Spring 2020/Pasadena

OT527

Crouch

OT527: OLD TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: AMOS, HEBREW TEXT (4 Units: 160 hours). Carly L. Crouch.

DESCRIPTION: This course is study of the Book of Amos, reading the book section by section and studying it in more detail with the aid of commentaries and other secondary literature. Significant time will be devoted to the translation and careful exegetical examination of the Hebrew text of representative passages. It considers major themes and motifs that run through the book, including ethical concerns, matters of worship, and Israel's relationship with other nations. It will also consider the historical context that prompted the book's particular theological concerns and its relationship to other prophetic literature.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated the ability (1) to interpretAmoswithin its socio-historical, literary, and canonical contexts; (2) to identify central issues in the critical study of Amos; (3) to articulate primary theological and ethical concerns of Amos; (4) to use Hebrew based language tools for interpreting the text;(5) to recognize hermeneutical issues arising from the diverse contexts of contemporary readers;and (6) to interpret this text for faithful use of Scripture in their own lives and ministries.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: Through focused study of a particular biblical book or topic, students acquire deeper mastery of the interpretation of the Bible, taking into account its ancient and contemporary contexts, which is consistent with the SOT PLO “Students will have demonstrated competence in the practice of biblical interpretation for faithful use of Scripture in their own lives and ministries”(MDiv, MAT, MATM).

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.

REQUIRED READING: 975 pp. total

NRSV or CEB Bible [8 pp. assigned]

Access to the following resources is required:

Elliger, K. and W. Rudolph.Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia.Hendrickson, 2006. Compact edition: ISBN: 978-1598561630, Pub. Price $49.95.

Koehler, L. and W. Baumgartner.Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. 2 Volumes.Brill, 2002. ISBN: 978-9004124455, Pub. Price $323.00.

Joüon, P. - T. Muraoka.AGrammar of Biblical Hebrew. 2nd ed. Gregorian & Biblical Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-8876536298, Pub. Price $82.00.ORGesenius, W., E.F. Kautzsch, et al.Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar. Dover Publications, 2006. ISBN: 978-0486443447, Pub. Price $26.95.

An exhaustive Hebrew concordance.

The preceding are available at a discount in Accordance Bible software. Contact the professor for information on purchasing at Fuller's group rate.

Erickson, Amy. 'Amos'. Pages 312-318 in Women's Bible Commentary: Revised and Updated, edited by Carol A. Newsom, Sharon H. Ringe, and Jacqueline E. Lapsley. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2012. ISBN 978-0664237073, Pub. Price $55.00. Available as an e-book. [6 pp. assigned.]

Robertson, Cleotha. 'Amos'. Pages 172-179 in The Africana Bible: Reading Israel's Scriptures from Africa and the African Diaspora, edited by Hugh R. Page, Jr. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2010. ISBN 978-0800621254, Pub. Price $49.00. [7 pp. assigned]

Course reader [950 pp., including commentators such as Daniel Bitrus, M. Daniel Carroll R., Jeremy Hutton, Sara Milstein, Lai Ling Elizabeth Ngan, Emmanuel Nwaoru, Brent Strawn, Nili Wazana]. These materials will be available via e-Reserves or the Fuller library catalogue.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Students are advised to make use of major text-critical commentaries in the preparation of the Hebrew text. The following are particularly recommended:

Andersen, Francis I., and David Noel Freedman. Amos: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Bible 24A. New York: Doubleday, 1989. ISBN: 978-0385007736, Pub. price $85.00. Not currently available as an e-book.

Paul, Shalom M. Amos: A Commentary on the Book of Amos. Hermeneia. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1991. ISBN: 978-0800660234, Pub. price $65.00. Available as an e-book.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Attendance and participation in class (Pass/Fail) [This assignment relates to learning outcomes 1-6.] [30 hours].
2. 975 pages of assigned readings (Pass/Fail) [This assignment relates to learning outcomes 1-6.] [65 hours]
3. Two 1,500- to 2,000-word studies of a text of about three to seven verses, chosen with the agreement of the professor (60% total; 30% each) [This assignment relates to learning outcomes 1-6.] [35 hours].
4. One 2,500- to 3,000-word research paper on an issue in the study of Amos, written in light of the assigned reading and the classes (40%) [This assignment relates to learning outcomes 1-6] [30 hours].

PREREQUISITES: LG500, LG502, or LG502A/B or passing grade on a waiver exam; BI500 or NE502; OT500 or OT501 or OT502.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the Biblical Language Exegesis requirement in the 120 MDiv program. Meets the OTBE or OTCE in the 144 MDiv Program.

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. Copyright 2019 Fuller Theological Seminary.