Summer 2017/Pasadena

OT500

Hayes

OT500: OLD TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 Units: 160 hours). Elizabeth Hayes.

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 is a hybrid+ course, meaning that it is a ten-week course with nine weeks of online instruction and one week of classroom instruction during week six of the quarter. The week of classroom instruction will include four hours daily of lecture and discussion, as well as additional lunch meetings and evening sessions (required in hybrid+ courses). Classroom and online instruction will include lecture and discussion for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: 1,050 pp. of required reading.

Genesis; Exodus; Deuteronomy; 2 Samuel; Job; Psalms 42-106; Isaiah 1-14, 40-53, 63-66; Jeremiah 1-36; Daniel (NRSV, TNIV, or CEB) [375 pp. assigned]

Anderson, Bernhard W. Out of the Depths. 3rd revised & expanded ed. Westminster John Knox, 2000. ISBN: 978-0664258320, Pub. Price $30.00. [16 pp. assigned] (e-book available).

Coogan, Michael D. A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament. 3rd ed. Oxford University Press, 2015. ISBN: 978-0190238599, Pub. Price $65.95 [400 pp. assigned].

Available as e-books

Berlin, Adele, ‘Introduction to Hebrew Poetry’ in NIB, vol IV. Abingdon, 1996. E-book via ‘Ministry Matters’. ISBN 978-0687278176, Pub. Price $74.95 (14 pp. assigned]

McCann, J. Clinton, ‘Psalms—Introduction’ in NIB, vol IV. Abingdon, 1996. E-book via ‘Ministry Matters’. ISBN 978-0687278176, Pub. Price $74.95 (36 pp. assigned]

Ska, Jean Louis. Introduction to Reading the Pentateuch. Eisenbrauns, 2006. ISBN: 978-1575061221, Pub. Price $34.95 [40 pp. assigned].

From eReserves (276 pp.)

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

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].

Articles and chapters by Julie Chu, C. T. Gilkes, Madipoane Masenya, Itumeleng Mosala, Jean Louis Ska, Bernhard Anderson and Bob Yoder. (100 pp.)

Lectures and other resources available on the course page.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Alexander, T. Desmond. From Paradise to the Promised Land: An Introduction to the Main Themes of the Pentateuch. Paternoster, 1995. ISBN: 978-0801039980, Pub. Price $29.99.

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

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

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

Broyles, Craig C. Interpreting the Old Testament: A Guide for Exegesis. Baker Academic, 2001. ISBN: 978-0801022715, Pub. Price $28.00

Lapsley, Jacqueline. Whispering the Word, Hearing Women’s Stories in the OT. Westminster John Knox, 2005. ISBN: 978-0664224356, Pub. Price $25.00.

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

Mann, Thomas W. The Book of the Torah: The Narrative Integrity of the Pentateuch. John Knox Press, 1988. ISBN: 978-0804200851, Pub. Price $30.00.

Seow, C. L. Daniel (Westminster Bible Companion). Westminster John Knox, 2003. ISBN: 978-0664256753, Pub. Price $25.00.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. In-class activities, including lectures, small group activities, visual presentations, and other shared media activities [20 hours]

2. 1050 pages of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcome 1-6] [70 hours].

3. 250-word bi-weekly forum posts (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-4] [10 hours].

4. 250-word bi-weekly replies (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 1-4] [10 hours].

5. Completion of two projects: 1) timeline (assigned) and 2) learner-centered choice of either: a) 750 word reflection essay on the student’s chosen psalm, or b) creative expression that incorporates the student’s chosen psalm (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 3-6]. [15 hours].

6. An interpretive essay that examines an Old Testament text [2,500-3,500 words] (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 2-6]. [35 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.