Spring 2010/Houston

OT507

Dearman

OT507: OLD TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: PSALMS. J. Andrew Dearman.

Description. The course is an exegetical study of the Hebrew text of selected psalms. Psalms for study will be selected to illustrate different genres and different functions such as praise and meditation. Participants will give attention to matters such as the canonical significance of the Psalter and the roles of the Psalms in the life of faith.

Significance for life and ministry. The development of exegetical skills in interpreting the Psalter offers interpreters increased access to its poetic treasury and increased understanding of its influence on the New Testament and on the worship and spiritual life of the Church.

Learning outcomes. Students successfully completing the course will have demonstrated that they:

1. have a knowledge and understanding of the Psalter, its various literary features, its historical and cultural context, and the way it illustrates works of its genre;

2.  can offer an exegesis of passages from the Psalms in light of a range of appropriate interpretive approaches, including ones that take account of the diversity of contexts from which the text can be read;

3. have articulated some reflection on the significance of this part of the Bible for their discipleship and ministry;

4. have a competence in working with texts in their original language, including familiarity with apparatuses and tools requisite to such study.

Course format. The class will meet one evening a week, 6:00-9:30 PM, for ten weeks.

Required reading.

Declaisse-Walford, Nancy. Introduction to the Psalms: A Song from Ancient Israel. (Atlanta: Chalice Press, 2004)

Broyles, Craig. Psalms. (NIBCOT; Peabody: Hendrickson, 1999)

For consultation see Linguistic and Exegetical Books Required in the Master of Divinity Program, http://www.fuller.edu/sot/ecds/062/Ling-Exeg-Biblio.html

Recommended reading.

Brown, William P. Seeing the Psalms (Louisville: Westminster John Knox 2002)

Firth, David & Philip S Johnston, eds., Interpreting the Psalms: Issues and Approaches (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2005)

Goldingay, John, Psalms 1-41 (Grand Rapids, Baker Academic, 2006)

Goldingay, John, Psalms 42-89 (Grand Rapids, Baker Academic, 2007)

Goldingay, John, Psalms 90-150 (Grand Rapids, Baker Academic, 2008)

Kraus, H. J., Psalms 1-59, (Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1988)

Kraus, H. J., Psalms 60-150, (Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1989)

Miller, Patrick. They Cried to the Lord, The Form and Theology of Biblical Prayer (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1994)

Reid, Stephen Breck, Listening In: A Multicultural Reading of the Psalms (Nashville: Abingdon, 1997)

Assignments and assessments. Weekly preparation of translation and reading assignments is crucial to the course. In-class exam on the contents of Declaisse-Walford’s text (20%); Bi-weekly, 2-3 page exegetical assignments (40%) employing a range of approaches and work with the Hebrew text; Final paper, 10-12 pp. (40%), which will include reflection on the significance of the assigned text for discipleship and ministry.

Prerequisites. LG502

Relationship to curriculum. Meets MDiv core requirement in Old Testament "C" (OTCE) and MA program requirements for Old Testament book study (OTBK).

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification.