DESCRIPTION:

This seminar, intended primarily for PhD and ThM students, is open to a limited number of students at the masters level. Its primary goal is to develop understanding and use of various methodological approaches to Old Testament texts. Among the approaches that the seminar will include are: canon, form-, historical-, ideological-, literary-, redaction, and text-criticism.

The seminar enables students to use critical approaches in their research, writing, and other academic work, and to recognize and distinguish the methods when employed in commentaries and other modern publications. Such skills enable informed evaluation of the use of exegetical results as the basis of theological and hermeneutical reflections.

Alter, Robert. The Art of Biblical Narrative. Basic Books, 1981.

Habel, Norman. Literary Criticism of the Old Testament. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1971.

Kille, D. Andrews. Psychological Biblical Criticism. Fortress, 2001.

Knight, Douglas A. (foreword). Methods of Biblical Interpretation. Abingdon, 2004.

McCarter, P. Kyle, Jr. Text Criticism: Recovering the Text of the Hebrew Bible. GBS. Fortress, 1986.

McKenzie, Steven. L. and Stephen R. Haynes, eds. To Each Its Own Meaning: An Introduction to Biblical Criticism and their Application. Rev. ed. Westminster/John Knox, 1999.

Sanders, James A. Canon and Community: A Guide to Canonical Criticism. GBS. Fortress, 1984.

Schottroff, Luise, Silvia Schroer, and Marie-Theres Wacker. Feminist Interpretation: The Bible in Women's Perspective. Fortress, 1998.

Steck, Odil Hannes. Old Testament Exegesis: A Guide to Methodology. 2d ed. Scholars Press, 1998.

Trible, Phyllis. Rhetorical Criticism. Fortress, 1994.

Tucker, Gene M. Form Criticism of the Old Testament. Fortress, 1971.

Tucker, Gene M., David L. Petersen, and Robert R. Wilson, eds. Canon, Theology, and Old Testament Interpretation. Fortress, 1988.

Various books and articles on library reserve.

Gottwald, Norman K. The Hebrew Bible: A Socio-Literary Introduction. Fortress, 1985.

Kitzberger, Ingrid Rosa, ed. Autobiographical Biblical Criticism: Between Text and Self. Leiden: Deo Publishing, 2002.

Knight, Douglas A. and Gene M. Tucker, eds. The Hebrew Bible and its Modern Interpreters. Chico, CA. Scholars Press, 1985.

Rast, Walter E. Tradition History and the Old Testament. Fortress, 1972.

Tov, Emanuel. Text Criticism of the Hebrew Bible. Fortress, 1992.

Weekly preparation is a required part of this seminar. For all students, the final grade will be based on attendance and participation, and a term paper. (a) For masters students the a term paper is 15-20 pages. (b) For doctoral students the term paper is 25-30 pages due according to the terms specified in the CATS program. Weekly preparation and participation include leading the discussion at one of the class sessions.