Spring 2010/Pasadena
OT856/556
Goldingay
OT856/556: OLD TESTAMENT HERMENEUTICS SEMINAR. John Goldingay.
DESCRIPTION: This is a CATS doctoral seminar on Old Testament hermeneutics. Up
to three master's level students may be admitted, with the professor's
permission (OT556).
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The course considers approaches to the
interpretation of the Old Testament.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: By the end of the course students should have
- considered a variety of approaches to Old Testament hermeneutics and formed
a view on more helpful and less helpful approaches;
- reflected on approaches to the relationship between Old Testament faith and
New Testament faith and formed a view on more appropriate and less appropriate
approaches;
- applied these approaches to specific Old Testament texts.
COURSE FORMAT: The course meets weekly for three-hour classes. Professor
Goldingay will give presentations at the opening and closing classes. Classes
in between will work through the required reading and include discussion of
different approaches to hermeneutics and to the relationship between the
Testaments. Each week the class will look at a specific Old Testament text.
REQUIRED READING:
- Collin, John J. The Bible after Babel. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 2005.
- Perdue, Leo G. Reconstructing Old Testament Theology. Minneapolis:
Fortress, 2005.
- Thiselton, A. C. Hermeneutics: An Introduction. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 2009.
- Before the first class students need to download the Syllabus and
Course Notes, which will be available online
at http://www.fuller.edu/sot/faculty/goldingay during Finals Week in the quarter
before the course runs.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Gadamer, H. G. Truth and Method. New York: Crossroad,
1982.
- Miranda, J. P. Marx and the Bible. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 1974.
- Ricoeur, P. Essays on Biblical Interpretation. Philadelphia:
Fortress, 1980.
- Sugirtharajah, R. Voices from the Margin. 2nd ed. Maryknoll, NY:
Orbis, 1995.
- Trible, P. Texts of Terror. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1984.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
- Weekly notes on assigned readings in the Bible (pass/fail).
- Weekly readings in secondary literature (pass/fail), on which 800-level
students write two 2,000-word papers and 500-level students may write three
2000-word papers.
- Research/reflection paper. 500-level students may write a 6,000 word-paper
as an alternative to the three 2000-word papers. 800-level students write a
10,000-word paper as well as the two 2000-word papers.
- For 500-level students, the grade comes from the three 2000-word
papers or the 6000-word paper. For 800-level students, the grade comes from the
two 2000-word papers (25%) and the 6000-word paper (75%)
PREREQUISITES: 500-level students must have completed (a) OT 501, (b) OT 502
or OT 504, (c) an MDiv course in philosophy (or, in each case, equivalent
study), and have permission of the professor.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (Posted January 2010)