Summer 2015/Pasadena

OT500

Smoak

OT500: OLD TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 Units: 160 hours). Jeremy D. Smoak.

DESCRIPTION: This course orients students to the literature of the Old Testament in its various literary, historical, and theological contexts and to Old Testament interpretation in service of Christian practice. The books of Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, 2 Samuel, Job, Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel will be the focus of study.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who successfully complete this course will have demonstrated that they: (1) have a basic grasp of the contents of Israel’s Scriptures, history, and geography; (2) can use interpretive approaches that explore both the literary features of the Old Testament and the historical and cultural contexts in which it came into being; (3) can assess hermeneutical issues arising from the diverse contexts of contemporary readers; (4) can relate the Old Testament as Scripture to Christian theology, mission, and discipleship; and (5) have used this knowledge and these abilities to interpret some key Old Testament texts.

COURSE FORMAT: This course meets twice weekly for four-hour sessions for five weeks for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: [1,000 pages]

Genesis; Exodus; Deuteronomy; 2 Samuel; Job; Psalms 42-106; Isaiah 1-14, 40-53, 63-66; Jeremiah 1-36; Daniel, (NRSV, TNIV, or CEB); Selections from Enuma Elish and Atrahasis, and The Babylonian Theodicy [400 pp.].

Coogan, Michael D. A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament. 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0199830114, Pub. Price $64.95 (The 2008/2009 edition is also fine.) [400 pp. assigned].

On eReserves [200 pages]:

Brueggemann, Walter. “The Costly Loss of Lament.” Journal for the Study of the OT 36 (1986), 57–71.

Brenner, Athalya, Archie Chi-chung Lee, and Gale A. Yee, eds. Genesis: Texts and Context. Augsburg Fortress, 2010. ISBN: 978-0800659998, Pub. Price $40.00 [50 pp. assigned].

Chia, Philip.“On Naming the Subject: Postcolonial Reading of Daniel 1.” In R. S. Sugirtharajah (ed.). The Postcolonial Biblical Reader. Blackwell, 2006. ISBN: 978-1405133500, Pub. Price $48.95 [pp. 171-85, Daniel].

Kepnes, Steven. “Job and Post-Holocaust Theology”. In T. Linafelt (ed.), Strange Fire. New York University Press, 2000. ISBN: 978-0814751664, Pub. Price $25.00 [pp. 252-66, Job].

Dalley, Stephanie. Myths from Mesopotamia: Creation, the Flood, Gilgamesh, and Others. Oxford University Press, 1998. ISBN: 978-0199538362, Pub. Price $13.95 [20 pp. assigned].

Kugel, James. “The Trials of Abraham.” The Bible As It Was (Belknap Press, 2001), 163–178.

Levenson, Jon D. selections from The Death and Resurrection of the Beloved Son (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1993), 3–18, 61–68, 125–142.

Miller, Patrick. “The Most Important Word: The Yoke of the Kingdom.” Iliff Review 41 (1984), 17–29.

Moran, William. “The Ancient Near Eastern Background of the Love of God in Deuteronomy,” Catholic Biblical Quarterly 25 (1963), 77–87.

Murrell, Nathaniel Samuel. “Tuning Hebrew Psalms to Reggae Rhythms.” Cross Currents 50, (2000-1), [pp. 525-40, Psalms].

Trible, Phyllis. Texts of Terror: Literary-Feminist Readings of Biblical Narratives. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1984. [pp. 9–29].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Alexander, T. D., and D. W. Baker, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch. InterVarsity Press, 2002. ISBN: 978-0830817818, Pub. Price $60.00.

Arnold, B. T., and H. G. M. Williamson, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books. InterVarsity Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-0830817825, Pub. Price $60.00.

Boda, Mark J., and J. Gordon McConville, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Prophets. InterVarsity Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-0830817849, Pub Price $60.00.

Ebeling, Jennie R. Women’s Lives in Biblical Times. Clark, 2010. ISBN: 978-0567196446, Pub. Price $32.95.

King, Philip J. and Lawrence E. Stager. Life in Biblical Israel. Westminster John Knox Press, 2001. ISBN: 978-0664221485, Pub. Price $50.00.

Longman, Tremper, and Peter Enns (ed.). Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings. Downers Grove, InterVarsity Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0830817832, Pub. Price $60.00.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Before each class, preparation of assigned readings (1,000 pages) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-5] [60 hours].

2. Class lectures and discussion [40 hours].

3. Midterm Exam on Genesis, Exodus, and Deuteronomy [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-2] (20% of final grade) [10 hours].

4. Two close reading assignments on selected biblical texts, 4-pages each (30%; 15% each) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-4] [15 hours].

5. Exegetical Paper (10–12 pages) (30%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-5] [25 hours].

6. Final Exam (20%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1 & 2] [10 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets a core requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. Meets the OTC requirement in the 144 MDiv. Option to meet requirement in the MAT Program (Winter 2010) and a core requirement for the MATM, MAICS, and MACL Programs (Winter 2010).

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.