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OT 504: Winter 2008

Goldingay/Jump

 

THIS ECD IS FOR WINTER 2008 QUARTER ONLY!

If you are viewing this after JANUARY 2008 it serves as a SAMPLE ONLY

OT 504: WRITINGS (4 units). John Goldingay, David Allan Hubbard Professor of Old Testament;

Online Facilitation by Daryl Jump, Adjunct Instructor in Old Testament Studies

DESCRIPTION:

The course covers the books in the third section of the Hebrew scriptures: Psalms, Job, Proverbs, the Scrolls (Ruth, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Lamentations, and Esther), Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Chronicles.

 

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: By the end of the course students should have:

1.        Become excited about these books with their wide-ranging significance for our life with God;

2.        Considered the importance of the wisdom books in the modern world against their middle eastern background;

3.        Gained expertise in approaches to interpreting the Psalms and let this bring about developments in the way they pray;

4.        Considered the way Israel's story is retold and extended in the Old Testament and its significance for the modern church; and

5.        Considered approaches to the interpretation of Old Testament short stories and their significance for women and men today.

 

COURSE FORMAT:

The class will be conducted on the Internet using a 10-week lesson program aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar. Each class combines lecture and plenary discussion with work in groups; the course includes some creative writing and listening to recorded material. Classes require substantial preparation on the part of students, on average two hours of preparation for each class hour, including study of the biblical text and other reading which is specified. The course emphasizes collaborative learning and students need to be willing to be committed to working together with other students through journaling, threaded discussions, and web-based research.

 

REQUIRED READING:

Students do not need to possess any books except an NRSV and a copy of the course reader.

The Course Reader will be provided for students within the course.

 

RECOMMENDED READING:

·          Brenner, A. (ed.). A Feminist Companion to the Wisdom Literature, A Feminist Companion to the Song of Songs, A Feminist Companion to Ruth, and A Feminist Companion to Esther, Judith, and Susanna. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1995, 1993, 1993 and 1995. Also subsequent volumes in this series edited by Brenner.

·          Brueggemann, W. The Message of the Psalms. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1984.

·          ______. The Psalms and the Life of Faith. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1995.

·          Crenshaw, J. Old Testament Wisdom. Atlanta: Knox, 1981/London: SCM, 1982; rev. ed., 1999.

·          Goldingay, J. Old Testament Theology, Volume One. InterVarsity Press, 2003.

·          Gunn, D., and D. N. Fewell. Narrative in the Hebrew Bible. Oxford/New York: Oxford University Press, 1993.

·          Kidner, D. The Wisdom of Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1985 (= Wisdom to Live By. Leicester: InterVarsity Press, 1985).

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

1.        Weekly Threaded Discussions, Journaling, Web research (25%).

2.        Students submit preparation notes at each class (25%).

3.        Two 7-10 page papers (50%).

 

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets M. Div. core requirement in Old Testament "c" (OTC); MA in Global Leadership Ministry Focus Elective.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None                      

                                                                                Updated October 2007