Summer 2007/Pasadena
Five-week Intensive: July 23-August 24
OT507
Ingram

OT507: OLD TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: ECCLESIASTES. Doug Ingram.


DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to explore the book of Ecclesiastes in detail, while giving a brief introduction to the Old Testament wisdom literature. A number of representative passages from Ecclesiastes will be studied in depth to give students the opportunity for translation and careful exegesis. Lectures will treat the wisdom literature in general, as well as giving an orientation to the books of Job and Proverbs in particular, as a context for closer discussion of topics pertaining to Ecclesiastes (introductory issues; themes, trends and structure; history of interpretation; reading strategies; Ecclesiastes and postmodernity; Ecclesiastes and education.) Attention will be given to the development of exegetical skills.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated: (1) a fundamental knowledge of the Old Testament wisdom literature; (2) an acquaintance with the books of Job and Proverbs; (3) a sound knowledge of the overall shape of Ecclesiastes and its literary forms and thematic content; (4) an ability to reflect upon and evaluate the theological issues raised by the book of Ecclesiastes and to discern their implications for Christian faith and practice; (5) an enhanced competence in basic Hebrew, as well as in exegetical and hermeneutical skills; (6) an appreciation of different approaches to reading biblical texts and how such approaches may help readers to work out what texts "mean" and what they "do"; (7) an appreciation of how Ecclesiastes relates to issues in life and education in postmodern society.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: The Old Testament wisdom literature in general and the book of Ecclesiastes address questions of meaning in life and the challenges of such things as undeserved suffering, unfair distribution of resources, work, wealth, poverty, and the seeming absence of God. In addition, the course will help students think about different ways of engaging with Scripture, both for themselves and as they minister to others.

COURSE FORMAT: The course will meet twice weekly, four hours per session, for five weeks. After the first meeting, Hebrew translation will be required for each session.

REQUIRED READING:

Brown, Francis, S. R. Driver, and C. A. Briggs, eds. A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford University Press; Hendrickson, 1996.

Elliger, K. and W. Rudolph, eds. Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1990.

Ingram, Doug. Ecclesiastes: A Peculiarly Postmodern Piece. Grove Books, 2004.

Murphy, Roland. Ecclesiastes. (Word Biblical Commentary.) Word Books, 1992.
See the Biblical Division bibliography "Linguistic and Exegetical Books Required in the Master of Divinity Program" available in the SOT Academic Advising office.

RECOMMENDED READING:
Crenshaw, James L. Ecclesiastes. Westminster Press, 1987.

_________. Old Testament Wisdom: An Introduction. Westminster John Knox Press, 1998

Ogden, Graham. Qoheleth. JSOT Press, 1987.

ASSIGNMENTS: The requirements will fall into three areas:
  1. Weekly preparation for translation and exegetical discussions (20%).

  2. The use of lecture notes and syllabus readings to develop answers to study questions which will be the basis of a midterm examination (Monday August 13; 30%).

  3. The writing of an exegetical paper (12-15 pages; due Friday September 7; 50%).

PREREQUISITES: LG502.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Old Testament "c" (OTCE).

FINAL EXAMINATION: No.