Westminster Christian School Summer 2016 Mr. Reed The Bible as Literature
Syllabus Summer 2016
I. Class Overview
The Bible is a story. Actually it claims to be “the Story”. It begins in a
garden and ends in a garden. The middle flows around one main character,
Jesus. But this larger Story is made up of smaller stories, told in different
ways by different people, and yet all pointing to the larger narrative.
This class has been developed to teach students how better to read these
stories as literature in order that they might understand the Story more
fully.
Much of your time will be spent reading secondary sources. Some of the
required articles are pretty easy. Others are a little more difficult. They
may (and should) stretch you. But, if you are taking this as an independent
study, my expectation is that you will be willing to work diligently toward
understanding.
II. Course Goals
A. To identify the various genre (literary forms) in the Bible and to learn
how to read and study each appropriately.
B. To learn to appreciate the “story-telling” within the biblical text
C. To study sample passages in the Bible that represent many of the
1 The Bible as Literature 2016-2017 genres that have been identified
D. To learn to “find” Jesus within the larger Story of the Bible
III. Class Texts
A. Several assigned readings
B. One novel of the student’s choice
C. The Bible
IV. Class Work
Since this is an online course the student may work at his or her own pace.
Students should expect to spend about 60 hours completing the entire
course, though some students may take a longer time and others less.
The course will consist of the following elements:
•Reading 14 articles
•Writing 14 one-two page responses or completing assigned
worksheets
•Reading a novel that deals with a biblical theme and/or characters
and writing a 2-3 page summary of the book
•Completing an “open-book” Final
Reading articles (Approximately 16 hours)
These articles will be scanned and provided to students after they
register for the course. Students are expected to read each article
closely enough that they understand the main points being made. (You
may have to rotate some of the articles after you download them.)
2 The Bible as Literature 2016-2017 Writing one page responses or worksheets (Approximately 26 hours)
Upon completion of each article students should either write a
response to the article or complete the worksheet for that particular
reading. The Class Schedule will clarify what is required for each
article.
Reading a novel (Approximately 12 hours)
Since this is a class about the Bible as literature, each student will be
asked to read a novel that retells one or more of the stories from the
Bible or that deals with a theme that appears regularly within the
biblical story and write a 2-3 page summary about it. Students may
choose their book from the list below or they may choose one of their
own that I approve. The following list has been provided by the school
librarian, Rebecca McRae.
Bible fiction:
•Lineage of Grace series by Francine Rivers (Unveiled,
•Unashamed, Unshaken, Unspoken, Unafraid—stories about
•Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary)
•The Centurion by Leonard Wibberley
•Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace
•Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by Ann Rice
•Great Lion of God by Taylor Caldwell
•Children of the Lion series by Peter Danielson
•The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas
•Sarah by Marek Halter
•Rebekah by Orson Scott Card
3 The Bible as Literature 2016-2017 •Two from Galilee by Marjorie Holmes
•Sons of Encouragement series by Francine Rivers (The Priest,
•The Warrior, The Prince, The Prophet, The Scribe—stories
about Aaron, Caleb, Jonathan, Amos, and Silas)
•The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
•The Nativity Story by Angela Hunt
Contemporary fiction with Christian themes:
•Peace Like a River by Leif Enger (themes of faith, forgiveness,
redemption, miracles, grace)
•The Atonement Child by Francine Rivers (deals with abortion,
faith)
•Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers (modernized retelling of
the story of Hosea)
Contemporary Memoir:
•Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
(themes of suffering, prejudice, faith, forgiveness, friendship,
love, grace)
Completing a Final (Approximately 4 hours)
The Final is open-book. Students can use whatever helps they want.
The goal of the exam is for students to take what they have learned
during the course and apply it to specific passages. I am less
concerned about the “right” answer and more concerned that each
student is interacting with particular passages.
4 The Bible as Literature 2016-2017 V. Grading
A. The grading scale for academic grades for this course will conform to
Westminster Christian School guidelines.
B. Grading percentages for this course will be as follows:
Reading Articles 25%
Written Response or Worksheets 35%
Novel and Summary 25%
Final 15%
C. All work must be completed by Friday, July 29th.
VII. Contacting Mr. Reed
Finished responses and papers should be sent to me at: [email protected].
If you need to call me, my cell is (786) 547-1254.
VIII. Office Hours
I will be at Fun Camp at Westminster all summer. Though you are not
required to come and see me, if you would like to come and talk I will be
available. Also, feel free to text or call me as needed.
5 The Bible as Literature 2016-2017 VIII. Class Schedule
Sections Reading Assignments Homework
How to Read the Bible as In a page or two, finish this Introduction Literature, Leland Ryken: Chapter statement: The Bible is literature 1, Is the Bible Literature? because…. Using the article as your source, list How to Read the Bible as five things you learned about the Old Testament Literature, Leland Ryken: Chapter Bible as literature. Please explain in Narrative 01 2, The Stories of the Bible. a paragraph each of the items on your list. Old Testament The Word Became Fresh, Dale Write a 1-2 page well-thought out Narrative 02 Ralph Davis: Chapter 2, Quirks. summary of the article. From this article, write your Far as the Curse is Found, explanation as to why the first two Genesis 1-3, Michael D. Williams: Chapter 3, chapters of Genesis are so Covenants Creation. important for a biblical understanding of life. Referring to Pratt’s article, provide an outline of the story of the Old He Gave Us Stories, Richard Old Testament Testament, listing the main Pratt: Chapter 12, Overview of Old Overview sections, the books in each section Testament Narratives. and a brief (sentence-long) summary of each book included. After reading the article, pick two How to Read the Psalms, Tremper of the genre discussed and compose Psalms Longman III: Chapter 1, The Genre your own psalm for each of the of the Psalms. genre you chose. Please complete the worksheet that Cracking Old Testament Codes, D. is attached to this article, following Proverbs Brent Sandy and Ronald L. Giese, the directions provided on the Jr: Chapter 12, Proverbs. worksheet. Referring to Heschel, state whether The Prophets, Abraham Heschel: or not you would have like to have Prophecy Chapter 1, What Manner of Man is been an Old Testament prophet. the Prophet? Please list and explain your response (2 pages is enough). Answer the following questions: What is a gospel? Why did the New How to Read the Bible as Testament writers write gospels? Gospels 01 Literature, Leland Ryken: Chapter Why are there 4 gospels? What are 7, Gospels. some of the characteristics of gospels?
6 The Bible as Literature 2016-2017 Skim through the four gospel How To Read the Bible for All stories in the New Testament and Its Worth, Gordon D. Fee and decide which of the four you like Gospels 02 Douglas Stuart: Chapter 7, The the most. Then list 4 or 5 reasons Gospels. why you think that particular Gospel is your favorite. Using the Fourfold Process explained in the article (pages 151- How to Read the Bible as 152), read the parable of the Parables Literature, Leland Ryken: Chapter Prodigal Son (Luke15:11-32) and 8, Parables. apply the four steps to it. One or two pages are enough. Using the information in the article, How To Read the Bible for All pretend you are Paul and write a Its Worth, Gordon D. Fee and Letters short “letter” (1 page or so) to Douglas Stuart: Chapter 3, The someone you know, addressing a Epistles. specific situation in their life. The Literary Guide to the Bible, I know this might be difficult, but Apocalyptic, Robert Alter and Frank Kermode: attempt to write a 1-2 page well- Revelation Chapter 32, Revelation. thought out summary of the article. Reflecting on all you have read, How to Read the Bible as write a 1-2 page summary as to why Conclusions Literature, Leland Ryken: Chapter this class was helpful to you or why 12, The Literary Unity of the Bible. it was not. •Remember, all work must be completed by Friday, July 29th
IX. Assignment Checklist
14 articles
1._____ How to Read the Bible as Literature, Leland Ryken: Chapter 1, Is
the Bible Literature?
2._____ How to Read the Bible as Literature, Leland Ryken: Chapter 2, The
Stories of the Bible
3._____ The Word Became Fresh, Dale Ralph Davis: Chapter 2, Quirks.
4._____ Far as the Curse is Found, Michael D. Williams: Chapter 3, Creation.
5._____ He Gave Us Stories, Richard Pratt: Chapter 12, Overview of Old
Testament Narratives
6._____ How to Read the Psalms, Tremper Longman III: Chapter 1, The
Genre of the Psalms
7 The Bible as Literature 2016-2017 7._____ Cracking Old Testament Codes, D. Brent Sandy and Ronald L. Giese,
Jr: Chapter 12, Proverbs
8._____ The Prophets, Abraham Heschel: Chapter 1, What Manner of Man is
the Prophet?
9._____ How to Read the Bible as Literature, Leland Ryken: Chapter 7,
Gospels
10._____ How To Read the Bible for All Its Worth, Gordon D. Fee and
Douglas Stuart: Chapter 7, The Gospels
11._____ How to Read the Bible as Literature, Leland Ryken: Chapter 8,
Parables
12._____ How To Read the Bible for All Its Worth, Gordon D. Fee and
Douglas Stuart: Chapter 3, The Epistles
13._____ The Literary Guide to the Bible, Robert Alter and Frank Kermode:
Chapter 32, Revelation
14._____ How to Read the Bible as Literature, Leland Ryken: Chapter 12,
The Literary Unity of the Bible
One page responses/assigned worksheets
1._____ The Bible is literature… written statement
2._____ Five things you learned about the Bible as literature paper
3._____ 1-2 page summary
4._____ Why the first two chapters of Genesis are important
5._____ Outline of the main sections of the Old Testament
6._____ Two student-made psalms
7._____ Proverbs worksheet
8._____ Whether or not you would have like to have been a prophet response
9._____ Gospel questions
10._____ Which Gospel you like the most
11._____ Fourfold Process to explain the parable of the Prodigal Son
12._____ Writing a short “letter” as Paul
8 The Bible as Literature 2016-2017 13._____ 1-2 page well-thought out summary of the article.
14._____ 1-2 page concluding summary
Novel
1._____ Read a novel
2._____ Write a 2-3 page summary of the book
Final
_____ Complete the Final
9 The Bible as Literature 2016-2017