Spring 2007/Pasadena
OT570
Butler
OT570: JOB AND HUMAN SUFFERING. James T. Butler.
DESCRIPTION: The book of Job will be examined critically from the twin
perspectives of its meaning in its ancient context and its continuing
significance for the modern community of faith. Lectures will alternate between
close exegetical treatment of selected passages of Job and surveys of larger
thematic and structural issues, including the place of Job within the contexts
of Israelite and ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature. Significant time will
be given to discussion of the implications of Job for the theological
reflection and praxis of the church: how is suffering consistent with our
confessions about God, how can we learn from the suffering of others, and how
can we minister faithfully to those who suffer?
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated (1)
a sound grasp of the book of Job and a consistent, exegetically sound
interpretation of its message; (2) an ability to relate Job to the wisdom
literature of the Old Testament and to appreciate the distinctive contributions
of this literature to biblical theology; and (3) an ability to articulate
responses to the theological challenges posed by suffering; (4) an increased
awareness of the way that diverse communities experience and interpret
suffering.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Job offers crucial lessons for ministry to a suffering
world: the limits of our theological systems in the face of unexplained
suffering; the need for humility and self-scrutiny in our efforts to help those
who suffer; the need to recognize and to advocate for those who suffer in our
midst and "outside the gate," in the very diverse social and cultural settings
of our world.
COURSE FORMAT: This course will meet once each week for three-and-a-half-hour
sessions; each week will include both lecture and structured discussions.
REQUIRED READING:
- English text of Job.
- One of the following two commentaries:
- Hartley, J.E. The Book of Job. NICOT. Grand
Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988. OR
- Balentine, Samuel E. Job. Macon, GA: Smyth and Helwys,
2006.
- Gutiérrez, Gustavo. On Job: God-Talk and the Suffering of
the Innocent. Maryknoll: Orbis, 1987.
- MacLeish, A. J.B. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1958.
- A published personal narrative or reflection on suffering and its
theological implications (a list of suggestions will be provided in
class).
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Billman, Kathleen D., and Daniel L. Migiore. Rachel's Cry:
Prayer of Lament and Rebirth of Hope. Cleveland: United Church Press,
1999.
- Hall, Douglas John. God and Human Suffering: An Exercise in the Theology
of the Cross. Augsburg, 1986.
- Lewis, C. S. A Grief Observed. Harper & Row, [1961].
- Murphy, Roland E. The Tree of Life: An Exploration of Biblical Wisdom
Literature. Eerdmans, 2002.
- Sittser, Gerald L. A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows through
Loss. Zondervan, [1996].
- Soelle, Dorothee. Suffering. Fortress, 1975.
- Yancey, Philip. Where is God When It Hurts? Rev. ed. Zondervan, 1997
(reissue).
- _________. Disappointment with God: Three Questions No One Asks
Aloud. Zondervan, 1988.
ASSIGNMENTS: The requirements will fall into three areas: (1) Weekly
preparation for exegetical and theological discussions. (2) The writing of a
paper (approximately 12-15 pages) relating the interpretation of Job to some
facet of human suffering. (3) The use of lecture notes and syllabus readings to
develop answers to study questions from which the final examination will be
drawn.
PREREQUISITES: None. PLEASE NOTE: OT507 Job (Hebrew exegesis, MDiv core) and
OT570 (English elective) are different versions of the same course, meeting
together one day and separately the other days. Only one of the two classes may
be taken.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.