Fuller Online
OT504: Fall 2010
Goldingay/Jump

OT504: 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.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: By the end of the course students should have become convinced about the wide-ranging significance of these books for our life with God and committed to shaping their lives by them and using them in their mission and ministry.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who pass the course will have demonstrated that they 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:
NRSV Bible.

Course Reader, which will be provided for students within the course.

Arnold, B. T., and H. G. M. Williamson, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament Historical Books. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-0-8308-1782-5; publ. retail price: $60.00.

Longman, Tremper, and Peter Enns, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0-8308-1783-2; publ. retail price: $60.00.

RECOMMENDED READING: See course syllabus.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
  1. Weekly reading and homework assignments (24%)

  2. Weekly threaded discussions (16%)

  3. Two 10-page papers (60%)

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Old Testament "c" (OTC).

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (July 2010)