Winter 2016/Pasadena

OT527

Butler

OT527: OLD TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: JEREMIAH, Hebrew Text (4 Units: 160 hours). James T. Butler

DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to provide an overview of the historical context and the theological issues of the book of Jeremiah as well as an opportunity for translation and careful exegetical examination of representative passages. Lectures will treat the historical background of the prophet’s ministry, the themes of his message and the literary forms of their expression, and the shaping of the Jeremianic corpus in the exilic period. Attention will be given to the development of exegetical skills.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated the ability (1) to interpret Jeremiah within its socio-historical, literary, and canonical contexts; (2) to identify central issues in the critical study of Jeremiah; (3) to articulate primary theological and ethical concerns of Jeremiah; (4) to use Hebrew based language tools for interpreting the text; and (5) to interpret this text for faithful use of Scripture in their own lives and ministries.

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:

English text of Jeremiah (in NRSV, TNIV, or CEB) [52 pp.].

Fretheim, Terence E. Jeremiah. Smyth and Helwys, 2002. ISBN: 978-1573120722, Pub. Price $65.00 [approx. 300 pp. assigned].

Readings from John Bright, Martin Luther King, Jr., Julia O’Brien, Kathleen O’Connor, Louis Stulman and others will be on e-reserve.

BibleWorks 9 software, which includes the following components: an exhaustive Hebrew concordance, the text of the Hebrew Bible, Brown, F. with S.R. Driver & C.A. Briggs. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew English Lexicon. Hendrickson, 1996. Gesenius, W., E.F. Kautzsch, et al. Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar. Dover Publications, 2006. OR Joüon, P. - T. Muraoka. A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew, Parts 1, 2 & 3. Biblical Institute Press, 2006. Koehler, L. and W. Baumgartner. Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. 2 Volumes. Brill, 2002. BibleWorks is priced at $359, or $259 with group discount; see www.bibleworks.com/IPP/. Currently the HALOT module is $159, the standard Greek lexicon (BDAG) is $150, and both together are $212.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Allen, Leslie C. Jeremiah: A Commentary. Westminster/John Knox, 2008. ISBN: 978-0664222239, Pub. Price $65.00.

Jensen, Joseph. Ethical Dimensions of the Prophets. Michael Glazier, 2006. ISBN: 978-0814659830, Pub. Price $24.95.

Kessler, Martin (ed.). Reading the Book of Jeremiah: A Search for Coherence. Eisenbrauns, 2004. ISBN: 978-1575060989, Pub. Price $39.50.

Miller, Patrick D. “Jeremiah.” In The New Interpreter’s Bible, vol. 6: Isaiah-Ezekiel. Abingdon, 2001. ISBN: 978-0687278190, Pub. Price $74.00 [available full-text in library database].

Newsome, James D., Jr. The Hebrew Prophets. John Knox, 1984. ISBN: 978-0804201131, Pub. Price $30.00.

O’Brien, Julia M. Challenging Prophetic Metaphor: Theology and Ideology in the Prophets. Westminster/John Knox, 2008. ISBN: 978-0664229641, Pub. Price $27.00.

O’Connor, Kathleen M. Jeremiah: Pain and Promise. Fortress, 2011. ISBN: 978-0800699307, Pub. Price $42.00.

Stulman, Louis. Jeremiah. Abingdon, 2005. ISBN: 978-0687057962, Pub. Price $43.00 [available full-text in library database].

Stulman, Louis, and Hyun Chul Paul Kim. You Are My People: An Introduction to Prophetic Literature. Abingdon, 2010. ISBN: 978-0687465651, Pub. Price $25.00.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 500 pages of required reading. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-3, 5]. [30 hours].

2. Weekly submission of notes for translation and exegetical sessions (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #4-5]. [40 hours].

3. Three 5-page essays (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-3,5]. [20 hours].

4. An exegetical essay on one of a selection of assigned texts [2,500-3,500 words] (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5]. [30 hours].

PREREQUISITES: LG500, LG502, or LG502A/B or passing grade on a waiver exam; BI500 or NE502; OT500 or OT501 or OT502.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the Biblical Language Exegesis requirement in the 120 MDiv program. Meets the OTBE or OTCE in the 144 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.