Fall 2007/Pasadena
OT801A/588
Butler
OT801A/B/OT588: CRITICAL APPROACHES TO THE OLD TESTAMENT. James T. Butler.
DESCRIPTION: This seminar is intended primarily for PhD and ThM students (who
will register for both Fall and Winter sections, OT801A and OT801B), and is
open to a very limited number of MDiv and MA students (OT588 in Fall only). It
is designed to provide an overview of critical methodologies used in scholarly
interpretation of the Old Testament. Primary attention will be given to
diachronic methods that make appeal to the historical and social location in
which texts were produced, investigating questions concerning text, literary
sources, genres, tradition history, and redaction. We will also address
synchronic approaches to texts as well as reader-oriented approaches. For each
method addressed, we will assess briefly its historical development, a
classical example of its application, its contributions, and proposals for
change in the light of ongoing developments in the field.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this seminar will have demonstrated (1)
an understanding of the development, terminology, and fundamental procedures of
a variety of critical approaches to Old Testament interpretation; (2) an
ability to apply these approaches with appropriate sample texts; and (3) an
ability to discern the contributions and limitations of each approach within a
versatile, coherent, and honest interpretive method.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: An introduction to methodology is fundamental to all
academic work, providing an orientation to the history of one's discipline as
well as to the language and problems of its current discourse. Pastoral
ministry will be deepened in its appreciation for and critical use of scholarly
resources from a sympathetic introduction to the questions that drive
scholarship and the methods that have resulted.
COURSE FORMAT: This seminar will meet once a week, for eleven weeks, in
three-hour sessions including both presentations and discussions.
REQUIRED READING:
- Habel, Norman. Literary Criticism of the Old Testament.
Fortress, 1971.
- Haynes, Stephen R., and Steven L. McKenzie, eds. To Each Its Own
Meaning: An Introduction to Biblical Criticisms and their Applications.
Rev. ed. Westminster John Knox, 1999.
- Knight, Douglas A., et al. Methods of Biblical Interpretation.
Abingdon, 2004.
- McCarter, P. Kyle, Jr. Textual Criticism: Recovering the Text of the
Hebrew Bible. Fortress, 1986.
- Rast, Walter E. Tradition History and the Old Testament. Fortress,
1972.
- Tucker, Gene M. Form Criticism of the Old Testament. Fortress,
1971.
- Course reader, emphasizing both classic essays contributing to the
development of diachronic models (Wellhausen, Gunkel, von Rad, Noth) and more
recent offerings representing synchronic and reader-oriented
approaches.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Alter, Robert. The Art of Biblical Narrative. Basic Books,
1981.
- Gunn, David M., and Danna Nolan Fewell. Narrative in the Hebrew
Bible. Oxford, 1993.
- Knight, D.A. and G.M. Tucker, eds. The Hebrew Bible and Its Modern
Interpreters. Scholars Press, 1985.
- Ska, Jean-Louis. Introduction to Reading the Pentateuch.
Eisenbrauns, 2006.
- Tov, Emanuel. Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible. 2nd rev. ed.
Fortress, 2001.
ASSIGNMENTS: Significant weekly preparation and participation is a required
part of this seminar. For MA/MDiv students, the grade will be based upon the
following components: (1) two short presentations, including outlines prepared
for class distribution (35%); (2) a term paper (18-20 pages) applying and
assessing one method (45%); (3) weekly preparation and participation (20%).
- [The OT801 course syllabus presented at the first session will
specify the assignments to be submitted by CATS students, their weighting, and
their distribution across Fall and Winter sections (A/B).]
PREREQUISITES: MA/MDiv students: OTA and either OTB or OTC, & written
permission of the instructor.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
FINAL EXAMINATION: No.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (7/07)