This course will focus on the Books of Chronicles as theological history for the post-exilic era. It will seek to interpret the text from a variety of critical approaches. It will identify unique perspectives in 1-2 Chronicles, especially theological viewpoints and the spirituality it suggests for Judeans after the Exile. Issues of particular significance for this course are: the role of the Levites; biblical reinterpretation, depictions of public worship, roles of kings. After an initial reading of the corpus in vernacular, we will proceed by close examination of the text, utilizing both diachronic and synchronic approaches. A doctoral seminar. It will also be open to advanced Masters' students with strong background in biblical Hebrew; knowledge of Greek desirable. Requirements: regular, active participation in seminar sessions, preparation of assigned Hebrew texts, research project and seminar presentation. [PIN code required; 9 max enrollment; Auditors with faculty permission]
The Psalms have nourished the spiritual and theological life of the Christian and Jewish communities for centuries. Their vitality is manifest in liturgy/worship, in theological studies, in personal spirituality. This course will pursue such connections by studying psalms as part of the Old Testament and ways in which psalms impact the life of the early Christian writings in the New Testament. We will explore different ""types"" of psalms, moods of sadness and joy, hope and disappointment in them. Other literary questions, including their ""ordering"" in the Book of Psalms will contribute to our study. Course will explore spirituality of the Psalter by considering: relationship to individual and communal prayer, worship, music, and the Sunday lectionary, and history of Psalm reception in Jewish and Christian communities of faith. Course is designed primarily for ministry students ('praxis' course for J.S.T. M.Div. students). Lectures/discussions;midterm exams papers [PIN code required; 20 max enrollment; Auditors with faculty permission]
This course introduces students to literary, socio-historical, and theological study of Genesis through 2 Kings plus 1-2 Chronicles (the Pentateuch, Deuteronomistic History and Chronicler's History). Students experiment with several critical methods of study of the Hebrew Bible, with focus on the Pentateuch/ Torah, Deuteronomistic History and Chronicler's History. Students learn exegesis by engaging in a series of exegetical workshops and developing an exegetical study of one text they have chosen. (MDiv/MA; midterm exam; short exegetical papers; research paper). [Faculty Consent required; 20 max enrollment; Auditors with faculty permission]
This course explores scriptural stories, histories, and interreligious issues concerning women across the three great traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It considers common and distinctive topics that characterize these religious cultures and how they might be addressed in the context of dialogue among the women of these communities. Finally, it offers a two week immersion experience in Jerusalem, Israel during January 2016 whereby students visit the significant religious sites associated with their study. During this time they will participate in learning opportunities with Jewish, Moslem and Christian women living there. (A minimum number of students is required for the immersion component with a maximum of 12 students). Estimated Cost of Immersion Component $1800. Interview with the professor required for registration. Course satisfies either either a Biblical Studies or Interreligious Requirement for JST students. [Foundation course in OT and NT; PIN code required; 12 max enrollment; Interview required]
A seminar for MDiv students to develop a knowledge of the Wisdom and Deuterocanonical that will afford them an intelligent, mature recourse to these Scriptures in ministerial settings (parish, school, specialized ministries). Studying these texts in their original setting (historical and social location, literary appreciation and grasp of each book's theology) will assist participants to ask similar questions of contemporary contexts. JST students may take this course as PRAXIS class, attending to ecclesial settings, such as preaching, liturgical prayer and song, pastoral counseling and teaching. Active participation in the seminar; each student will plan and develop one class session; papers (2 brief, one longer). [OT Introduction; PIN code required; 12 max enrollment; Auditors with faculty permission]
SPRING 2016 An investigation of the historical, compositional, and literary dimensions of the prophetic books of the Hebrew Bible. An exploration of how the message of the biblical prophets integrates the theological traditions of the past with the distinctive socio-cultural realities of their own context. Central to these investigations will be our study of these biblical texts in conjunction with relevant outside readings as well as contemporary ministerial issues and challenges with which they intersect [OT foundation course with completed exegesis study; Faculty Consent required; 20 max enrollment; Auditors excluded.] SPRING 2017 [Faculty Consent required; 20 max enrollment]
An intensive study of the Hebrew text of the Elijah/Elisha stories (I Kgs. 17 - II Kgs. 10). Weekly Hebrew translation of assigned texts will be followed by an overview of the tradition of interpretation of individual stories in this cycle with particular attention to the historical, literary, and theological elements of each tale. A seminar paper is required. [PIN code required; 12 max enrollment]
A survey of the history of literary criticism and an overview of modern literary theory itself, with special attention to its various systems and approaches. An examination of methods for biblical study that have developed with reference to these literary approaches. An examination of how these methods are applied in the criticism of actual biblical texts. [Faculty Consent; 12 max enrollment]
A seminar for advanced students [MA, STL, MDiv] that explores the Wisdom books of the Hebrew Bible (especially Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes) and some Deuterocanonical Books (especially Ben Sira, Wisdom of Solomon, Baruch) and prose works (Esther, Judith, Tobit, Song of Songs, Additions to Daniel & Esther). Assessment: seminar participation, class presentation and research paper. [PIN code required; 12 max enrollment; Auditors with faculty permission]
SPRING 2016 The course will examine features of the book of the prophet Jeremiah, emphasizing in particular ways in which the prophet coped with frustration and failure and may be understood to have come to insights of compassion. Anticipate a seminar style course, where the responsibility to lead will be shared and the responsibility to participate actively assumed. There will be a course paper, 20-25 pages. This course is designed particularly for students in Christian Spirituality completing their biblical comprehensive requirement but is suitable for biblical studies students as well. [Recent critical work in OT, ideally in prophetic texts; Faculty Consent required; 12 max enrollment; Auditors excluded]. SPRING 2017 MEMORY & SPIRITUALITY - BIBLICAL TEXTS This seminar will probe how a Hermeneutic of Memory is operative in Biblical texts, with special attention to post-Auschwitz interpretations of Psalms, Lamentations, Job and the Parables of Jesus. The political theological discourse by Johann Baptist Metz and Dorothee Soelle opens participants to various contemporary realities of suffering, and thus to the realm of Jewish and Christian Spirituality. Participants in Biblical Studies and Christian Spirituality may explore how a hermeneutic of memory can impact the research projects and the biblical spirituality of the seminar members. Short papers, research paper, seminar presentation [esp. for PhD, STD, STL students ]. [Faculty Consent required; 12 max enrollment; Auditors with faculty permission]