Introduction to Old Testament literature and history (Genesis-Kings) with emphasis on application within the church. The course consists of online written lectures with class participation through discussion forums. Readings, written assignments and final paper.

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 Christianiaty as a distinct social entity); and literature ( the formation of the Gospels, their literary form and texture, and their character as "gospel"). Weekly lectures, compulsory tutorial (Thurs. 12-1 pm); assigned papers; final exam or integrative paper.

The focus of the course for 2010 will be on that part of the Hebrew Bible called “Wisdom literature.”  After a consideration of the nature of Hebrew poetry as a vehicle for expression, we will examine the books of Job and Ben Sira (Sirach) in greater depth.  A major theme of the course will be the understanding of creation as a locus for speaking about divine revelation, understood differently in the various wisdom traditions.  Lectures and discussion.  Short written assignments during the course and a final paper.  Prerequisite: Old Testament I or equivalent.

Students are expected to read and respond to the books of Proverbs, Job, and Sirach before the beginning of the course.  After enrolment, see the on-line draft course outline for further details.

This course will examine how major characters in the Old Testament have been read, interpreted and proclaimed from the 19th Century through to today. Special attention will be given to Adam and Eve, Sarah, Abraham and Hagar, Lot, Lot's wife and daughters, Moses and Miriam, Rahab, Samson and Delilah, the Levite and the concubine, David and his women, Ahaz and Jezebel, Vashti and Ahasuerus, and images of "bad girls and boys". We will ask questions about how we read and interpret texts and how biblical stories can be used in the church today. The course will consist of lectures and small group discussions. Evaluation is based on class participation (20%), a book report due the first day (30%) and a final paper or project.

 Note: pre-course assignment due on first day of class. See syllabus on website (wycliffecollege.ca) for info.

This course will examine the miracle tradition of the New Testament and especially the Gospel of Mark as a scriptural memory of Jesus.  To this end we will engage Mark's miracle stories in the literary context of the Gospel. We will also consider the various interpretive commitments we bring to these texts in order to practie readings which are equally self-conscious and life-giving. Class participation, two short written assignments and one final paper.

John offers a contemplative and summary Gospel for those who have already journeyed through the earlier stages of Christian experience. This course will consider the distinctive theological and literary character of the Gospel of John with special attention to the evangelist's creative reshaping of tradition in response to the circumstances of the church at the end of the first century. The social and ecclesial situation in which the fourth gospel was written will provide the context in which to locate the theological, pastoral and rhetorical strategies used by the evangelist. Weekly assignments, final paper, class preparation and participation. Prerequisite: SMB 1501 (or equivalent).

This course will explore the Song of Songs’ Text, and a wide range of interpretive approaches applied to it.  Its goal is for participants to become more attuned to the sophisticated and dynamic details of the Song’s Text itself; allowing for the subsequent identification of the various factors engaged within each methodology encountered.  The findings of each interpretive endeavour in light of the Song’s unaltered Text, then, will be reviewed and evaluated.  A level one introductory course to Hebrew Bible/Old Testament required.  Daily lectures and discussion; mid-week presentation, final research paper, class participation.

This course treats either books (Job, Sirach, Ecclesiastes, Wisdom of Solomon) or thematic aspects (creation, prayer, eschatology) of the sapiential tradition as it evolved in the period 538 BCE - 70 CE with an eye to the relationship of these books to the broader swath of sapiential textual traditions of the era, including the instruction literature from Qumran. In 2010, the focus will be Ben Sira, with attention to the significance of textual variants in the manuscript traditions for our understanding of the formation of the Bible. Course will be a seminar. Seminar participation, seminar presentations, major paper.

Designed to enable students to teach and preach using insights drawn from Land of Israel in Scripture and Tradition. Lectures, audiovisual presentations, site visits. Evaluation based on pre-assigned readings, participation, paper upon returning to Canada, written or oral exam. (Israel)

Continuities and transformation of biblical figures in rabbinic exegesis; biblical tracings and the midrashic imagination; an analysis of surface and substratum hermeneutics in the rabbinic reading of scripture; the rhetoric and theology of midrash. Primary texts from Scripture, Talmud, & Midrash will be analyzed. Readings, review quiz, lectures, written or oral examination. For Religious Education Credit register in SMP 3498H or 6498H.