 40-53, 63-66; Jeremiah 1-36; Daniel in the NRSV, TNIV or CEB. [250 pp. assigned]

Alter, Robert. The Art of Biblical Narrative. 2nd ed. Basic Books, 2011 [1980]. ISBN: 978-0465022557, Pub. Price $17.99. [133 pp. assigned]

Arnold, Bill T. Introduction to the Old Testament. Cambridge University Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-0521705479, Pub. Price $60.99. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [400 pp. assigned]

Brueggemann, Walter. Spirituality of the Psalms. Fortress Press, 2001. ISBN: 978-0800634506, Pub. Price $11.99. [76 pp. assigned]

eReserves:

Barr, James. “Historical Reading and the Theological Interpretation of Scripture.” In John Barton (ed.), Bible and Interpretation: The Collected Essays of James Barr, Volume 1: Interpretation and Theology. Oxford University Press, 2013. Pp. 28-45 [18 pp.]

Chan, Michael G. “Isaiah 65-66 and the Genesis of Reorienting Speech.” Catholic Biblical Quarterly 72/3 (2010). Pp. 445-463 [19 pp.]

Chia, Philip. “On Naming the Subject: Postcolonial Reading of Daniel 1.” In R. S. Sugirtharajah (ed.). The Postcolonial Biblical Reader. Blackwell, 2006. Pp. 171-85. [15 pp.]

Isaac, Munther. “Reading the Old Testament in the Palestinian Church Today: A Case Study of Joshua 6.” In Salim J. Munayer and Lisa Loden (eds.) The Land Cries Out: Theology of the Land in the Israeli-Palestinian Context (Cascade Book, 2011). Pp. 217-233 [17 pp.]

Kepnes, Steven. “Job and Post-Holocaust Theology.” In T. Linafelt (ed.), Strange Fire. New York University Press, 2000. Pp. 252-66 [15 pp.]

Levenson, Jon, “Abusing Abraham: Traditions, Religious Histories, and Modern Interpretations.” Judaism 47/3 (1998). Pp. 259-277 [19 pp.]

Reid, Stephen Breck. “Patriotism and Loyalty: The Foundation of a Quest for Black Liberation.” In Experience and Tradition. A Primer in Black Biblical Hermeneutics (Abingdon, 1990). Pp. 83-81 [31 pp.]

Reimer, David J. “Redeeming Politics in Jeremiah.” In Hans M. Barstad and Reinhard G. Kratz (eds.) Prophecy in the Book of Jeremiah BZAW 388 (DeGruyter, 2009). Pp. 121-136 [16 pp.]

Seibert, Eric A. “When God Smites: Talking With Students About the Violence of God in Scripture.” Teaching Theology and Religion 17/4 (2014). Pp. 323-341 [19 pp.]

Trible, Phyllis. “Depatriarchalizing in Biblical Interpretation.” Journal of the American Academy of Religion 12 (1973). Pp. 30-48 [19 pp.]

RECOMMENDED READING:

Barton, John. Reading the Old Testament: Method in Biblical Study. Westminster John Knox Press, 1997. ISBN: 978-0664257248. Pub. Price $30.00.

McEntire, Mark. A Chorus of Prophetic Voices: Introducing the Prophetic Literature of Ancient Israel. Westminster John Knox Press, 2015. ISBN: 978-0664239985. Pub. Price $30.00.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Watching of video lectures and reading of written presentations. [This assignment is related to learning outcome # 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5]. [20 hours].
  2. For each week’s Bible reading, a 250-word forum post (15%). Graded on a pass/fail basis. [This assignment is related to learning outcome # 1, 2, 4, & 5]. [10 hours].
  3. For each week’s Bible reading, 100-word replies to at least two other posts (15%). Graded on a pass/fail basis. [This assignment is related to learning outcome # 1, 2, 4, & 5]. [10 hours].
  4. 1,047 pages of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcome # 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. [70 hours].
  5. A test on history, geography, and the books of the Old Testament (10%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome # 1]. [5 hours]
  6. One essay (1200-1500 words) pertaining to a topic from secondary reading and how it relates to biblical interpretation (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome # 3, 4 & 5]. [15 hours].
  7. Interpretive Assignment. An interpretive paper on a biblical passage (chosen from a given selection) that performs a close reading of the passage, considers its literary and historical contexts, reflects on the passage theologically, and suggests a way that the passage is enduringly relevant to the life of Christian believer [3000 words] (35%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome # 2, 3, 4, & 5]. This is the Signature Assignment for this course. [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.

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. Copyright 2019 Fuller Theological Seminary.