BIBLICAL THEOLOGY: Jewish and Christian GTHEO

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Arthur Walker-Jones University of Winnipeg

Phone: (204) 786–9450 Office: 2MS09

Email: a.walker-jones@uwinnipeg.ca Office hours: W 1-2 and by appointment

BIBLICAL THEOLOGY: Jewish and Christian

GTHEO 7140 001

Location: 1MS25

Dates: Sept. 10th to Nov. 26

Time: Wednesdays, 2:00 to 5:00 pm

Textbooks:

Sweeney, Marvin A. Tanak: A Theological and Critical Introduction to the Jewish Bible. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2012.

Bellis, Alice Ogden and Joel S. Kaminsky, eds. Jews, Christians, and the Theology of the Hebrew Scriptures. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2000.

Course Description:

Judaism and Christianity consider the Bible foundational for their beliefs and ethics, but historical criticism has made us aware of the diversity of theologies in the Bible. In addition, the historical and ongoing use of the Bible to justify anti-Semitism, racism, sexism, homophobia, and colonialism has made us aware of the ethical problems involved in making claims on the basis of the Bible. Biblical Theology is the sub discipline of Biblical Studies that investigates how to relate the Bible to the beliefs of the church and synagogue in light of these academic and ethical issues. This course is an introduction to the history, issues, methods, and leading

practitioners of Biblical Theology, with a focus on recent Jewish Biblical Theologies, and dialogue between Jewish and Christian biblical theologians.

Learning Outcomes:

After taking the course, students will be able to:

1. Identify some of the leading Biblical Theologians

2. Demonstrate familiarity with the history, critical issues, and methods in Biblical Theology

3. Demonstrate an in depth knowledge of at least one biblical theologian and the method and content of that scholar’s Biblical Theology

4. Discuss some of the issues of social justice involved in developing a Biblical Theology 5. Write a research paper in Biblical Theology that demonstrates awareness of critical and

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Program Learning Outcomes

The Learning Outcomes of this course (previous page) contribute to the Program Outcomes of various degree programs.

Since the Bible is foundational for theology, ethics, teaching, and preaching of church and synagogue, learning outcomes 2 and 3 contribute to the following outcomes of professional degrees (MDiv, MA SDMP)

Students will develop their ability to:

1. Describe how select authors or communities in Israel’s and the church’s history

(including biblical writers and communities) engage and develop several of the following sources: scripture, traditions, doctrine, genre and context.

2. Articulate the contextual nature of theology using critical tools to discern the social signs of the times both locally and globally with an awareness of the pluralistic, inter-religious, secular and Indigenous contexts of Winnipeg and Turtle Island.

And to a lesser extent some aspects of

4. Demonstrate through the full range of ministry skills, including preaching, teaching, worship, and pastoral care, the capacity to proclaim and practice the Gospel with integrity and sensitivity in a variety of contexts, especially given the pluralistic and largely secular context of twenty-first century Canada, and the Christian imperative to social justice as an inherent Gospel value.

Learning Outcome 4 on the previous page also supports the social justice aspects of Programme Outcomes 2 and 4.

Learning Outcomes 2 and 5 on the previous page, and the assignments (below) that require the research and writing of research papers using critical methodologies, support the following Programme Outcomes of academic degrees (MA [Theology] and STM)

1. Demonstrate in writing and oral communication an advanced critical understanding of the academic study of Biblical Studies, Church History, Theology, and Applied Theology. 2. Do extensive academic research and writing using critical methodologies.

Course Requirements:

CLASS PARTICIPATION: Participants must attend at least 9 of the 12 scheduled classes, and have done the assigned readings for the week and be prepared to discuss them in class, in order to pass.

SAMPLING PAPER: You will choose one Biblical Theology, or the works of a Biblical

Theologian (except Marvin Sweeney), and read them and reviews of their work by other biblical scholars. A bibliography will be distributed and discussed in the first class to help with your selection. You will write a five to ten page research paper on this Biblical Theology/Theologian. The paper should include the method of the Biblical Theology/theologian, and the way they deal with critical issues like history, diversity, canon, and the relation of the Hebrew Bible to the Talmud and Christian Testament, as well as the way they address (or do not address) issues of theology and social justice. The paper is due on the Monday before you present it in class so that I can distribute it for others to read.

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CLASS PRESENTAITON OF SAMPLING: You will present your sampling to the class. You should not read the paper in class. Instead, you should prepare activities, questions, and visual aids to help the class engage the material.

CLASS PRESENTATION OF A LEARNING PROJECT: You will choose a topic or issue in Biblical Theology to research and present to the class. This will normally be a rough draft of your final project and you will use feedback from the class to improve it, though you may do a learning project that is different than your final project. As with the sampling, you should submit a ten to fifteen page paper, or a creative or ministry project, on the Monday before your

presentation. You should not read your paper during your presentation, but come with questions, activities, and visual aids to help others engage the topic. Your grade will primarily be based on the quality of your presentation and may include peer evaluation.

FINAL LEARNING PROJECT: You may document your learning through either a research paper, or creative project. If you are taking the course as part of an academic degree, you are encouraged to do a research paper of approximately fifteen to twenty pages. However, if a creative project would be better suited to your learning style, then you may choose to integrate and document your learning through creating artwork, music, drama, a video, website, quilt, etc. If you are taking the course as part of a professional degree, you may choose to integrate and document your learning through a practical project such as a series of sermons, educational curriculum, etc. Normally, those who do a creative or practical final project will write a five page paper in academic style explaining and documenting the research and thinking that went into the project.

Due Dates:

The dates you will present your sampling and research project we will develop together in the second week of class. We will attempt to assign you weeks that fit your schedule.

Your final paper or project is due December 3rd

Weighting of Assignments:

Sampling Paper 20%

Presentation of Sampling 20%

Class Presentation of a Learning Project 20%

Final Project 40%

Grade Scale:

Letter Grade Numeric

Grade

A+ 95-100 B+ 78-80 C+ 68-70

A 84-94 B 74-77 C 60-67

A- 81-83 B- 71-73 D 50-59

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Schedule of Topics and Readings:

Week Date Readings

1 September Introductions, Syllabus

2 History & Methods of the Discipline

Sandys-Wunsch, John and Laurence Eldredge, ―J. P. Gabler and the Distinction between Biblical and Dogmatic

Theology: Translation, Commentary, and Discussion of His Originality,‖ pp. 133-144.

Eissfelt, Otto. ―The History of Israelite Religion and Old Testament Theology,‖ pp. 20-29.

Eichrodt, ―Old Testament Theology: The Problem and the Method,‖ pp. 25-35.

Von Rad, ―Methodological Presuppositions,‖ 105-128. Westermann, ―The Bible and the Life of Faith: A Personal Reflection,‖ pp. 337-344.

Childs, ―A Canonical Approach to Biblical Theology,‖ 71-78.

Bellis & Kaminsky, 1-12.

CHOICE OF SAMPLING TOPIC & DATE DUE

3 Jewish Biblical Theology

Bellis & Kaminsky, 97-154. Sweeney, 3-44 (Introduction)

4 Engaging Evil

Torah: Generations of Heaven and Earth, Adam, Noah, Shem, Terah, Ishmael, Isaac, Esau

Sweeney, 45-76

Bellis & Kaminsky, 15-44

5 Torah: Generations of Jacob/Israel

Sweeney, 76-122

Bellis & Kaminsky, 279-306

Exodus

Bellis & Kaminsky, 215-278, 307-326

6 Torah: Generations of Aaron and Moses

Sweeney, 123-170

Bellis & Kaminsky, 45-60, 327-368.

TOPIC FOR FINAL PAPER/PROJECT TOPIC & DATE DUE

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7 Former Prophets

Sweeney, 171- 264

8 Latter Prophets

Sweeney, 265-370

9 Writings

Sweeney, 371-490

10 Presentation and Discussion of Final Papers

N.B.: All topics on this outline may not be covered.

Form and Style in Academic Writing

Normally papers submitted for evaluation should be produced with a word processing program and have footnotes and bibliography in Chicago Style as set forth in Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. Eighth Edition.

The policy of the Faculty of Theology is to encourage inclusive language in classroom discussions and academic writing. Inclusive language is that which does not discriminate based on characteristics of gender, sexual orientation, age, race, ethnicity, disability, religion, or minority.

Academic Policies

Cheating or plagiarism can have serious consequences from a lower or failing grade in a class to expulsion from the University. Students should familiarize themselves with the

University of Winnipeg’s policies on appeals and academic misconduct such as plagiarism or cheating (Faculty of Theology Calendar, pp. 22–25). If you have any questions about what might constitute plagiarism or cheating, or would like additional resources, please contact the

instructor.

Withdrawal

The final date for withdrawal without academic penalty is September 26th. A student who is considering withdrawing from the course is requested to speak with the instructor and check the last date to withdraw without academic penalty in the calendar or by contacting the Graduate Studies—Student Services office at (204) 786-9466. To withdraw from a course students must notify the Graduate Studies—Student Services office in person (form available), in writing or by facsimile as a signature is required.

Disability Services and Resource Centre

If you have a disability, please register with Disability Services and contact them to discuss their services and academic accommodations for disabilities. More information and contacts are available on-line at http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/services-disability. All information about disability is confidential.

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Security and Community Ambassador Services

The phone number for UW security guards is 9235 on campus and 786-9235 off campus. In emergencies, police, fire, and ambulance services can be reached by dialing 8-911 on campus. During the fall and winter there are Safe Walk and Safe Ride programs. Both can be contacted by phoning 9272 on campus and will escort faculty, staff, and students to their cars. More information and a personal safety brochure are available at www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/security-index. The UW Security & Community Ambassador Services seeks to guarantee the safety of students, faculty, staff, visitors and other users of University of Winnipeg facilities, while preserving a philosophy of unhindered community access.