Summer 2019/Phoenix
OT500
Peacock
OT500: OLD TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 Units: 160 hours). Cory Peacock.
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.
COURSE FORMAT: This class meets eight times over two weeks for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction, lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.
REQUIRED READING: 1,275 total pages required [75 hours]
Genesis; Exodus; Deuteronomy; 2 Samuel; Job; Psalms 42-106; Isaiah 1-14, 40-53, 63-66; Jeremiah 1-36; Daniel (NRSV, TNIV, or CEB); Ancient Near Eastern Texts Packet [450 pp.].
Collins, John J. Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. 3rd Ed. Fortress Press, 2018. ISBN: 978-1-5064-4598-4, Pub. Price $69.00 [325 pp.].
Hays, J. Daniel. From Every People and Nation: A biblical theology of race. InterVarsity Press, 2003. ISBN: 0-8308-2616-5, Pub. Price $25. [150 pp.]
Available on Canvas Page or Fuller Library e-reserves [350 pp.]:
Marsha Wilfong, “Human Creation in Canonical Context: Genesis 1:26-31 and Beyond,” pp. 42-52 in William P. Brown, S. Dean McBride Jr., ed., God Who Creates. Essays in Honor of W. Sibley Towner (Eerdmans, 2000).
Wilma A. Bailey, Readings from "You Sahll Not Kill" or "You Shall Not Murder"?: The Assault on a Biblical Text, pp. 1-83. (Liturgical Press, 2005).
Corrine L. Carvalho, “Finding a Treasure Map: Sacred Space in the Old Testament,” pp. 123-150 in Carol M. Bechtel, ed., Touching the Altar. The Old Testament for Christian Worship (Eerdmans, 2008).
Bo H. Lim, “Isaiah, History of Interpretation,” pp. 378-91 in Mark J. Boda and J. Gordon McConville, ed., Dictionary of the Old Testament: Prophets (IVP, 2012).
Elizabeth R. Hayes, “Justice and Righteousness,” pp. 466-72 in Mark J. Boda and J. Gordon McConville, ed., Dictionary of the Old Testament: Prophets (IVP, 2012).
Larry J. Waters, “Reflections on Suffering from the Book of Job.” Bibliotheca Sacra 154 (1997): 436-451.
Mark S. Smith, Readings from God in Translation: Deities in Cross-Cultural Discourse in the Biblical World, pp. 1-15, 37-186. (Eerdmans, 2010).
Douglas A. Knight and Amy-Jill Levine, "Self and Other" pp. 261-294 in their The Meaning of the Bible: What the Jewish Scriptures and Christian Old Testament Can Teach Us. (HarperOne, 2011).
RECOMMENDED READING:
Alexander, T. D., and D. W. Baker, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch. InterVarsity Press, 2003. ISBN: 978-0830817818, Pub. Price $60.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library.
Arnold, B. T., and H. G. M. Williamson, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books. InterVarsity Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-0830817825, Pub. Price $60.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library.
Boda, Mark J., and J. Gordon McConville, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Prophets. InterVarsity Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-0830817849, Pub. Price $60.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library.
Chia, Philip. “On Naming the Subject: Postcolonial Reading of Daniel 1.” In R. S. Sugirtharajah (ed.). The Postcolonial Biblical Reader. Blackwell, 2006. ISBN: 978-1405133500, Pub. Price $54.95 [pp. 171-85].
Kepnes, Steven. “Job and Post-Holocaust Theology”. In T. Linafelt (ed.), Strange Fire. New York University Press, 2000. ISBN: 978-0814751664, Pub. Price $25.00 [pp. 252-66].
King, Philip J. and Lawrence E. Stager. Life in Biblical Israel. Westminster John Knox Press, 2002. ISBN: 0-664-22148-3. Pub. Price. $57. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library.
Longman, Tremper, and Peter Enns (ed.). Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings. InterVarsity Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0830817832, Pub. Price $60.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library.
Murrell, Nathaniel Samuel. “Tuning Hebrew Psalms to Reggae Rhythms.” Cross Currents 50, (2000-1), [pp. 525-40].
Stone, Bebb Wheeler. “Second Isaiah: Prophet to Patriarchy.” Journal for the Study of the OT 56, (1992), [pp. 85-99].
Trible, Phyllis. “Depatriarchalizing in Biblical Interpretation.” (1973). Journal of the American Academy of Religion 12 [pp. 30-48].
Van der Toorn, Karel. “Nine Months among the Peasants.” In W. G. Dever and S. Gitin (ed.), Symbiosis, Symbolism, and the Power of the Past, Eisenbrauns, 2003. ISBN: 978-1575060811, Pub. Price $69.50 [pp. 393-410].
Wolff, Hans Walter. “Prophets and Institutions in the Old Testament.” Currents in Theology and Mission 13, (1986) [pp. 5-12].
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
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: Yes. Take Home exam.
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.