Summer 2017/Pasadena
OT500
Kelle
OT500: OLD TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION (4 units: 160 hours). Brad Kelle.
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 as a two-week intensive for four-hour sessions for a total of 36 hours in the classroom for lecture and discussion plus 4 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.
REQUIRED READING: 981 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].
Hays, Christopher B. Hidden Riches: A Sourcebook for the Comparative Study of the Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East. Westminster John Knox, 2014. ISBN: 978-0664237011, Pub. Price $45.00[150 pp. assigned]
Goldingay, John. An Introduction to the Old Testament: Exploring Text, Approaches and Issues. IVP Academic, 2015. ISBN: 978-0830840908, Pub. Price $45.00 [250 pp. assigned].
Newsom, Carol A., Sharon H. Ringe, and Jacqueline E. Lapsley, eds. Women’s Bible Commentary. 3rd ed. Westminster John Knox, 2012. ISBN: 978-0664237073, Pub. Price $50.00 [120 pp. assigned] (students must use 3rd edition).
On eReserves [61 pages]:
Chia, Philip.“On Naming the Subject: Postcolonial Reading of Daniel 1.” In R. S. Sugirtharajah (ed.). The Postcolonial Biblical Reader. Wiley-Blackwell, 2006. ISBN: 978-1405133500, Pub. Price $52.95 [pp. 171-85, Daniel].
Kelle, Brad E. “An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Exile.” In Interpreting Exile: Displacement and Deportation in Biblical and Modern Contexts. Edited by Brad E. Kelle, Frank Ritchel Ames, and Jacob L. Wright. Society of Biblical Literature Ancient Israel and Its Literature 10. Society of Biblical Literature Press, 2011. ISBN: 9781589836044, Pub. Price $57.95 [pp. 5-38]
Kepnes, Steven. “Job and Post-Holocaust Theology”. In T. Linafelt (ed.), Strange Fire. New York University Press, 2000. ISBN: 978-0814751664, Pub. Price $27.00 [pp. 252-66, Job].
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.
Moore, Megan Bishop and Brad E. Kelle. Biblical History and Israel’s Past: The Changing Study of the Bible and History. Eerdmans, 2011. ISBN: 978-0802862600, Pub. Price $46.00.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
Attendance, Class Preparation, and Reading: 981 pages of preparatory reading of required materials. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5] [102 hours= 36 hours class + 66 hours for reading].
Moodle “Reading Notebook” Postings: In order to assess the student’s engagement with the basic content discussed in the biblical and textbook readings and to extend the course’s engagement beyond the class meetings, each student will use Moodle to respond to 2 sets of questions during the 2-week intensive. The questions are provided in the syllabus and each student should post a 50-100 words-in-length response to each of the questions. The “Reading Notebook” questions call for brief responses to specific inquiries dealing with basic content covered in the readings. Both sets of responses should be submitted through Moodle. The first set is DUE by Friday July 7, 2017 at 8pm. The second set is DUE by Friday July 14, 2017 at 8pm. (35%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, and 3] [12 hours].
Celebration of Learning (a.k.a. Quiz): On Monday July 10, 2017, the students will take a quiz during the class session. (10%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, and 5] [5 hours].
Response Essay to Assigned Article from e-Reserves. Students will write a 3-5 pages essay responding to the e-Reserve article by Kepnis (instructions will be provided in class). (15%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #3 and 4] [10 hours]
Final Interpretive Paper on a Selected Biblical Passage [this is the “interpretive assignment” that serves as the signature assignment for the course]: ca. 12 pages; instructions provided in class. (40%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2, 3, 4, and 5]. [31 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.