Summer 2015/Houston
OT527
Engle
OT527: OLD TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: PSALMS (HEBREW TEXT) (4 Units: 160 hours). Cynthia L. Engle.
DESCRIPTION: A study of the Psalms, including an introduction to the structure and theology of the entire book, the various genres represented in the book, its setting and other characteristic features of the Psalms. Exegetical skills, including the use of Hebrew-based tools, and application to ministry will be part of the subject matter of the course.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated the ability (1) to interpret the psalms within their socio-historical, literary, and canonical contexts; (2) to identify central issues in the critical study of the Psalms; (3) to articulate primary theological and ethical concerns of the Psalms; (4) to use Hebrew-based language tools for interpreting the text; and (5) to interpret these texts for faithful use of Scripture in their own lives and ministries.
COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three and a half hour sessions for a total of 35 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion, plus 5 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.
REQUIRED READING:
Brown, F. with S.R. Driver & C.A. Briggs. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew English Lexicon. Hendrickson, 1997. (not required if using BW9 below)
DeClaissé-Walford, Nancy L., Rolf A. Jacobson, and Beth LaNeel Tanner. The Book of Psalms. Eerdmans, 2014. ISBN: 978-0802824936, Pub. Price $60.00 [500 pp. assigned].
Elliger, K. and W. Rudolph. Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. Hendrickson, 2006. Compact edition: ISBN: 978-1598561630, Pub. Price $69.95.
Keck, Leander E., Robert Doran, Carol A. Newsom, J. Clinton McCann. New Interpreter’s Bible:1&2 Maccabees, Introduction to Hebrew Poetry, Job, Psalms. Volume 4. Abingdon Press, 1996. ISBN: 978-0687278176, Pub. Price $75.99. Available online via the library under “Ministry Matters.”
RECOMMENDED READING:
BibleWorks9 software, which includes the following components: an exhaustive Hebrew concordance, the text of the Hebrew Bible, Brown, F. with S.R. Driver & C.A. Briggs. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew English Lexicon. Hendrickson, 1997. Gesenius, W., E.F. Kautzsch, et al. Gesenius’ Hebrew Grammar. Dover Publications, 2006. OR Joüon, P. - T. Muraoka. A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew, Parts 1, 2, & 3. Biblical Institute Press, 2006. Koehler, L. and W. Baumgartner. Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. 2 Volumes. Brill, 2002. BibleWorks is priced at $359, or $259 with group discount; see www.bibleworks.com/IPP/. Currently the HALOT module is $159, the standard Greek lexicon (BDAG) is $150, and both together are $212.
Brown, William P., ed., The Oxford Handbook on the Psalms. Oxford University Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-0199783335, Pub. Price $142.00.
Macintosh, A.A., C.L. Engle. The T&T Clark Hebrew Primer. Bloomsbury, 2014. ISBN: 978-0567456571, Pub. Price $20.99.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
500 pp. of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, & 3]. [35 hours].
Completion of four, 4-page interpretive assignments (10% each, 40% total). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2, 3, & 4]. [45 hours total, including 5 hours of DLAs].
Presentation of one interpretive assignment to the class (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 3, 4, & 5]. [5 hours].
A term paper (12 pp.) investigating a selected text (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2, 3, 4, & 5]. [30 hours].
Final Exam covering readings and lectures (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, & 5]. [10 hours].
PREREQUISITES: LG500, LG502, or LG502A/B or passing grade on a waiver exam; BI500; OT500.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the Biblical Language Exegesis requirement in the 120MDiv program. Meets the OTBE or OTCE in the 144 MDiv Program.
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes, take home.