Summer 2018/Irvine

OT517

Kelle

OT517: OLD TESTAMENT BOOK STUDY: EZEKIEL (4 Units: 160 Hours). Brad E. Kelle.

DESCRIPTION: This course engages the student in the study of the book of Ezekiel in English translation. Primary attention will be given to reading Ezekiel from various interpretive angles, examining the book section by section and considering major themes and motifs that run through the book, as well as specific exegetical issues. Instruction will be based upon English translations, although students who have studied Hebrew will be encouraged to make use of their skills.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated that they (1)have readthe bookcarefully and are familiar with its contents and themes;(2) can interpret passages within it in their own right and in their socio-historical, literary, and canonical contexts; (3) have identified central issues in the critical study of it; (4) can articulate its primary theological and ethical concerns; (5) can use English-based tools for interpreting it;(6) can recognize hermeneutical issues arising from the diverse contexts of contemporary readers;and (7) can interpret it faithfully and creatively in the context of their congregation, of the contemporary world and of their own lives.

COURSE FORMAT: The course meets for four Saturdays for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction plus an additional 10 hours of instruction through directed learning activities including weekly online engagement using Canvas, for a total of 40 instructional hours. The format will include a combination of lecture, discussion, small group/collaborative and online work to extend the course’s work beyond the regular class times.

REQUIRED READING: 1,265 pages in total required

A Bible in either the NRSV, TNIV, or CEB translation. [100 pp.]

Brueggemann, Walter. Hopeful Imagination: Prophetic Voices in Exile. Fortress, 1986. ISBN: 978-0800619251, Pub. Price $23.00 [133 pp.].

Kelle, Brad E. Ezekiel: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. (New Beacon Bible Commentary) Beacon Hill, 2013. ISBN: 978-0834129450, Pub. Price $34.99 [352 pp.].

Odell, Margaret S. Ezekiel: Smyth and Helwys Bible Commentary. Smyth and Helwys, 2005. ISBN: 978-1573120739, Pub. Price $60.00 [400 pp. assigned].

Sweeney, Marvin A. The Prophetic Literature: Interpreting Biblical Texts Series. Abingdon, 2005. ISBN: 978-0687008445, Pub. Price $23.99 [240 pp.].

e-Reserve Readings covering especially issues related to feminist criticism and gender analysis of Ezekiel:

1) Mary E. Shields, “An Abusive God? Identity and Power/Gender and Violence in Ezekiel 23,” in Postmodern Interpretations of the Bible—A Reader (ed. A. K. A. Adam; St. Louis: Chalice, 2001), 129-151;

2) Corrine L. Patton, “‘Should Our Sister Be Treated Like a Whore?’ A Response to Feminist Critiques of Ezekiel 23,” in The Book of Ezekiel: Theological and Anthropological Perspectives (eds. M. S. Odell and J. T. Strong; SBLSyms 9; Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2000), 221-239.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1,265 pages of required reading [84 hours].
Attendance and participation in in-class small group discussions and presentations (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4] [30 hours].

Weekly Canvas “Reading Notebook” Postings: In order to assess the student’s engagement with the basic content discussed in the biblical and textbook readings and to extend the course’s engagement beyond the weekend meetings, each student will use Canvas to respond to a set of 2 questions each week (after the first meeting of the class). The questions are provided in the syllabus and each student should post a 125 words-in-length response to each of the week’s questions by each Friday at 5:00pm. The “Reading Notebook” questions contain brief responses to specific inquiries dealing with basic content covered in the readings. (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, and 3] [10 hours of DLAs].

Write a 7-page critical appreciation of Brueggemann’s Hopeful Imagination (instructions given in class) (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 3, and 4] [12 hours].
Signature Assignment: Final Exegetical Paper (ca. 3,000 words or about 12 pages; instructions in class) (30%). This is a ca. 3,000-word study of a text of about ten to thirty verses, chosen with the agreement of the professor [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2, 3, 4, 5, and 6] [24 hours].

PREREQUISITES: BI500 or NE502; OT500 or OT501 or OT502.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Counts as a biblical elective for the 120 MDiv, 80 MAT, and 80 MATM Programs (Fall 2015). Meets the OTBK requirement for the MAT Program (Winter 2010).

FINAL EXAM: None.