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| Unit name |
Getting into the Old Testament (Trinity & Baptist College) |
| Unit code |
THRS11038 |
| Credit points |
10 |
| Level of study |
C/4
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
|
| Unit director |
Reverend Dr. Knut Heim |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None
|
| Co-requisites |
None
|
| School/department |
Department of Religion and Theology |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Arts |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit will provide an orientation to the Old Testament by:
- surveying the historical narratives of the Old Testament, from the Exodus to the Persian period, against their Ancient Near Eastern background;
- addressing the nature of Israelite historiography in the light of archaeology and extra-biblical texts;
- introducing the Pentateuch and the Psalms and Wisdom writings, combining attention to largescale structures with examination of particular texts;
- introducing the prophetic books with particular attention to the book of Amos;
- highlighting significant critical and theological issues raised by the selected texts.
The unit aims to:
- introduce students to the Old Testament in its Ancient Near Eastern historical and literary context;
- make students aware of the theological and vocational significance of some important Old Testament texts.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On completion of the unit students should:
- have begun to read the Old Testament against the background of the history, archaeology and literature of the Ancient Near East;
- be sensitive to the complex nature of the Old Testament’s narrative texts;
- be aware of some current debates over historicity and how these relate to issues of literary genre;
- have a foundational grasp of the structure, form and content of the Pentateuch, the Prophets and the Psalms and Wisdom writings;
- have begun to integrate into their own spirituality recent scholarly insights into the nature and theology of the Psalms.
Teaching Information
The unit consists of 18 lectures and 2 seminars. Learning will be enhanced by practical exercise, classroom discussion and work in small groups. Visual materials will play an important part in introducing the historical and cultural backgrounds to the texts.
Assessment Information
Formative assessment will consist of work prepared for discussion and feedback in seminars. This will not contribute to the overall unit mark.
Summative assessment will be through:
1. Two exegetical comments (500 words each) on verses from different parts of the OT (50%)
2. An essay of 1,000 words (50%)
Reading and References
- Dell, K., Opening the Old Testament (Blackwell, 2008)
- House, P. R. & Mitchell, E., Old Testament Survey (B&H Publishing, 2007)
- Lucas, E., Exploring the Old Testament, Vol. 3: The Psalms and Wisdom
Literature (SPCK, 2003)
- Provan, I, Philips Long, V. and Longman, T., A Biblical History of Israel (Westminster John Knox Press, 2003)
- Sawyer, J.F.A., Prophecy and the Biblical Prophets (OUP, 2nd1993)
- Wenham, G., Exploring the Old Testament, Vol. 1: The Pentateuch (SPCK, 2003)
