Biblical Courses for the 2011 Fall Session

Introduction to modern historical criticism of the Old Testament, with special attention given to the formation of scripture from ancient traditions and its implications for history of Jewish and Christian interpretation. Short papers and a final exam.

A survey of the religious traditions of ancient Israel as they are reflected in the diverse types of literature found in the First Testament, with emphasis on their historical development and their relevance for contemporary ministry. Topics to be considered include: Israelite origins, settlement of the land, social structures, the monarchy, prophecy, the exile and return. Weekly lectures and discussion, plus mandatory one-hour tutorial; research papers, application paper, class participation.

Introduction to Old Testament literature and history, with emphasis on application within the church. Lectures and seminars. Readings, written assignments and final paper or exam.

Survey of New Testament world, authors, theologies. Introduction to the historical-critical and other methods of exegesis. Focus on the relation of hermeneutic to Christian Theological traditions; determining the senses of Scripture, the intent of the author, the structures in the texts; stance of the reader. Lecture/Discussion; paper; mid-term and final exam.

This course will provide students with knowledge of, access to, and practice at using original language tools and resources that come in both hardcopy and electronic forms. Students will start by learning the Greek and Hebrew alphabets, including the convention of identifying Hebrew vowels. The course will follow with instruction on the meaning of the basic grammatical and syntactical features of these languages, so that reference made to them in these resources will assist students in exegesis. The resources to which students will be coached in accessing and understanding will include Interlinear Bibles, Concordances, lexicons, theological wordbooks and original language based commentaries. The learning of grammar will be tied to the study of selected portions of Amos and Philippians.

Introduction to the major methods and issues in New Testament interpretation: textual criticism; the world of the New Testament; the composition, structure and theologies of the Synoptic Gospels; traditions behind the Gospels; the Jesus of History and the Christ of Faith. Lectures; assigned papers and exam.

An introduction to the four Gospels in their social, historical and theological setting. We will study the Gospels within a two-dimensional framework: social history (the origin and development of Christianity as a distinct social entity); and literature ( the formation of the Gospels, their literary form and texture, and their character as "gospel". Weekly lectures; assigned papers; final exam or integrative paper.

An introduction to the grammar and syntax of Koine Greek. Students will also develop a basic proficiency in reading and pronouncing the text of the Greek New Testament. Lecture, group work, evaluation of Greek pronunication. Weekly assignments, midterm project, final exam.

This course will explore the Bible as the ongoing story of and for God and creation, paying special attention to the way in which God's story is intertwined with that of humanity and the world. In asking whether and in what way the Bible is also our story, we will attempt to identify which hermeneutical methods might help us discern its significance for present day life, including the academic enterprise.

This course builds on students knowledge of introductory Hebrew grammar to engage them in the reading and interpretation of Hebrew narrative (selections from Jonah, Ruth, and other books). Emphasis is on building Hebrew vocabulary and confidence in reading and on developing exegetical skill. Quizzes, presentation, mid-term and final exams. Prerequisite: Introductory course in Hebrew.

This course introduces the prophets of Israel from their historical contexts, explores developments, genres and theological themes. Attention will be paid to the role of Israelite prophets in the larger ancient Near East context and prophetic contributions to Israelite expressions of God. Basic methods of exegesis will be reinforced as well as attention to a Catholic framework for interpretation. Lectures, quizzes, exams and a final paper.

The course introduces the Hebrew Wisdom Literature in its Mediterranean setting and explores common literary genres and theological motifs. Close reading of Proverbs, Job, Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes), and wisdom psalms, with an eye on practical application today. Participation, seminars, quizzes, exegetical paper. Teaching methods: Lectures, seminars, and readings. Means of evaluation: Quizzes, final paper, attendance and class participation.

Luke's themes of universality and of Christ as savior of the disadvantaged demonstrate God's openness in Christianity to everyone and form the core of Luke's personal portrayal of God's saving action in history and in the world. According to Luke, disciples and "eye-witnesses" of Jesus of Nazareth are characterized by their receptivity towards God's saving activity and their responses and reactions of joy, wonder, praise and blessing to that activity. Special attention will be paid to Luke's presentation of Jesus' proclamation of a liberation which is not limited by ethnic, national, economic or gender concerns. This course will consider Luke's Gospel as a blueprint for contemporary ministry. Weekly assignments, final paper, class preparation and participation. Prerequisite: TSB 1501 (or equivalent).

In the course, the Archeology of the First Temple Period will be discussed. In archeology the period is named the Iron Age. First the division to sub-periods will be studied as well as the meaning of this division. The differences in finds between Judea and Israel, after the division of David.

The course focuses on the picture of Messiah as it develops in the Hebrew Bible. The starting point of the discussion will be the 39 occurrences of the Hebrew noun māšîah and its meaning in the immediate context of the biblical passages. Also other Hebrew Bible Passages will be discussed, that are often regarded as the background of the term Messiah (Gen 3,15; 9,25-27; 12,1-3; 49,8-12; Num 24,15-19; Deu 18,15-18). In a third step, we will analyze the Old Testament Passages that reveal a developing understanding of the Davidic dynasty. The last step will point to the role of Daniel 9,25-26 in the emergence of messianism. The course will be organized in lectures and presented as PowerPoint presentations; research essay and final exam.

This course will consider the text of Paul.

An exploration of contemporary hermeneutical theories, including those of Heidegger, Gadamer, Habermas, Ricoeur and Levinas.

This course undertakes a study of modern critical problems of interpretation in the Book of Exodus. It focuses on establishing a translation, using text-critical apparatus. It examines the rise of source and form criticism as these have been used in the exegesis of Exodus. It analyses the way in which it has been proposed to combine these methods, and the problems inherent in that. It looks at some of the newer efforts to give priority to the deuteronomistic over the priestly hand in the final formation of the book. Canonical interpretation, as seen through a critical engagement with historical methods, will be reviewed (in the Old Testament Library commentary of BS Childs). This will also provide an occasion to examine the benefits/drawbacks of consulting the earlier history of interpretation. Seminar format. Translation of Hebrew and Greek texts. Discussion of secondary readings. Brief seminar papers. Meets Twice a week.

An examination of selected psalms, prayers, and hymns from the Dead Sea Scrolls with an eye to their appropriation of scriptural discourse. Genre issues, social function of these texts in the Qumran community, and continuity with and differences from later Jewish and Christian liturgies also explored. Seminar, seminar presentations, and final paper. Prerequisite: 2 years biblical Hebrew. Evaluation: Participation (25%); class presentations (25%); and final paper (50%).

This course examines the ways in which Pauline Christians and their successors in the cities of the Empire formed communities for the support and nurture of their faith and way of life. It will examine the models they adopted for communities, the ways in which they defined their ethos and set the limits of community, the ways in which outsiders viewed the emerging churches, and the internal challenges they faced. Seminar participation; book review; research paper. Cross-listed as RLG3228HS.

In the course, the Archeology of the First Temple Period will be discussed. In archeology the period is named the Iron Age. First the division to sub-periods will be studied as well as the meaning of this division. The differences in finds between Judea and Israel, after the division of David.

In this course we will analyze the various forms of miracle stories in the gospels and study their meaning at different levels of early Christian tradition. Theological and pastoral implications arising from criticism will be considered.

This textually-focused seminar course explores the multi-faceted role of creation (land, seas, animals) in the biblical story, including the character of humanity's calling in relation to creation. The way in which idolatry and imperial powers control the land and their inhabitants as the story unfolds, and sabbath and jubilee as a faithful response to such powers, will provide a biblical basis for reflecting on our current ecological context. Participation in all seminars required; three short papers; major research paper. Off-campus site.

Urban development of Jerusalem from the beginning of the Hasmonean period (100 BCE) and its expansion and enhancement under Herod the Great. How much of this Jerusalem did Jesus see and know? Historical and Archeological data amplifies the Biblical text. We will also consider the problems of the Temple Mount: definition and location of sanctity, water installations, entertainment structures as well as defining and elucidating the location of Jesus’ trial before Pontius Pilate. Informed attendance and participation in class discussion. Final paper.