January Term 2015 Course Syllabus Department: Biblical Studies Course Title: Writings Course Number: OT 645 Credit Hours: 3 Revised: September 29, 2014

Dr. Erika Moore Worthington, Pa. 16262 (724) 543-9145 (h) (724) 266-3838 (w) [email protected]

“The wise man is the one who sees reality as it is, and who sees into the depths of things. That is why only that man is wise who sees reality in God.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Ethics

Course DescriptionCOURSE DESCRIPTION I. COURSE DESCRIPTION Our interaction with the Ketuvim is intended not only to increase the student’s knowledge, but also encourage spiritual growth and skill in using the Ketuvim in one's personal life and ministry. After a brief introduction on how the eleven books came to be organized as the Ketuvim in the Hebrew canon, we will discuss some of the interpretive issues surrounding these books, the characteristics of Hebrew poetry, and then work our way systematically through the Ketuvim. Lectures, discussions, and small group activities will be used to discuss: (1) main themes of each book; (2) historical, literary, theological, syntactical and linguistic details of selected passages to illustrate the chosen passage’s contribution to the messages of the individual books; and (3) how these books relate to the broader canon, specifically focusing on how they point to and are fulfilled in Jesus.

II. COURSE GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND OUTCOMES GOALS: By the end of this class, students will: 1. Gain a working knowledge of the history, major themes, and content of the eleven books that comprise the Ketuvim. This includes a basic understanding of each book's historical background, content, and message. 2. Gain a familiarity with the historical, geographical and cultural ancient Near Eastern context of the Ketuvim. 3. Appreciate the place of each of the eleven books that comprise the Ketuvim in redemptive history. 4. Gain facility at interpreting and applying the eleven books that comprise the Ketuvim within a redemptive-historical context 5. Appreciate the relevance of the eleven books that comprise the Ketuvim for teaching, preaching, and Christian living. 1

OBJECTIVES: In order to achieve these goals, students will:

1. Develop the skills to identify major persons, places and events in the ANE and Ketuvim. 2. Develop the ability to communicate the richness of the books of the Ketuvim to a diversity of people in diverse ministry settings.

OUTCOMES: As a result of this class, students will: 1. Be able to identify major persons, places, and events in the ANE that are important for understanding the Ketuvim. 2. Preach and teach from the Ketuvim with biblical-theological and Christological sensitivity and clarity.

The learning outcomes for Trinity School for Ministry are:

1. The student will recognise and identify the biblical theology evident in the course work.

2. The student will be able to articulate an Anglican understanding of biblical, historical, systematic, and pastoral theology.

3. The student will be able to effectively communicate the Christian message to a diversity of people in order to advance the mission of God.

4. The student will be prepared to effectively lead in a variety of Christian communities.. MDiv: The student will be prepared to effectively lead in a variety of Christian communities. MAR: The student will be equipped to apply scholarship to the life of the church in his or her chosen theological discipline. STM: The student will be equipped to successfully pursue further independent research and post-graduate study in his or her chosen theological discipline.

This course furthers all four of these goals, but it will make a particular contribution in helping students to articulate a biblical theological understanding of the OT (1) and effectively communicate an often ignored and/or misunderstood portion of Scripture (the Ketuvim) to a diversity of people in diverse ministry settings (3,4). Along with these objectives relate to knowledge and skill that will be assessed through your written work, there are other objectives that are worth mentioning, even though your development in these areas will not be formally assessed. Seminary education is not just a matter of growing in knowledge and skill, but also in one’s relationship with God and one’s Christian character as a disciple of Jesus. I pray that your work in this course will promote such growth.

Assessment of Learning Outcomes:

1. Twice Daily Quizzes

2. Research Project

III. TEXTBOOKS 2

Required: Our main textbook will be the Old Testament. Use a reliable English translation (not a paraphrase) of the OT such as ESV, RSV, NASB, NIV, or NKJV. We have a significant amount of reading to do. Familiarizing ourselves with the eleven books that comprise the Ketuvim is necessary if we are to develop our appreciation for the big redemptive picture that unfolds in the Bible. This in turn will help us appreciate how the Ketuvim gives Christians the bearings to understand where we come from and where we are going.

Estes, Daniel J. Handbook on the Wisdom Books and Psalms. Grand Rapids, 2005; (paperback edition, 2010). ISBN 0-8010-2699-7 ($34.99)

Longman, Tremper III. & Peter Enns. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry and Writings. (Downers Grove, IL. IVP, 2008). ISBN 978-0-8308-1783-2 ($60.00)

Recommended:

Alter, Robert. The Art of Biblical Poetry (N.Y.: Basic, 1985).

Bauckham, Richard. James: Wisdom of James, Disciple of Jesus the Sage (N.Y.: Routledge, 1999).

Barton, Stephen C. Where Shall Wisdom Be Found? Wisdom in the Bible, the Church and the Contemporary World (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1999).

Berlin, Adele. The Dynamics of Biblical Parallelism (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008).

Bartholomew, Craig G. & Ryan P. O'Dowd. Old Testament Wisdom Literature: A Theological Introduction (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2011).

Charlesworth, James H. and Michael A . Daise (eds). Light in a Spotless Mirror: Reflections on Wisdom Traditions in Judaism and Early Christianity ( N.Y.: Trinity Press International. 2003).

Day, John, Robert P. Gordon and H.G.M. Williamson, eds. Wisdom in Ancient Israel (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995).

Fokkelman, J.P. Reading Biblical Poetry: An Introductory Guide (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2001)

Ford, David and Graham Stanton (eds). Reading Texts, Seeking Wisdom: Scripture and Theology (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004).

Jackson, David R. Crying Out for Vindication: The Gospel According to Job. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R, 2007.

Kidner, F.D. The Wisdom of Proverbs, Job and Ecclesiastes (Downer’s Grove, IL: IVP, 2002)

Longman, Tremper III. How to Read Psalms. (Downers Grove, IL. IVP, 2002)

Murphy, Roland. The Tree of Life: An Exploration of Biblical Wisdom Literature, 2nd ed (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996).

O'Dowd. The Wisdom of Torah: Epistemology in Deuteronomy and the Wisdom Literature. FRLANT (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck& Ruprecht, 2009).

Sheppard, Gerald T. Wisdom as a Hermeneutical Construct: A Study in the Sapientializing of the Old Testament. BZAW 151 (Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1980).

Troxel, R.L., K.G. Friebel and D.R. Magary (eds). Seeking Out the Wisdom of the Ancients: Essays Offered to Honor Michael V Fox on the Occasion of his Sixty-Fifth Birthday (Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns, 2005). von Rad, Gerhard. Wisdom in Israel, trans. James D. Martin (London: SCM, 1970).

Waltke, Bruce, and James Houston with Erika Moore. The Psalms As Christian Worship (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2010).

Whybray, R.N. The Intellectual Tradition in the Old Testament. BZAW 135 (Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1974).

Witvliet, John D. The Biblical Psalms in Christian Worship: A Brief Introduction and Guide to Resources. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2007. Wolterstorff, Nicholas, Art in Action (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980).

Wright, Christopher J.H. The God I Don't Understand: Reflections on Tough Questions of Faith (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009).

Wright, N.T. Evil and the Justice of God (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).

IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING SYSTEM

Before the week of residency in January 2015:

Assignment One: Read through [or, listen to on tape/CD] the eleven books that comprise the Ketuvim once and submit a signed statement (on the first day of class, Monday, January 12, 2015) indicating what percentage of the reading/listening you accomplished. The reading/listening is to be done between the posting of this syllabus [October 1, 2014] and Sunday January 11, 2015 [20%].

During the week of residency (January 12-16, 2015):

Assignment Two: Twice daily quizzes: timeline, geography, and prophets chart. [30%]

**Daily attendance and informed participation are expected. Your final grade may be affected by class attendance and participation.

After the week of residency: Assignment Three: Choose one of the following options: (1) Teaching Outline: Develop a detailed teaching outline for an adult education class on one of the following: Job, Proverbs, Esther, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, 1-2 Chronicles. Assume class members are not new to Bible study. Produce a plan for twelve lessons that covers the entire book. Write a synopsis for each of the twelve lessons that includes enough content for me to grasp what you intend to teach the class. Remember: no synagogue synopsis. How do you teach this portion of the Old Testament in light of the redemption accomplished by Jesus? This Outline should be between 25-30 pages in length. If you would like to nuance the assignment and focus on a different target group (i.e. a junior high youth group; a Bible study at a local corrections facility...), check with me first for approval. OR (2) Exegesis Paper: A 25-30 page paper on a passage in the Ketuvim. If you choose this option, make sure you inform me of the passage before the end of our week together. For either of the above options, be sure to include the following in your paper:

1. Literary context and genre: What is the evidence for considering this passage as a complete unit? What boundary markers are there at the beginning and end of this passage that suggest it is a complete integrated unit? Is this passage part of a larger literary unit that has a discernible beginning and end? How does the passage fit within the book of X as a whole? Determine the evidence for dividing the passage into subunits. What is the genre?

2. Textual problems: Review the external and internal evidence for any variant readings. How do the variant readings affect the interpretation of the passage? Explain what you believe to be the original reading and why.

3. Outline and Discourse Analysis: Construct a prose outline that represents the major units of information and summarizes the flow of thought. Are there any points of grammar that are significant for understanding the passage? Summarize, in your best judgment, the overall logical structure of the psalm.

4. Synthesis: Identify what you think is the main point of the passage. What is its contribution to the overall message of the book? Discuss, as needed, crucial words for in-depth analysis.

5. Biblical Theology: What is the major theme(s) of the passage and how does it find its fulfillment in Jesus?

6. Implications: Why should a Christian be interested in learning about this passage? What issues does it raise? What difficulties does it present? Identify a pastoral problem in the passage and 5 demonstrate how Jesus is the solution to the problem, and how a person might handle the identified problem in light of the redemption accomplished by Jesus.

PLEASE NOTE: You must use the SBL style of writing: Additional Research Expectations: 1. Demonstrate that you have used at least four commentaries in your paper. 2. Demonstrate that you have used at least four monographs or journal articles. 3. Demonstrate that you have used at least two biblical dictionary/encyclopedia articles.

Papers are due by noon on Friday February 20, 2015. Late papers will be assessed a penalty of one full letter grade. [50%]

N.B. Samples of student work may be used as part of an on-going assessment of courses and degree programs. Students’ names will be removed from any work used for this purpose.

V. CLASS SCHEDULE

January 12 am: Introduction to the Ketuvim; Introduction to Hebrew Poetry pm: Psalms Read: Estes, Handbook, 141-211; DOTWPW, 578-621.

January 13 am: Introduction to Wisdom literature: Proverbs pm: Ruth Read: Estes, Handbook, 213-269; DOTWPW, 528-538; 687-703.

January 14 am: Job pm: Ecclesiastes Read: Estes, Handbook, 11-139; 271-392

January 15 am: Song of Songs, Esther pm: Daniel Read: Estes, Handbook, 393-444; DOTWPW, 175-188; (reading for Daniel, TBA)

January 16 am: Ezra-Nehemiah pm: Lamentations and Chronicles Read: TBA

VII. Grading System:

The following is offered as a guide, rather than a set of rules. B: Work will demonstrate broad (sufficient information is covered) and deep (supporting material is offered) coverage of the material. Information will be accurate and there will be a clear and coherent structure. Coverage of the material and comments will be reasonably competent without being exceptional. . C: Work will demonstrate reasonable coverage of the material but will lack breadth and depth of analysis. There will not be serious inadequacies in the information presented, but the overall structure will be characteristically unclear, narrow, and shallow and void of imaginative and interesting analysis. D: Work will be notably defective according to the criteria outlined above. F: Work will demonstrate a complete failure on the part of its author to interact with the material in accordance with criteria outlined above. A: Work will demonstrate exceptional coverage of the material. What distinguishes work in this category from a “B” is the author’s ability to develop the material in breadth and depth beyond what is necessary for a good understanding of it. The author will engage with the material in a way that is often though not always marked by creativity, exceptional insight, and/or extensive research.

OT 645: Writings: Addendum to Syllabus (for STM credit)

If you are taking OT 645 for STM credit, two additional assignments will be required:

Book Review: Write an 8-10 page book review. In the first few pages write a brief summary of the author’s major points. In the remainder of your review please write a critical analysis of particular features of his discussion that you found interesting/questionable/helpful. Let me know what book you wish to read by Friday, January 16, 2015. Book review is due Friday, February 6, 2015 (noon). (10%)

Exegesis Paper: A 25-30 page paper (double-spaced) on a passage of your choice from the Ketuvim. Let me know what passage you wish to focus on by Friday, January 16, 2015. Exegesis paper is due Friday, March 6, 2015 (noon). (30%)

N.B.: Your grade will be determined by the following percentages: Ketuvim Readings (5%); Quizzes (5%); Teaching Outline/Exegesis Paper (25%); STM Book review (25%); STM Exegesis Paper (40%).

STM Research Expectations: Double those delineated above for Masters level students.

OT 645: Writings: Addendum to Syllabus (for DMin credit)

If you are taking OT 645 for DMin credit, the following additional assignments will be required:

Two Book Reviews: Each book review should be 8-10 pages. In the first few pages write a brief summary of the author’s major points. In the remainder of your review please write a critical analysis of particular features of his discussion that you found interesting/questionable/helpful. Let me know what books you wish to read by Friday, January 16, 2015. Book reviews are due Friday, February 13, 2015 (noon). (10%)

Project: A 25-30 page paper (double-spaced) on a project that deals with a parish or ministry issue that is raised in the Ketuvim. Let me know what passage you wish to focus on by Friday, January 16, 2015. Exegesis paper is due Friday, April 17, 2015 (noon). (30%)

N.B.: Your grade will be determined by the following percentages: Ketuvim Readings (5%); Quizzes (10%); Teaching Outline/Exegesis Paper (25%); Book reviews (10% each); Project (40%).

DMin Research Expectations: Double those delineated above for Masters level students