Summer 2007/Pasadema
Five-week Intensive: July 23-August 24
OT504
Smoak

OT504: WRITINGS. Jeremy D. Smoak.


DESCRIPTION: This course is an overview of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, including the Psalms, the Wisdom literature (Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes), the Festival books (Ruth, Song of Songs, Lamentations, and Esther), the book of Daniel, and the historical books of Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. The course will emphasize the theological, historical, and social background of these biblical texts as well as how they relate to the other two sections of the Hebrew Bible (Pentateuch and Prophets).

LEARNING OUTCOMES: By the end of the quarter students should be able to


RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: The Writings section of the Hebrew canon forms a rich and diverse testimony to the interaction between God and His people during the biblical period, especially the later period of Israel's history. This Writings provide a rich mosaic of insights into the life and faith of the ancient Israelite and early Jewish communities, such as their worship practices, intellectual traditions, and their interactions with surrounding cultures. As a result, this section of the canon offers the modern church important theological perspectives on the relationship between God's Word and His community.

COURSE FORMAT: This course will meet twice weekly for four-hour sessions. Class sessions will be devoted to a combination of lecture presentation and structured class discussions.

REQUIRED READING:
Writings section of the Hebrew canon in an English version of the student's choice.

Brueggemann, Walter. The Psalms and the Life of Faith. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1995.

Brown, William P. Character in Crisis: A Fresh Approach to the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996.

Course Reader.

Other books on reserve in the library.

RECOMMENDED READING:
Gutiérrez, Gustavo. On Job: God-Talk and the Suffering of the Innocent. Maryknoll: Orbis, 1987.

Sakenfeld, K. D. Just Wives? Stories of Power and Survival in the Old Testament and Today. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2003.

ASSIGNMENTS: The evaluation for this course will be determined by the following: weekly attendance and participation in class sessions (10%), a midterm (30%), a final exam (30%), and an exegetical paper (30%).

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Old Testament "C" (OTC).

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.