Spring 2016/Pasadena
OT500
Lee
OT500: OLD TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 Units: 160 hours). Kyong-Jin Lee.
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: 1050 pages approximately.
Genesis; Exodus; Deuteronomy; 2 Samuel; Job; Psalms 42-106; Isaiah 1-14, 40-53, 63-66; Jeremiah 1-36; Daniel. NRSV, TNIV or CEB [250 pp.].
Childs, Brevard S. Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture. Reprint ed. Augsburg Fortress, 2011. ISBN: 978-0800698331, Pub. Price $39.00 [200 pp.].
Coogan, Michael D. A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament. Oxford University Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0199830114, Pub. Price $64.95 [400 pp.].
Reading material posted on Moodle [200 pp. approximately]. See the following sampling:
Goldingay, John. “The Stories in Daniel: A Narrative Politics.” Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 37 (1987): 99-116.
Levin, Christoph. "The 'Word of Yahweh': A Theological Concept in the Book of Jeremiah." In Prophets, Prophecy, and Prophetic Texts in Second Temple Judaism, ed. M. H. Floyd and R. D. Haak. New York: T & T Clark, 2006. 42-62.
Meyers, Carol. “The Problem of Patriarchy.” In Discovering Eve: Ancient Israelite Women in Context. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. 24-46.
Niditch,Susan and Robert Doran. “Success Story of the Wise Courtier: A Formal Approach.”Journal of Biblical Literature 96 (1977): 179-193.
Sneed, Mark. “Israelite Concern for the Alien, Orphan, and Widow: Altruism or Ideology?” Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 111 (1999): 498-507.
Waters, Larry J. “Reflections on Suffering from the Book of Job.” Bibliotheca sacra154 (1997): 436-451.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
Completion of weekly assigned reading material (approximately 100 pages per week). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-3.] [Approximately 65 hours].
Attendance and participation. Regular contribution of answers, comments, and reflections on the instructor and other participants’ questions and comments (20%).
Midterm exam (20%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1-4]. [15 hours].
A final exegesis paper that requires a focused discussion on a specific theme, motif, and/or issue relevant to the biblical passage of the student’s selection (2500-3000 words). (30%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 2-5]. [25 hours preparation and writing].
Final examination (30%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1-4]. [15 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: None.