DESCRIPTION: The third part of the Hebrew canon of the Old Testament will be
studied by way of introduction and selected readings from the New Revised
Standard Version of the Bible. Historical, theological, literary and canonical
perspectives will be considered in order to elucidate the meaning of these
books.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course will enable students (1) to know better this
crucial part of the Old Testament, (2) to understand its literary features and
(3) the historical and/or cultural situations in which it was written, and (4)
to develop ability in interpreting the Bible.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: While the preacher brings God's Word to the people,
the seminary teacher has the prior task of bringing ministerial students to the
Bible, in which the revelation of the being and will of God is anchored in
ancient history and literature and culture. From this study in the Old
Testament will emerge its recurring agenda of human need or perplexity and
divine response, and also issues of spirituality as God's people or individual
servants wrestled with problems of living and either found or resisted divine
grace.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet twice weekly for two-hour sessions of
lecture and discussion.
REQUIRED READING: