Spring 2016/Sacramento
OT567
Loepp
OT567: OLD TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: GENESIS—ENGLISH TEXT (4 Units: 160 hours). Dale Loepp.
DESCRIPTION: As its name implies, the book of Genesis establishes a number of significant “beginnings” in the Bible, including defining not only humanity’s relationship with Yahweh but also Yahweh’s relationship with a particular human family. Christians and Jews alike have historically understood the book as introducing the important concepts such as covenant, justice, and “chosenness”—a model of God’s selection of a particular (and sometimes very flawed) people to bring about his will in the world. The book of Genesis also has had nearly universal appeal because its narratives address a broad range of human experience: birth and death, joy and tragedy, loyalty and deception, and righteousness and mercy.
This course will examine the book of Genesis within its ancient Near Eastern context, in its place within the canon of the Bible, within ancient Israelite culture, and of course as Christian scripture. During the course, we will also utilize Genesis as a target text for modeling different approaches for reading and interpreting the Bible—bringing to the surface themes such as political (including gendered) and religious power, history and memory, and what it means to be called the people of God.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: After completing this course, participants will have demonstrated the ability to: 1) recount the general narrative trajectory of the book of Genesis; 2) compare and contrast Israelite perceptions of Yahweh with that of Mesopotamian religion; 3) explain the differences in perspective and approach among literary (including folkloric), social scientific, and feminist readings of the Bible; 4) explain how the narratives in Genesis can inform contemporary Christian theology, discipleship and ministry/missional contexts; 5) describe the hermeneutical issues raised when reading Genesis from diverse contexts; 6) explain biblical intertextuality and discuss how certain texts are linked intertextually with other texts in the Bible; and 7) adequately employ one or more specific approaches to reading the Bible by reflecting on a text from Genesis exegetically and theologically, using a participant-selected pericope.
COURSE FORMAT: This class meets for four sessions, each 7.5 hours long, for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction, plus 10 hours of directed learning activities (see DLAs below) for a total of 40 instructional hours. This course will include a combination of live and recorded lectures, small-group text-based workshops/discussions, and participant presentations.
REQUIRED READING: 1,061 pages required
Genesis—English Text [NRSV, TNIV, CEB] [70 pages]
Brueggeman, Walter. Genesis: Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Westminister John Knox, 1986. ISBN: 978-0804231015, Pub. Price $40.00 [297 pages].
Friedman, Richard Elliott. Who Wrote the Bible? (Chapters 1-4, 7-8). Harper One, 1989. ISBN: 978-0060630355, Pub. Price $16.99 [126 pages assigned].
Meyers, Carol. Rediscovering Eve: Ancient Israelite Women in Context. Oxford University Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-0199734627, Pub. Price $26.95 [202 pages assigned].
Zakovitch, Yair. Jacob: Unexpected Patriarch. Yale University Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-0300144260, Pub. Price $25.00 [191 pages].
Material Available on E-Reserves:
Auerbach, Erich. “Odysseus’ Scar” (3-23) in Memesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature. Princeton University Press, 1953 [21 pages].
Foster, Benjamin. “III.17 Epic of Creation” (436-497) in Before the Muses: An Anthology of Akkadian Literature. Third Edition. CDL Press, 2005 [61 pages].
George, Andrew. “He Who Saw the Deep” (1-99) in The Epic of Gilgamesh. Penguin Classics, 2003 [31 pages].
Kidwell, Clara Sue, Noley, Homer and Tinker, George E. “Introduction,” “Hermaneutics,” and “Creation” (1-51) in A Native American Theology. Orbis Books, 2001 [52 pages].
Mbuwayesango, Dora. “Childlessness and Woman-to-Woman Relationships in Genesis and in African Patriarchal Society: Sarah and Hagar from a Zimbabwean Woman’s Perspective (Gen 16:1-16; 21:8-21).” Semeia 97 (1997) 27-36 [10 pages].
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
1,061 pages of required reading. [70 hours].
Viewing and posting responses (250 words each) to two video lectures (over and above in-class lectures) plus two other on-line forum questions (250 words each) as prompted (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1,2,3]. [7 hours DLA].
Participate in an on-line discussion board on the topic of theological issues raised by the book of Genesis itself and/or scholarly approaches to reading Genesis; minimum of three responses of 250 words each (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2,4,5]. [3 hours DLA].
Prepare and present a 5-7-minute class presentation on a prompt-guided exegetical use of a portion of Genesis (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #6]. [10 hours].
Final exegetical essay on a participant selected pericope—3000 words (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3,4,7]. [24 hours].
Mid-term, open-book exam prepared outside of class—1200 words (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1,3]. [8 hours].
Final, open-book exam prepared outside of class—1200 words (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1,3]. [8 hours].
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Counts as a biblical elective in the 120 MDiv, 80 MAT, and 80 MATM Programs (Fall 2015). Counts as a biblical elective MATM and MAICS Programs (Winter 2010), and the OTBK requirement for the MAT Program (Winter 2010).
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes, take-home exam.