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).

1. 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.

2. A paper that includes researched interpretation and theological exposition of a Psalm (2500-3000 words) (30%). Due August 2, 2010.

3. A midterm exam (1500 words; take-home, open book) (25%). Due June 28, 2010.

4. A final exam (1500 words; take-home, open book) (25%). Due July 16, 2010.