Fall 2019/ Pasadena

OT588

Crouch

OT588: EMBODIED INTERPRETATION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT (4 Units: 160 hours). Carly L. Crouch.

DESCRIPTION: This course is an advanced seminar exploring the way that attention to ancient and modern embodiment impinges on interpretation of the Old Testament. It will cover a range of issues in Old Testament interpretation, including textuality, transmission and translation; social scientific and psychological approaches; feminist, womanist and other minoritized criticisms; theological interpretation and the interpretation of the Old Testament through the arts.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who pass the course will have demonstrated that they have (1) attained familiarity with the variety of current scholarly approaches to the Old Testament; (2) demonstrated an awareness of when and why these different approaches are employed; (3) gained an ability to interpret Old Testament texts in keeping with such methods; and (4) become familiar with the contemporary voices whose work has influenced Old Testament interpretation.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course will address the content and interpretation of the OT/NT in its historical and contemporary context, which is consistent with the SOT PLO “Students will have demonstrated competence in the practice of biblical interpretation for faithful use of Scripture in their own lives and ministries” (MDiv, MAT, MATM).

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three-hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours. Class sessions will involve intensive discussion of issues in the scholarly interpretation of the Old Testament as well as student presentations.

REQUIRED READING: 1,065 total pages required.

NRSV, TNIV, or CEB Bible [200 pp. assigned]

Bailey, R., Tat-siong Benny Liew, and Fernando F. Segovia, eds. They Were All Together in One Place? Toward Minority Biblical Criticism. Atlanta: SBL, 2009. ISBN: 9781589832459. Pub. price $45.95. Available as an e-book. [165 pp. assigned]

Course reader [700 pp.; including work by Marcella Althaus-Reid, John Barton, Robert Carroll, Steed Davidson, Gilberto da Silva Gorgulho, Nyasha Junior, Burke Long, Vanessa Lovelace, Stephen Reid, Timothy Sandoval, Fernando F. Segovia, Mitzi Smith, Chloe Sun, Emmanuel Tov, Renita Weems, et al]

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. 1,065 pages of required reading (Pass/Fail) [71 hours]. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4]
  2. Informed understanding and critique of the reading, as demonstrated by attendance at and participation in class discussion (Pass/Fail) [30 hours]. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4]
  3. Nine short reflection papers [1 page / 250 words] (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-4]. [9 hours].
  4. Two 2,000 word (20 minute) presentations to the class (20% each, 40% in total). [This assignment relates to learning outcomes #1-4]. [20 hours]
  5. One 4,000-5,000 word /16-20 page research paper, written in light of the assigned reading and the classes (50%). [This assignment relates to learning outcomes #1-4] [30 hours]

PREREQUISITES: BI500 (or NE502) and OT500.

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

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change. Copyright 2019 Fuller Theological Seminary.