Summer 2010/Pasadena
Two-week Intensive: June 21-July 2
OT500
P. Scalise
OT500: WRITINGS AS INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT. Pamela Scalise.
DESCRIPTION: The course introduces study of the Old Testament as the Word of
God, a work of literature, a work emerging out of Israel's history, and a work
that needs to be studied critically to grasp its significance. It focuses on
the third section of the Jewish canon, the Writings: Psalms, Job, Proverbs, the
Scrolls (Ruth, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Lamentations, and Esther), Daniel,
Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The course seeks to induct students into
the study of the Old Testament in a way that will excite them with its
significance and inform and motivate them for further study in seminary, in
their lives, and in their ministry.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who successfully complete the course will have
shown that they (1) have grasped the outline of Israel's history as portrayed
in Old and New Testaments and in light of modern study; (2) understand the
nature and process of the Old Testament's composition, especially as
illustrated by Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Daniel; (3) understand the nature
of worship, prayer and wisdom as illustrated by the Writings and its
relationship with ancient Near Eastern equivalents; (4) know how to interpret
Old Testament narrative, as illustrated by the Writings; (5) have looked at
aspects of the Writings from angles other than those of the male, white,
Western world; (6) have reflected on the significance of the Writings for
Christian theology, mission, and discipleship.
COURSE FORMAT: The course meets daily for four-hour sessions for two weeks.
Classes combine lecture and plenary discussion, with some dramatized reading
and group projects.
REQUIRED READING:
- The biblical books Ruth, 1-2 Chronicles, Lamentations, Psalms,
Daniel, Esther, Ezra-Nehemiah, Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs,
in NRSV or TNIV.
- Anderson, Bernhard W. Out of the Depths. 3rd rev. and expanded ed.
Westminster John Knox, 2000. 0-664-25832-8.
- Brown, William P. Character in Crisis. Eerdmans, 1996.
0-8028-4135-X.
- Lapsley, Jacqueline. Whispering the Word, Hearing Women's Stories in the
OT. Westminster John Knox, 2005. (Pp 1-19, 89-108) 0-664-22435-0.
- Throntveit, Mark. Ezra-Nehemiah. Interpretation. Westminster John
Knox, 1992. 978-0-8042-3111-4. (or iPreach database).
- Seow, C. L. Daniel. Westminster Bible Companion. Westminster John
Knox, 2003. 0-664-25675-9.
- Articles and chapters by authors such as Leslie Allen, Julie Chu, Cheryl T.
Gilkes, Madipoane Masenya, and Itumeleng Mosala (available in full-text
databases through the Fuller Library).
RECOMMENDED READING: The list of recommended readings will be available in the
syllabus.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
- Reading in preparation for class and participation in class activities
(20%). For the first day of class, read the book of Ruth and J. Chu,
"Returning Home: The Inspiration of the Role Redifferentiation in the Book of
Ruth for Taiwanese Women," in Semeia 78, 1997. (Available online through
the Fuller library in the ATLA full-text database.) Every day submit a list of
the reading you have completed and a question or comment about what you have
learned from the reading.
- A paper that includes researched interpretation and theological exposition
of a Psalm (2500-3000 words) (30%). Due August 2, 2010.
- A midterm exam (1500 words; take-home, open book) (25%). Due June 28,
2010.
- A final exam (1500 words; take-home, open book) (25%). Due July 16,
2010.
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Old Testament "c"
(OTC) and Seminary Core Requirement (SCR) for MATM, MAICS, MAFS, MACL
(effective Winter 2010).
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (Posted April 21, 2010)