PROSPECTUS
HEBI 95970: Special Topics in Hebrew Bible: The Septuagint - Critical Issues and Select Translations
Three Semester Hours
Instructor: Sandoval
Prerequisites: Admission to the Advanced Programs (ThM; PhD) at Brite Divinity School or Permission of the Instructor; two or more semesters of both ancient Greek and Hebrew.
Description of Content: This is an introductory course on the Greek translations of Hebrew Bible books and other texts (“the Septuagint”) that served as scripture for the early church. In addition to the translation of short texts Greek texts (in comparison with the Hebrew), and the reading and introductory study of longer LXX books in translation, the course will address to different degrees, such topics as: the tools for the study of the Greek Old Testament, translation methodologies, the use of the Greek translations for textual criticism, the translations as reception history, questions of canon (including notions of apocrypha, deutero-canon, and pseudepigrapha), the use of the Septuagint in the New Testament.
Class Procedures: Brief presentations by instructor, short student presentations and responses, postings and responses to others’ postings on TCU Online, and especially discussion of readings.
Requirements: 1. Attendance and informed participation in class Zoom sessions and in TCU Online forums 2. Extensive weekly reading 3. Occasional weekly written assignments to be posted to TCU Online (2-3 pages each) 4. Two book reviews of required texts; to be posted on TCU Online and discussed by class 5. One in-class presentation/leadership of discussion on assigned text/topic 6. A Final Research Paper (10-12 pages)
Texts: Bible; any translation, with Apocyrpha; E.g.: NRSV or New English Translation of the Septuagint (NETS; also available free online: http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/nets/edition/)
Timothy Michael Law, When God Spoke Greek: The Septuagint and the Making of the Christian Bible (2013). ISBN: 9780199781720. $33.95
Revised 09/26/16
--this book is also available as an Ebook via TCU library
Brennan W. Breed, Nomadic Text: A Theory of Biblical Reception History (2014). ISBN: 9780253012524. $60.00 --this book is also available as an Ebook via TCU library
DeSilva, David. Introducing the Apocrypha: Message, Context, and Significance 2nd Edition. ISBN 9780801097416. $43.00 --this book should be available as an Ebook via TCU library
Recommended: Emanuel Tov, The Text-Critical Use of the Septuagint in Biblical Research (3rd ed.; 2015) --likely only the introduction of this work, which will be provided by the instructor, will be required.
Other articles/essays/book chapters as assigned and made available by the instructor.
Grading Procedures: Class Participation and Leadership: 20% Occasional written assignments and translations 25% In class presentations 15% Final Research Paper: 40%
All prospectuses must be submitted as Word documents in electronic form to Kim Starkey at [email protected].
Revised 09/26/16