RELG E301: Old Testament
Office hours are by appointment
1. Nature of the Course
The Old Testament/Hebrew Bible is a significant, though sometimes overlooked, component of our religious landscape. It accounts for approximately 75% of the Christian Bible and is the entirety of the Jewish Bible. Any student who feels themselves serious about the understanding of the Bible must be serious about the study of the Old Testament. This course is in many ways a continuation of the material presented in Relg 111: Introduction to the Bible. However, the course content is more explicitly directed towards the study of the Hebrew Bible independent of the New Testament.
Following the conclusion of the course, the student should be able to:
- read biblical texts closely in order to learn how to ask pertinent questions of historical, literary, social, or religious analysis;
- understand basic methodology as it relates to the study of the Bible;
- appreciate the importance of placing biblical texts in their historical and cultural contexts to aid the task of interpretation
2. Course Requirements
Student grades will be determined as follows:
| Midterm |
30% |
A |
100-90 |
C |
75-70 |
| Final |
35% |
B+ |
89-86 |
D+ |
69-66 |
| Paper |
25% |
B |
85-80 |
D |
65-60 |
| Attendance |
10% |
C+ |
79-76 |
F |
below 60 |
Term papers should be 8-10 pages in length, exclusive of footnotes/endnotes and bibliography. At least six sources should be cited. Topics are open for discussion between the student and the instructor. The paper should be written according to the conventions of any of the manuals of style used in the liberal arts disciplines.
3. Required Texts
The following textbooks are required for this class:
- John Collins. Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. Augsburg Fortress, 2004.
- New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha (NRSV) Oxford, 1991.
- or any modern translation of the Bible with the Apocrypha
Students are expected to complete all required reading (including readings from the Biblical texts) prior to coming to class.
4. Attendance
According to the University attendance policy, absence from more than ten percent of class meetings, whether excused or unexcused, is excessive and may result in a grade penalty. As this course meets for only eight weeks, prompt and consistent attendance is imperative. Students who fail to abide by the University attendance policy will receive a grade penalty.
5. Schedule
Available on the blackboard course website
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© 2005 by the Author
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