OT570
Andersen
OT570: JOB AND HUMAN SUFFERING. Francis Andersen.
DESCRIPTION:
- The book of Job will be examined critically from the twin
perspectives of its meaning in its ancient context and its continuing
significance for the modern community of faith. Lectures will address larger
thematic and structural issues, and will explore parallels with other ancient
Near Eastern representatives of theodicy literature. Time will be given to
discussion of examples of the use of Job in traditional spirituality and its
application to situations requiring pastoral care.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- Students completing this course will have demonstrated: (1) a sound
grasp of the book of Job and a consistent and sound interpretation of its
message; (2) an ability to relate Job to the wisdom literature of the Old
Testament, and to appreciate the distinctive contributions of this literature
to biblical theology and to culture in general; and (3) an ability to
articulate responses to the theological challenges posed by suffering, and to
reflect on the lessons that Job affords for ministry to a suffering
world.
COURSE FORMAT:
- This course will meet twice weekly, two hours per session. One
session will be devoted to general and introductory issues; the other will be
spent in exploring the appropriate use of insights gained from relating Job to
real life situations requiring the use of biblical strategies for pastoral
care.
REQUIRED READING:
- Janzen, J. Gerald. Job. Interpretation: A Bible Commentary
for Teaching and Preaching. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1985.
- Each student will be asked to select two of the major
commentaries listed in the class reading list, one traditional or devotional,
one critical, and to be responsible for contributing to class discussion from
those authors' treatment of the issue or passage being studied in that
session.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Background reading will be issued at the beginning of the
quarter.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Weekly preparation of reflections on chosen issues for class discussion.
- A case study (15-20 pp.) of a crisis known from the student's own
experience in which insights gained from the book of Job might be used to bring
care to some suffering person.
- An essay (15-20 pp.) on the book of Job in relation to one of the
following areas of Job studies:
- A. Job as against the background of ancient Near
Eastern theodicy literature.
- B. Job in relation to the entire corpus of biblical wisdom literature.
- C. Job in relation to philosophical treatments of the problem of evil.
- D. Does the vast range of different readings of the book of Job mean that
it has no available meaning?
- E. The use of the book of Job in the care of suffering
persons.
PREREQUISITES:
- None. PLEASE NOTE: OT 570 and OT 528 are different versions
(elective and core) of the same course, meeting together one day and separately
the other days. Only one of the two classes may be taken.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
- Elective.
FINAL EXAMINATION:
- No.