Summer 2005/Pasadena
Five-week Intensive: July 25-August 26
OT501
Goldingay
OT501: PENTATEUCH. John Goldingay.
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.
RELEVANCE FOR 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.
COURSE FORMAT:
- The course meets twice weekly for four-hour sessions for five
weeks. Classes require specific reading of the biblical text and other
preparation, on average a further four 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.
REQUIRED READING:
- NRSV Bible.
- Alexander, T. D. and D. W. Baker, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament:
Pentateuch. InterVarsity Press, 2002.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- 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.
Winner, L. F. Mudhouse
Sabbath. Brewster, MA: Paraclete, 2003.
- Wright, C. J. H. Deuteronomy. Hendrickson/Paternoster,
1996.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- (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).
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATION TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Old Testament "a"
(OTA).
FINAL EXAMINATION:
- Only for students who miss a class (see [2] under Assignments). The
mark is then combined with that for the files of preparation notes.