Summer 2019/Houston & Pasadena

OT517

Dearman

OT517: OLD TESTAMENT BOOK STUDY: Jeremiah (4 Units: 160 hours). J. Andrew Dearman.

DESCRIPTION: The course involves reading Jeremiah section by section and studying in more detail a chapter or two from each section with the aid of secondary resources. It considers major themes and motifs that run through the book, the nature of the book’s unity, and its place in the canon of Scripture.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated that they (1)have readthe bookcarefully and are familiar with its contents and themes;(2) can interpret passages within it in their own right and in their socio-historical, literary, and canonical contexts; (3) have identified central issues in the critical study of it; (4) can articulate its primary theological and ethical concerns; (5) can use English-based tools for interpreting it;(6) can recognize hermeneutical issues arising from the diverse contexts of contemporary readers;and (7) can interpret it faithfully and creatively in the context of their congregation, of the contemporary world and of their own lives.

COURSE FORMAT: The class meets daily for three hour sessions during a two-week period for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion; it also involves ten hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: 935 pages in total require.

NRSV, TNIV or CEB translation of the Bible. “Jeremiah” [85 pp.].

Allen, Leslie C., Jeremiah: A Commentary (OTL; Westminster John Knox, 2008). ISBN: 978-0664222239; $70.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [650 pp. assigned].

eReserves: [200 pp. assigned].

Brueggemann, Walter, “Prophets and Historymakers,” pp. 189-198 in his Like Fire in the Bones. Listening for the Prophetic Word in Jeremiah (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2006).

Dearman, J. Andrew, “Jeremiah: History of Interpretation,” pp. 441-449 in Dictionary of Old Testament: Prophets (IVP, 2012), edited, Mark Boda and J. Gordon McConville.

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

King, Martin L., “The Significant Contributions of Jeremiah to Religious Thought,” pp. 1-15 (1948); The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project.

Miller, Patrick D., “Trouble and Woe: Interpreting the Biblical Laments,” Interpretation 37 (1983) pp. 32-45.

Moller, Julie C., “Salvation, Deliverance,” Pp. 692-700 in Dictionary of Old Testament: Prophets (IVP, 2012), edited, Mark Boda and J. Gordon McConville.

Moyise, Stephen, “Intertextuality and the Study of the Old Testament in the New Testament,” pp. 14 - 27, in S. Moyise, ed., The Old Testament in the New Testament. Essays in Honour of J. L. Houston (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 2000).

Rata, T. “Covenant,” Pp. 99-105 in Dictionary of Old Testament: Prophets (IVP, 2012), edited, Mark Boda and J. Gordon McConville.

Parker, T. C., “Marriage and Divorce,” Pp. 533-37 in Dictionary of Old Testament: Prophets (IVP, 2012), edited, Mark Boda and J. Gordon McConville.

Scalise, Pamala J., "Scrolling through Jeremiah: written documents as a reader's guide to the book of Jeremiah," Review & Expositor 101 no 2 (Spring 2004): 201-225.

Von Rad, Gerhard “The Confessions of Jeremiah,” Pp. 88-99 in Theodicy in the Old Testament (Fortress Press, 1983), edited James L. Crenshaw.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

A 2,000-word study of a text of about ten to thirty verses, chosen with the agreement of the professor (30%). This assignment relates to learning outcomes 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.] [25 hours].
Assigned readings in the Bible and secondary literature (935 pages) for ten weeks (Pass-fail) [This assignment relates to learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, and 4.] [65 hours].
Class presentation on a passage or topic in Jeremiah, made in conjunction with one or more peers in the class (30%). [This assignment relates to learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, and 4.] [15 hours, includes 10 hours of directed learning activities].
Weekly class attendance and participation (10%) [This assignment relates to learning outcomes 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.] [30 hours].
One further 2000-word study of a chosen text of about ten to thirty verses, chosen with the agreement of the professor (30%) [This assignment relates to learning outcomes 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.] [25 hours]. This signature assignment is due end of term.

PREREQUISITES: BI500 or NE502; OT500 or OT501 or OT502.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Counts as a biblical elective for the 120 MDiv, 80 MAT, and 80 MATM Programs (Fall 2015). Meets the OTBK requirement for the MAT Program (Winter 2010).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.