Summer 2016/Pasadena

OT500

McCrory

OT500: OLD TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 Units: 160 hours). Jeff McCrory.

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 daily for 3 hours as a two-week intensive for a total of 27 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion and 13 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: 1,200 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); Ancient Near Eastern Texts Packet [450 pp.].

Arnold, Bill T. Introduction to the Old Testament. Cambridge University Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-0521705479, Pub. Price $54.99 [400 pp.].

Available on Moodle Page e-reserves [350 pp.]:

Brueggemann, Walter “Doxology at the Edge of Ideology: The King of Majesty and Mercy,” pp. 55-87 in his Israel’s Praise. Doxology Against Idolatry and Ideology (Fortress Press, 1988).

Carvalho, Corrine L. “Finding a Treasure Map: Sacred Space in the Old Testament,” pp. 123-150 in Carol M. Bechtel, ed., Touching the Altar. The Old Testament for Christian Worship (Eerdmans, 2008).

Hayes, Elizabeth R. “Justice and Righteousness,” pp. 466-72 in Mark J. Boda and J. Gordon McConville, ed., Dictionary of the Old Testament: Prophets (IVP, 2012).

Lim, Bo H. “Isaiah, History of Interpretation,” pp. 378-91 in Mark J. Boda and J. Gordon McConville, ed., Dictionary of the Old Testament: Prophets (IVP, 2012).

Lucas, Ernest C. “Cosmology,” pp. 130-39 in T. Desmond Alexander and David W. Baker, ed., Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch (IVP, 2003).

Madigan, Kevin J. and Jon D. Levenson, “The Great Awakening,” pp. 171-200 in Resurrection. The Power of God for Christians and Jews (Yale University Press, 2008).

Miller, Patrick D. “’That It May Go Well with You’ The Commandments and the Common Good,” pp. 136-163 in The Way of the Lord. Essays in Old Testament Theology (Eerdmans, 2007).

Reid, Stephen Breck. “Patriotism and Loyalty: The Foundation of a Quest for Black Liberation,” pp. 53-81 in Experience and Tradition. A Primer in Black Biblical Hermeneutics (Abingdon, 1990).

Waters, Larry J. “Reflections on Suffering from the Book of Job.” Bibliotheca Sacra 154 (1997): 436-451.

Wilfong, Marsha. “Human Creation in Canonical Context: Genesis 1:26-31 and Beyond,” pp. 42-52 in William P. Brown, S. Dean McBride Jr., ed., God Who Creates. Essays in Honor of W. Sibley Towner (Eerdmans, 2000).

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.

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

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 1,200 pages of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-5]. [70 hours].

2. Completion of two 5-page essays on readings (10% each). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3-5]. [20 hours, includes 13 hours of Directed Learning Activities to which the essays are related].

3. Interpretive Assignment: A 2,500-word interpretation paper that examines a chosen psalm (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 2-5]. [23 hours].

4. A take-home final exam covering readings and lecture (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-5]. [20 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, take home.