Fall 2014/Houston
NS515
Young
NS515: THE OLD TESTAMENT IN THE NEW (4 Units: 160 hours). Steve Young
DESCRIPTION: An investigation into the various ways in which the 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 various NT writers' use of Scripture and explore possible ramifications for how contemporary Christians should interpret Scripture.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the successful completion of this course students will have demonstrated: (1) the ability to articulate how the NT writers are similar and how they differ in their interpretive practices; (2) the ability to articulate the theological ramifications of various NT writers' interpretations of the OT; (3) practice with interpreting a variety of NT passages which relate intertextually to OT texts, with consideration of the varied contexts of both testaments and of contemporary readers; (4) knowledge of different views concerning how the NT writers use the OT and their ramifications for Christian hermeneutics.
COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three-hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours. Class will include lecture and discussion of biblical texts and secondary readings.
REQUIRED READING: 829 total pages required.
The Bible (OT and NT) in the NRSV, TNIV, or CEB translations. [ca. 105 pages]
New English Translation of the Septuagint (free online at: http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/nets/edition).
Berding, Kenneth, ed. Three Views on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Zondervan, 2008. ISBN: 9780310273332. Pub. price $17.99 [243 pp.]
Hays, Richard B. The Conversion of the Imagination: Paul as Interpreter of Israel's Scripture. Eerdmans, 2005. ISBN: 9780802812629. Pub. price $24.00 [201 pp.]
Moyise, Steve. Evoking Scripture: Seeing the Old Testament in the New. T &T Clark, 2008. ISBN: 9780567033253. Pub. price $34.95 [141 pp.]
A number of articles will also be required, by Stefan Alkier [18], E. Earle Ellis [33], Richard B. Hays [16], Morna J. Hooker [14], Donald Juel [20], Bart J. Koet [21], and Joel Marcus [17], available on eReserves. [139 total pp.]
RECOMMENDED READING:
See course Moodle page for an extended bibliography.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
829 pages of required reading [55 hours]
Class participation and contributions to ongoing discussion (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1-4.] [30 hours of class time and 10 hours of forum work]
Three interpretive exercises on assigned texts (1,350 words each, or about 2 pages single-spaced) (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1-3.] [27 hours preparation and writing]
A critical book review, 1,200-1,500 words, or 3-4 pages one-and-a-half spaced (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome # 4.] [10 hours]
Final research paper on an assigned NT text (2,500 words, or 7-8 pages one-and-a-half spaced) (35%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1-4.] [28 hours research and writing]
PREREQUISITES: NS500 or NS501 or NT500.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the NTT requirement in the 144 MDiv program. Counts as a Biblical Studies Elective in the 120 MDiv Program.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.