Spring 2004/Pasadena
OT504
Butler
OT504: WRITINGS. James T. Butler.
DESCRIPTION:
- A study of the English text of the third portion of the Hebrew
scriptures, which includes the Psalms, the Wisdom literature (Job, Proverbs,
and Ecclesiastes), the Festival books (Ruth, Song of Songs, Lamentations, and
Esther), the apocalyptic book of Daniel, and the historical books of
Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Attention will be given to surveying the
content of this varied literature, to discerning its different literary forms,
and to reflecting upon its distinctive theological contributions. Exegesis of
representative passages.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- Students completing this course will have demonstrated:
- a basic competence in exegetical and hermeneutical skills;
- an overview of this portion of the Hebrew canon and of the introductory
issues pertaining to each portion of it;
- an awareness of the variety of contemporary perspectives which may inform a
Christian reading of this literature;
- a grasp of several theological issues which characterize the later period
of Israel's history: worship; wisdom and its diversity; competing
understandings of the future hope.
COURSE FORMAT:
- The course will meet twice weekly, two hours per session. Class
sessions will be devoted to a combination of lecture presentations and
structured class discussions.
REQUIRED READING:
- LaSor, W. S.; Hubbard, D. A.; and Bush, F. W. Old Testament
Survey. Second ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996.
- Anderson, B. W. Out of the Depths. Third ed. Louisville: Westminster
John Knox, 2000.
- Murphy, Roland E. The Tree of Life: An Exploration of Biblical Wisdom
Literature, Third ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002.
- Readings from course syllabus.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Collins, John J. The Apocalyptic Imagination: an Introduction to
Jewish Apocalyptic Literature. Second edition. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1998.
- Gottwald, Norman K. The Hebrew Bible: A Socio-Literary Introduction.
Philadelphia: Fortress, 1985.
- Gutiérrez, Gustavo. On Job: God-Talk and the Suffering of the
Innocent. Maryknoll: Orbis, 1987.
- Sakenfeld, Katharine Doob. Just Wives?: Stories of Power and Survival in
the Old Testament and Today. Louisville: Westminster/JohnKnox, 2003.
- Supplemental bibliography will be distributed with the syllabus.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- A paper consisting of two parts:
a.a 5-6 page exegetical treatment of a
selected passage;
b.a 5-6 page exposition of a related theological
issue.
Materials for preparing this assignment will be provided on
reserve.
- A brief midterm examination.
- A final examination.
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets M. Div. core requirement in Old Testament
"c" (OTC).
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.