Fall 2008/Pasadena
OT504
Butler
OT504: WRITINGS. James T. Butler.
DESCRIPTION: A study of the English text of the third portion of the Hebrew
scriptures, which includes the Psalms, the Wisdom literature (Job, Proverbs,
and Ecclesiastes), the Festival books (Ruth, Song of Songs, Lamentations, and
Esther), the apocalyptic book of Daniel, and the historical books of
Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated
- a basic competence in exegetical and hermeneutical skills;
- an overview of this portion of the Hebrew canon and of the introductory
issues pertaining to each portion of it;
- an awareness of the variety of contemporary perspectives which may inform a
Christian reading of this literature;
- a grasp of several theological issues which characterize the later period
of Israel's history: the dynamics of worship; wisdom and its diversity;
competing understandings of the future hope.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Special attention will be given to models offered in
this portion of the canon for addressing a variety of issues: the dynamics of
lament and praise in worship; the formation of character in community; the
interplay of religious particularism and cultural openness; the faithful
imaging of the horizon of our hope; and questions about the goodness of God.
COURSE FORMAT: The course will meet twice weekly, two hours per session. Class
sessions will be devoted to a combination of lecture presentations and
structured class discussions.
REQUIRED READING:
- Gutiérrez, Gustavo. On Job: God-Talk and the Suffering of
the Innocent. Maryknoll: Orbis, 1987.
- Sakenfeld, Katharine Doob. Just Wives? Stories of Power and Survival in
the Old Testament and Today. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2003.
- Course reader.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Anderson, B. W. Out of the Depths. Third ed. Louisville:
Westminster John Knox, 2000.
- Brueggemann, Walter. The Psalms and the Life of Faith. Minneapolis:
Fortress, 1995.
- Billman, Kathleen, and Daniel Migliore. Rachel's Cry: Prayer of Lament
and Rebirth of Hope. Cleveland: United Church Press, 1999.
- Brown, William P. Character in Crisis: A Fresh Approach to the Wisdom
Literature of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996.
- Collins, John J. The Apocalyptic Imagination: An Introduction to Jewish
Apocalyptic Literature. Second ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.
- Murphy, Roland E. The Tree of Life: An Exploration of Biblical Wisdom
Literature. Third ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002.
- Supplemental bibliography will be distributed with the syllabus.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- A paper consisting of two parts:
a.a 5-6 page exegetical treatment of a
selected passage;
b.a 5-6 page exposition of a related theological
issue.
Materials for preparing this assignment will be provided on reserve
(40%).
- A brief midterm examination (20%).
- A small group project involving the construction of a thematic "wiki" for
the class (10%).
- A final examination (30%).
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Old Testament "c"
(OTC).
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (7/08)