DESCRIPTION:

The course studies the origin and historical value of Genesis to Deuteronomy; the different blocks of "law" and the principles they embody; the books as a narrative with a plot, characters, and themes; and their significance for Christian faith, life, and ministry.

By the end of the course students should have

• gained familiarity with these books of the Bible with their foundational significance for an understanding of the gospel, of the commitment of the people of God, and of what it means to be human;

• considered questions raised by a recognition that these books are God's word and by the application of critical methods to them, in the context of current ferment over the origin of the Pentateuch;

• developed skills in the interpretation of Old Testament narrative; and

• considered how to relate Old Testament "law" to doctrinal, pastoral, and moral questions in church and world.

The course meets twice weekly for four hours, for five weeks. Classes require specific reading of the biblical text and other preparation, on average a further eight hours per week. The classroom time then combines lectures, work in groups of four or five, and plenary discussion. The course is thus not primarily lecture-based; it emphasizes collaborative learning and students need to be willing to be committed to working together with other students.

NRSV Bible.

Alexander, T. D. and D. W. Baker, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch. InterVarsity Press, 2002.

Course Reader, which students should obtain before the course starts.

Brueggemann, W. Genesis. Knox, 1982.

Frankel, E. The Five Books of Miriam: A Woman's Commentary on the Torah. Harper, 1996.

Fretheim, T. Exodus. Knox, 1991.

Goldingay, J. After Eating the Apricot. Paternoster, 1996.

_________. Old Testament Theology, Volume One. InterVarsity Press, 2003.

Hartley, J. E. Leviticus. Word, 1992.

Miles, J. God: A Biography. Knopf/Simon Schuster, 1995.

Olson, D. T. Numbers. Knox, 1996.

Wright, C. J. H. Deuteronomy. Hendrickson/Paternoster, 1996.

(1) Preparation for classes, with submission of preparation notes at each class (one-half of final grade). (2) Attendance at classes. Students who miss the first or last class forfeit 5% of their grade. Students who miss a class other than the first or last take a final exam based on further reading detailed in the course reader. (3) Two 10-page papers, or by negotiation one 20-page paper (one-half of final grade).

Only for students who miss a class (see [2] under Assignments). The mark is then combined with that for the files of preparation notes.