Summer 2011/Houston

NS515

Rutherford

NS515: THE OLD TESTAMENT IN THE NEW. William Rutherford

COURSE DESCRIPTION: An investigation into the various ways in which New Testament writers employed the Scriptures of Israel as witnesses to Jesus and to the church’s calling to live faithfully as the people of God. Students will assess NT writers’ use of scripture and explore possible ramifications for how contemporary Christians should read the Old Testament.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: From the opening verses of Matthew through the descriptions of the New Jerusalem in Revelation, the New Testament is in continual dialogue with the Old, claiming and demonstrating that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises to visit, save, redeem, and restore God’s people. By studying how the NT writers use the OT, students will be better equipped to proclaim Jesus as the climax of the story of redemption.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the successful completion of this course students will have demonstrated:

(1) ability to articulate a synthetic assessment of the use of the OT across the NT as well as various NT writers’ interpretive methods;

(2) ability to faithfully interpret NT passages that cite OT passages;

(3) masters-level reflection on the theological ramifications of NT writers’ interpretations of the OT;

(4) knowledge of different views concerning how the NT writers use the OT and their ramifications for Christian hermeneutics;

COURSE FORMAT: The course meets for ten days (Aug 15-19, 22-26), 1:30-4:30 PM, for lecture, discussion of biblical texts and secondary readings, and student presentations. There are reading and writing assignments to be completed before the first meeting of class* (see assignments below).

REQUIRED READING:

Books:

The Bible (OT and NT) in at least two translations, one of which should be NRSV or TNIV

New English Translation of the Septuagint (available free online: http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/nets/edition)

Steve Moyise, The Old Testament in the New (London/New York: T & T Clark Continuum, 2001; 2004 repr.). ISBN: 0567081990. $34.95. 153 pages.

Richard N. Longenecker, Biblical Exegesis in the Apostolic Period. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1999. ISBN: 0802843018. $25.00. 238 pages.

Richard B. Hays, The Conversion of the Imagination: Paul as Interpreter of Israel’s Scripture (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2005). ISBN: 0802812627. $22.00. 213 pages.

Articles and Book Chapters (available on ereserve):

Hays, Richard B. and Joel B. Green. “The Use of the Old Testament by New Testament Writers.” In Joel B. Green, ed. Hearing the New Testament: Strategies for Interpretation. 2^nd ed., Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2010. Pp. 222–38.

E. Earle Ellis. “Biblical Interpretation in the New Testament Church.” In Sysling, Harry, ed. Mikra: Text, Translation, Reading & Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible in Ancient Judaism & Early Christianity. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2004. Pp. 691–725.

D. A. Carson and H. G. M. Williamson (eds.), It is Written: Scripture Citing Scripture (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1988). ISBN: 0521323479. Chs. 12, 14, 18–19 (entries on Matthew, Mark, Luke/Acts, Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, Jude, and Revelation).

RECOMMENDED READING:

Stanley E. Porter and Christopher D. Stanley (eds.), As It is Written: Studying Paul’s Use of Scripture (Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2008). ISBN: 9781589833593. $44.95.

New Testament in Greek (UBS4 or NA27), Old Testament in Hebrew (BHS) and Greek (LXX).

See syllabus for extended bibliography

*ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT

1. Book Reviews 30% (2 @ 15%) [Longenecker and Hays]. Longenecker review due first day of class. SLO 1, 3.

2. Article Reports 10% [Hays/Green and Ellis], Instructions available first week of quarter. Due first day of class. SLO 1-3.

3. 2 Exegetical Reports of 4-5 pp. (20%), based on assigned texts from Matthew or Luke-Acts, and 1 Peter, or Revelation, in conversation with assigned readings [e.g. Carson & Williamson] and class presentations. SLO 1-3.

4. Exegetical Paper and Theological Reflection (15 pp). 40%. SLO 2, 3, 4. Due Sept 2.

*The reading of Moyise, the Longenecker book review, and the article reports on Hays/Green & Ellis are due the first day of the course. Additional instructions for writing assignments and access to documents available first week of quarter from Fuller Texas office.

PREREQUISITES: NT1 or NT2

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets NTT for M.Div. Elective in MA programs.

FINAL EXAMINATION: NO

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