OT526
Goldingay
OT526: PSALMS. John Goldingay.
DESCRIPTION:
- A study of the Book of Psalms with particular reference to a
cross-section of Psalms: 6, 30, 42, 51, 72, 88, 89, 95, 100, 104, and 139. The
whole of each psalm will be studied, but about ten verses each week will be
designated for study in Hebrew.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- By the end of the course students should have 1) gained insight
into a range of approaches to the study of the Psalms which can enable the
Psalms to illumine and develop our relationship with God as the church and as
individuals; and 2) discovered the value of studying the Psalms in Hebrew and
been inspired to continue using Hebrew in the study of the Old
Testament.
COURSE FORMAT:
- The course meets for two ninety-minute blocks each week. The first
block will consider general approaches to different types of psalms and will
look at the psalm for the week as a whole. The second will focus on its Hebrew
text.
REQUIRED READING:
- Brown, F., S. R. Driver, and C. A. Briggs. A Hebrew and English
Lexicon of the Old Testament. London/New York: Oxford University Press,
1953. [or one of the more recent multi-volume lexica]
- Elliger, K. and W. Rudolph. Biblia hebraica stuttgartensia.
Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1976.
- Martin, J. D. Davidson's Introductory Hebrew Grammar. Edinburgh:
Clark, 1993. [or another modern Hebrew grammar]
- Williams, R. J. Hebrew Syntax. Toronto/Buffalo/London: University of
Toronto, 1967; 2nd ed., 1976. [or another Hebrew syntax]
- Würthwein, E. The Text of the Old Testament.. London: SCM,
1979. [or another introduction to textual criticism]
RECOMMENDED READING:
- There are more helpful works on the Psalms than can be listed here.
An annotated list will be issued to students and they will be expected to
sample these during the course (see below).
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Each week students will be expected to study about ten verses of a
psalm in Hebrew, to consider its translation in three English translations, to
identify textual and exegetical issues it raises, and to see what illumination
on these is gained from two recommended commentaries. At the end of the course
they will be expected to submit a file of preparatory notes, annotated as they
wish in the light of lectures and discussion. They will be expected to submit a
15-page paper reflecting on what they have learned from the course as a whole.
And they will be expected to submit a 10-page exegetical study of a passage
from a psalm other than those studied in class.
PREREQUISITES:
- LG502.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
- Meets M. Div. core requirement in Old Testament "c" (OTCE).
FINAL EXAMINATION:
- No.