Fall 2005/Pasadena
OT801/588
Jacobs
OT801/588: CRITICAL APPROACHES TO THE OLD TESTAMENT. Mignon R. Jacobs.
DESCRIPTION: This seminar is intended for PhD and ThM students and is open to a
limited number of masters level students. 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.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: 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.
COURSE FORMAT: This seminar will meet once weekly in a three-hour session for
discussions (including the week of final exams).
REQUIRED READING:
- Alter, Robert. The Art of Biblical Narrative. Basic Books,
1981.
- Habel, Norman. Literary Criticism of the Old Testament. 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.
- Other books and articles on library reserve.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Gottwald, Norman K. The Hebrew Bible: A Socio-Literary
Introduction. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1985.
- Kitzberger, I.R., ed. Autobiographical Biblical Criticism: Between Text
and Self. Deo Publishing, 2002.
- Knight, D.A. and G.M. Tucker, eds. The Hebrew Bible and Its Modern
Interpreters. Scholars Press, 1985.
- Rast, Walter E. Tradition History and the Old Testament.
Minneapolis: Fortress, 1972.
- Tov, Emanuel. Text Criticism of the Hebrew Bible. Minneapolis:
Fortress, 1992.
ASSIGNMENTS: Weekly preparation is a required part of this seminar. For all
students, the final grade will be based on the weekly preparation (35%),
attendance and participation (20%), and a term paper (45%). (a) For masters
students a term paper is 18-20 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 presenting and leading at one
class discussion.
*Reading of P. Kyle McCarter Jr., Text Criticism,
by the first class meeting is strongly encouraged.
PREREQUISITES: For master's level students: OTA, OTB, OTC, and written
permission of the instructor.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.