Spring 2013/Houston

OT567

Dearman

OT567: ISAIAH (ENGLISH TEXT). Andrew Dearman.

DESCRIPTION: This course is an exegetically-based, thematic study of the book of Isaiah (English text), which includes the interpretation of selected passages from the book and discussion of their historical and theological significance.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The book of Isaiah offers important perspectives on matters of sin, judgment, repentance, forgiveness, and God’s promises of eschatological transformation of the world.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students successfully completing the course will have demonstrated that they 1) have a knowledge and understanding of Isaiah, its 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 book 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; and 3) have articulated some reflection on the significance of Isaiah for their discipleship and ministry.

COURSE FORMAT: The course will meet once a week for a three-hour period for discussion and lecture.

REQUIRED READING:

NRSV, TNIV or CEB translation of the Bible.

John Goldingay, Isaiah (NIBC 13; Peabody: Hendrickson, 2001) ISBN: 978-1565635951. $20.00 [397 pp.].

David Firth and H. G. M. Williamson, ed., Interpreting Isaiah: Issues and Approaches (Downers Grove: IVP, 2009) ISBN: 978-0830837038. $28.00 [287 pp.].

Course Packet (sample):

--Bo H. Lim, “Isaiah: History of Interpretation,” pp. 378-91 in Dictionary of Old Testament: Prophets (IVP, 2012), edited, Mark Boda and J. Gordon McConville.

--Elizabeth R. Hayes, “Justice, Righteousness,” pp. 466-72 in Dictionary of Old Testament: Prophets (IVP, 2012), edited, Mark Boda and J. Gordon McConville.

--Bebb Wheeler Stone, “Second Isaiah: Prophet to Patriarchy,” pp. 219-32 in The Prophets. A Sheffield Reader (Sheffield Academic Press, 1996), edited by Philip R. Davies.

--Bernhard W. Anderson, “Exodus Typology in Second Isaiah,” pp. 177-95 in Israel’s Prophetic Heritage (Harper & Brothers, 1962).

RECOMMENDED READING:

Brevard S. Childs, Isaiah: A Commentary (OTL; Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2000). ISBN: 978-0664221430. $60.00 [750 pp.].

Carol J. Dempsey, Isaiah. God’s Poet of Light (St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2010). ISBN: 978-0827216303. $24.99 [226 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Attendance and Participation in Class Discussion. 10%.
  2. Interpretation of a passage from Isaiah 1-39 (8-10 pp.). 35%. Guidelines keyed to Learning Outcomes and provided in the syllabus.
  3. Interpretation of a passage from Isaiah 40-66 (8-10 pp.). 35%. Guidelines keyed to Learning Outcomes and provided in the syllabus.
  4. Review of Firth and Williamson (5-7 pp.). 20%. Guidelines keyed to Learning Outcomes and provided in the syllabus.

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MA program requirements for Old Testament book study (OTBK). Elective for MDiv degree.


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.