Fall 2015/Pasadena

OT500

Anderson

OT500: OLD TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 Units: 160 hours). Craig Evan Anderson.

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 class meets twice weekly for two hour sessions for a total of 40 instructional hours in the classroom for lecture and discussion.

REQUIRED READING: 1,125 total number of pages required

Genesis; Exodus; Deuteronomy; 2 Samuel; Job; Psalms 42-106; Isaiah 1-14, 40-53, 63-66; Jeremiah 1-36; Daniel (NRSV, TNIV, or CEB) [400 pp. assigned].

Brettler, Marc Zvi. How to Read the Bible. Jewish Publication Society, 2005. ISBN: 978-0827607750, Pub. Price $40.00 [284 pp.].

Hays, Christopher B. Hidden Riches: A Sourcebook for the Comparative Study of the Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near East. Westminster John Knox Press, 20014. ISBN: 978-0664237011, Pub. Price $45.00 [200 pp. assigned].

Sweeney, Marvin A. Reading the Hebrew Bible after the Shoah: Engaging Holocaust Theology. Fortress, 2008. ISBN: 978-0800638498, Pub. Price $29.00 [241 pp.].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Brenner, Athalya and Gale A. Yee (eds.). Exodus and Deuteronomy: Texts & Contexts. Fortress, 2012. ISBN: 978-0800698942, Pub. Price $40.00.

Brueggemann, Walter. Genesis. Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. John Knox, 2010. ISBN: 978-0664234379, Pub. Price $30.00.

Brueggemann, Walter. The Message of the Psalms: a Theological Commentary. Augsburg, 1985. ISBN: 978-0806621203, Pub. Price $19.00.

Fretheim, Terence E. Exodus. Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. John Knox, 2010. ISBN: 978-0664236199, Pub. Price $30.00.

Goldingay, John. The Theology of the Book of Isaiah. IVP Academic, 2014. ISBN: 978-0830840397, Pub. Price $18.00.

Gowan, Donald E. Theology of the Prophetic Books: the Death and Resurrection of Israel. Westminster John Knox, 1998. ISBN: 978-0664256890, Pub. Price $30.00.

Gutiérrez, Gustavo. On Job: God-talk and the Suffering of the Innocent. Orbis, 1987. ISBN: 978-0883445525, Pub. Price $24.00.

McKenzie, Steven L. and Stephen R. Haynes. To Each Its Own Meaning: an Introduction to Biblical Criticisms and Their Application. Westminster John Knox, 1999. ISBN: 978-0664257842, Pub. Price $32.00.

Sarna, Nahum M. Exploring Exodus: the Origins of Biblical Israel. Schocken Books, 1996. ISBN: 978-0805210637, Pub. Price $16.95.

Schniedewind, William M. How the Bible Became a Book. Cambridge University Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-0521536226, Pub. Price $29.99.

Sweeney, Marvin A. The Prophetic Literature. Interpreting Biblical Texts. Abingdon, 2005. ISBN: 978-0687008445, Pub. Price $23.99.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 1,125 pages of readings from the Bible, ancient Near Eastern texts, and secondary materials. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5]. [75 hours].

2. Midterm exam on lectures and readings of weeks 1-5: Genesis; Exodus; Deuteronomy; Brettler, pp. 1-116; Hayes, pp. 1-200 (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-3]. [5 hours].

3. Final exam on lectures and readings of weeks 6-10: 2 Samuel; Job; Psalms 42-106; Isaiah 1-14, 40-53, 63-66; Jeremiah 1-36; Daniel; Brettler, pp. 117-284; Sweeney, pp. 1-241 (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 3-4]. [5 hours].

4. Midterm research paper: reading the OT according to its ANE context [1000-1500 words] (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-3, 5]. [12.5 hours].

5. Final research paper: how the OT addresses the problem of suffering [2000-2500 words] (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5]. [22.5 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets a core requirement in the 120 MDiv, 80 MAT, 80 MATM, and 80 MAICS Programs (Fall 2015). 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.