Spring 2015/Houston

OT500

Dearman

OT500: OLD TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 Units: 160 hours). J. Andrew Dearman.

DESCRIPTION: This hybrid online and geo-physical 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 is a hybrid+ course, meaning that it is a ten-week course with nine weeks of online instruction and one week of classroom instruction during week three of the quarter. The week of classroom instruction will include four hours daily of lecture and discussion, as well as additional lunch meetings and evening sessions (required in hybrid+ courses). Classroom and online instruction will include lecture and discussion (including participation in vocation and formation groups) for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: 1010 pages approximately

Genesis; Exodus; Deuteronomy; 2 Samuel; Job; Psalms 42-106; Isaiah 1-14, 40-53, 63-66; Jeremiah 1-36; Daniel. NRSV, TNIV or CEB [250 pp.].

Childs, Brevard S. Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture. Reprint ed. Augsburg Fortress, 2011. ISBN: 978-0800698331, Pub. Price $39.00 [250 pp.].

Richter, Sandra L. The Epic of Eden. A Christian Entry into the Old Testament. InterVarsity Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0830825776, Pub. Price $20.00 [260 pp.].

Reading material posted in Moodle course page [260 pp. approximately]. See the following sampling:

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).

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).

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).

Ernest C. Lucas, “Cosmology,” pp. 130-39 in T. Desmond Alexander and David W. Baker, ed., Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch (IVP, 2003).

Kevin J. Madigan and Jon D. Levenson, “The Great Awakening,” pp. 171-200 in their Resurrection. The Power of God for Christians and Jews (Yale University Press, 2008).

Larry J. Waters, “Reflections on Suffering from the Book of Job.” Bibliotheca Sacra 154 (1997): 436-451.

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).

Patrick D. Miller, “’That It May Go Well with You’ The Commandments and the Common Good, ” pp. 136-163 in his The Way of the Lord. Essays in Old Testament Theology (Eerdmans, 2007).

Stephen Breck Reid, “Patriotism and Loyalty: The Foundation of a Quest for Black Liberation,” pp. 53-81 in his Experience and Tradition. A Primer in Black Biblical Hermeneutics (Abingdon, 1990).

Walter Brueggemann, “Doxology at the Edge of Ideology: The King of Majesty and Mercy,” pp. 55-87 in his Israel’s Praise. Doxology Against Idolatry and Ideology (Fortress Press, 1988).

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Completion of weekly assigned reading material (approximately 100 pp.) and submission of nine response papers (300 words). (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1-3.]. [80 hours; 71 hours reading, 9 hours writing].

  2. Weekly posting of answers, comments, and reflections on the instructor and other participants’ questions and writings (300-350 words). (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1-4.]. [20 hours posting and responding].

  3. Midterm examination. The take-home exam will test the student’s knowledge of the course material and ability to engage it in a critical discussion. It will contain brief essay questions dealing with the historical, theological, and interpretive issues relevant to the material discussed in the first half of the course (2000-2500 words). (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1-4.]. [20 hours preparation and writing].

  4. A final interpretive paper that requires a focused discussion on a specific theme, motif, and/or issue relevant to the biblical passage of the student’s selection (2500-3000 words). (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 2-5.]. [20 hours preparation and writing].

  5. Classroom instruction. [20 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets a core requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. Meets the OTC requirement in the 144 MDiv. Option to meet requirement in the MAT Program (Winter 2010). Core requirement for the MATM, MAICS, and MACL Programs (Winter 2010).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.


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.

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