Course Number: SAS 631 Course Title: Wisdom Literature Term: Spring Professor Fr. Randy Soto, SThD

Transcription

1 1. Course Description Course Number: SAS 631 Course Title: Wisdom Literature Term: Spring 2017 Professor Fr. Randy Soto, SThD This course views sapiential literature (Job, Proverbs, Sirach, Qohelet, Psalms and Song of Songs) as an expression of Israel's spirituality both at the time of its writing and today. 2. Envisioned Learning Outcomes 1. Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the distinctive and techniques of OT Wisdom and how the authors used these techniques to communicate meaning. 2. Students will be able to perform the art of interpreting (Praying/Proclamation) Wisdom poetic literature through instruction, worked examples and practice. 3. Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the overall themes, theology, structure, and message of the books of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Sirach, Qohelet, and Song of Solomon. 4. Students will be able to understand the usage of Wisdom literature in the New Testament; as well as the need to interpret Wisdom Literature in the context of Church s Liturgy, Tradition and Spirituality so to lead others in so using these books. 5. Students will be able to continue to research, interpret, teach, preach, and interact with these six books throughout their personal lives and ministries. 3. Course Schedule This following schedule invites the student to engage in a literary and theological study of the wisdom books of Job, Proverbs, Sirach, Qohelet, Psalms and Song of Songs. Therefore, the student will be introduced to the Sitz in Leben of the Near Eastern Wisdom; as well as to the Jewish practice of using Wisdom as means of teaching the meaning of life, suffering, death, through prayer and popular sayings. Finally, the student will be able to recognize Wisdom ways of teaching in the life and the ministry of Jesus Christ and the Apostolic Church. These overall frame is aimed at assisting each student to not just learn about Wisdom in the OT but to bring it to life in their lives. 1

2 Week 1 Introductions: Tell a little about yourself and what do you expect out of this class? Week 2 On Defining Wisdom and the World of Wisdom Read OT Wisdom 1-39 Post your answers: 1. What is Wisdom? 2. Describe the world of Wisdom? 3. Sage s Goal? 4. Are schools of Wisdom exclusive of Israel? Week 3 The Sapiential Tradition Read OT Wisdom Post your answers: 1. Explain the importance of Salomon in the Sapiential Tradition of the OT? Week 4 Proverbs: The Pursuit of Knowledge Read OT Wisdom What is a parallelism? 2. Types of parallelisms in Proverbs 3. Collections of Proverbs. 4. What is the Pedagogical Intent of Proverbs? 5. Summarize the major Theological themes of Proverbs. Week 5 Job: The Search of Divine Presence Read OT Wisdom Structure and analysis of the Book. 2. Describe the Narrative part of the book. 3. Describe the Poetic structure of Job. 4. Speeches of Friends; Job; and Elihu. 5. Divine Speeches and the Message of the Book. 6. Unresolved theme of the book. Week 6 Ecclesiastes: Chasing after meaning Read OT Wisdom Describe the 5 five major theses of the book. 2. What is the principal form of the book 3. Structure and Unity of the book 2

3 4. Authorship Week 7 Sirach: The Quest of Survival Read OT Wisdom Explain the Integration of Torah and Wisdom 2. Hellenistic Background of the Book 3. Summarize the major themes of Sirach Read: Psalms for Preaching and Worship: A Lectionary Commentary Post a journal entry on the importance of preaching the Psalms. Week 8 Wisdom of Salomon: The widening Hunt and Beyond Read OT Wisdom Theological views of Wisdom of Salomon 2. Sapiential Psalms 3. Wisdom in Qumran and in the Christian tradition Read: Psalms for Preaching and Worship: A Lectionary Commentary Create a PowerPoint presentation on one Psalm from Ps 1-22 or post a Lectio Divina commentary of that Psalm. Week 9 Knowledge of God and Wisdom Legacy Read OT Wisdom Explain the knowledge of God in OT Wisdom 2. Who are the Skeptics? 3. Write an essay comparing Israel Wisdom and that of Egypt and Mesopotamia Week 10 Explain the nature of the Psalms Read Psalms: An Introduction Structure of the Book: Individual collections and related Psalms Read: Psalms for Preaching and Worship: A Lectionary Commentary Create a PowerPoint presentation on one Psalm from Ps or post a Lectio Divina commentary of that Psalm. Week 11: Psalms Content: Read Psalms: An Introduction Importance of the Psalms as prayers 2. What historical data can be extracted from the Psalms 3. How can we classify the Psalms 4. Form (Art) and Content (Theology) of the Psalms. 3

4 Week 12 Week 13 Week 14 Week 15 Read: Psalms for Preaching and Worship: A Lectionary Commentary ; create a PowerPoint presentation on one Psalm from Ps or post a Lectio Divina commentary of that Psalm. Read: Psalms for Preaching and Worship: A Lectionary Commentary ; create a PowerPoint presentation on one Psalm from Ps or post a Lectio Divina commentary of that Psalm. Read: Psalms for Preaching and Worship: A Lectionary Commentary ; create a PowerPoint presentation on one Psalm from Ps or post a Lectio Divina commentary of that Psalm. Read: Psalms for Preaching and Worship: A Lectionary Commentary ; create a PowerPoint presentation on one Psalm or a presentation on one of the Canticles or post a Lectio Divina commentary of that Psalm or Canticle. 4. Required Texts 1. James L. Crenshaw, Old Testament Wisdom: An Introduction (Westminster JKP: Louisville, 2010). 2. James L. Crenshaw, Psalms: An Introduction (Eerdmans: Grand Rapids, 2001). 3. Roger E. Van Harn - Brent A. Strawn, Psalms for Preaching and Worship: A Lectionary Commentary (Eerdmans: Grand Rapids, 2009). 5. Course Procedures The student must read the required readings and post the answers to the questions present in the schedule (in Latin = Programmatica Lectionum). Postings are due every Friday by Midnight, after that they will be accepted but with a possibility of getting a B as the maximum grade. 6. Grading Procedures There are 10 postings Based on the readings of the books by James Crenshaw. Each one is worth 5%, thus this brings it total of 50% of the final grade. Students are also responsible to make Power Point presentations based on the book edited by Roger E. Van Harn - Brent A. Strawn. The idea is to prepare materials to introduce the faithful to each Psalm. Instead of the Power Point, students may choose to post a Lectio Divina commentary on the chosen Psalm or Canticle. There are seven entries/ Power Points based on the book by Van Harn, each one is worth 5% to a total of 35% of the final grade. Additional 15% will be granted to the students based on class participation, posting comments to their peers presentations. 7. SUGGESTED BIBLIOGRAPHY Alonso Schökel L. Carniti C., Los Salmos, 2 vol. Estella, Alter, Robert. The Art of Biblical Poetry. San Francisco: Basic Books,

5 Anderson, Bernhard W. Out of the Depths. Philadelphia: Westminster, Ballard, H. Wayne, Jr., and W. Dennis Tucker, eds. An Introduction to Wisdom Literature and the Psalms. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press, Ballarini T. (a cura di), Ultimi storici, salmi, sapienziali Introduzione alla Bibbia 3, EDB, Bologna 1978, Bellinger, W. H., Jr. Psalms: Reading and Studying the Book of Praises. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, Bonora A. Priotto M. (a cura di), Libri sapienziali e altri scritti. Elle Di Ci, Torino Berry, Donald K. An Introduction to Wisdom and Poetry of the Old Testament. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, Beauchamp P., Salmi notte e giorno. Cittadella, Assisi Broyles, Craig C. The Conflict of Faith and Experience in the Psalms: A Form Critical and Theological Study. JSOT Supplement Series 52. Sheffield: Sheffield, Bruggemann, Walter. Israel s Praise: Doxology Against Idolatry and Ideology Bullock, C. Hassell. An Introduction to the Old Testament Poetic Books. Chicago: Moody, Crenshaw, James L. Education in Ancient Israel: Across the Deadening Silence. New York: Doubleday, Crenshaw, James L. Old Testament Wisdom. Atlanta: John Knox, Crenshaw, James L. The Psalms: An Introduction. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, DeClaisse-Walford, Nancy. Reading from the Beginning: The Shaping of the Hebrew Psalter. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press, Firth, David, and Philip S. Johnston. Interpreting the Psalms: Issues and Approaches. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, Gilbert M., La Sapienza del cielo. Proverbi, Giobbe, Qohèlet, Siracide, Sapienza. San Paolo, Cinisello Balsamo Gunkel, Hermann. The Psalms: A Form Critical Introduction. Trans. by T. M. Horner. Philadelphia: Fortress, Guthrie, Harvey H., Jr. Theology as Thanksgiving: From Israel s Psalms to the Church Eucharist Kidner, Derek. The Wisdom of Proverbs, Job & Ecclesiastes. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, Kraus, Hans-Joachim. Theology of the Psalms. Trans. by K. Crim. Minneapolis: Augsburg, Lewis, C. S. Reflections on the Psalms. San Diego: Harcourt Brace, Longman, Tremper, III, and Peter Enns, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry, & Writings. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, Lohfink, N., Qohelet, Morcelliana, Brescia 1997; Niccacci A., La casa della Sapienza. Voci e volti della sapienza biblica. Paoline, Cinisello Balsamo

6 Mays, James L. The Lord Reigns: A Theological Handbook to the Psalms. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, Mays, James L. Preaching and Teaching the Psalms. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, McCann, J. Clinton, Jr. A Theological Introduction to the Book of Psalms. Nashville: Abingdon, Miller, Patrick D. Interpreting the Psalms. Philadelphia: Fortress, Morgan, Donn F. Wisdom in the Old Testament Traditions. Atlanta: John Knox, Morla Asensio V., Libros Sapienciales y Otros Escritos. Verbo Divino. Navarra Mowinckel, Sigmund. The Psalms in Israel s Worship. Sheffield: JSOT Press, Murphy, Roland E. The Tree of Life. New York: Doubleday, Murphy, Roland E. Wisdom Literature and Psalms. Nashville: Abingdon, Perdue, Leo. Wisdom & Creation: The Theology of Wisdom Literature. Nashville: Abingdon, Perdue, Leo, and W. Clark Gilpin, eds. The Voice from the Whirlwind: Interpreting the Book of Job. Nashville: Abingdon, Ravasi G., Il Libro del Qohelet, EDB, Bologna Von Rad, Gerhard. Wisdom in Israel. Nashville: Abingdon, Wénin A., Entrare nei Salmi. EDB, Bologna Zenger E. Introduzione all Antico Testamento, Queriniana, Brescia 2005, Roger E. Van Harn (Editor), Brent A. Strawn (Editor), Walter Brueggemann (Foreword) Psalms for Preaching and Worship: A Lectionary Commentary $26.60 James L. Crenshaw The Psalms: An Introduction $20.00 James L. Crenshaw, Old Testament Wisdom: An Introduction $22.05 Ernst R. Wendland, Analyzing the Psalms: With Exercises for Bible Students and Translators $25.00 Optional 8. EVALUATION Students who have difficulty with research and composition are encouraged to pursue assistance with the Online Writing Lab (available at GRADING SCALE: A ; A ; B ; B 84-86; B ; C ; C 74-76; C D 60-69; F 59 and below 9. DISABILITIES ACCOMMODATIONS POLICY Holy Apostles College & Seminary is committed to the goal of achieving equal educational opportunities and full participation in higher education for persons with disabilities who qualify for admission to the College. Students enrolled in online courses who have documented disabilities requiring special accommodations should contact Bob Mish, the Director of Online Student Affairs, at rmish@holyapostles.edu or In all cases, reasonable accommodations will be made to 6

7 ensure that all students with disabilities have access to course materials in a mode in which they can receive them. Students who have technological limitations (e.g., slow Internet connection speeds in convents) are asked to notify their instructors the first week of class for alternative means of delivery. 10. ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY Students at Holy Apostles College & Seminary are expected to practice academic honesty. Avoiding Plagiarism In its broadest sense, plagiarism is using someone else's work or ideas, presented or claimed as your own. At this stage in your academic career, you should be fully conscious of what it means to plagiarize. This is an inherently unethical activity because it entails the uncredited use of someone else's expression of ideas for another's personal advancement; that is, it entails the use of a person merely as a means to another person s ends. Students, where applicable: Should identify the title, author, page number/webpage address, and publication date of works when directly quoting small portions of texts, articles, interviews, or websites. Students should not copy more than two paragraphs from any source as a major component of papers or projects. Should appropriately identify the source of information when paraphrasing (restating) ideas from texts, interviews, articles, or websites. Should follow the Holy Apostles College & Seminary Stylesheet (available on the Online Writing Lab s website at Consequences of Academic Dishonesty: Because of the nature of this class, academic dishonesty is taken very seriously. Students participating in academic dishonesty may be removed from the course and from the program. 11. ATTENDANCE POLICY Even though you are not required to be logged in at any precise time or day, you are expected to login several times during each week. Because this class is being taught entirely in a technologymediated forum, it is important to actively participate each week in the course. In a traditional classroom setting for a 3-credit course, students would be required to be in class 3 hours a week and prepare for class discussions 4.5 hours a week. Expect to devote at least 7 quality hours a week to this course. A failure on the student s part to actively participate in the life of the course may result in a reduction of the final grade. 12. INCOMPLETE POLICY An Incomplete is a temporary grade assigned at the discretion of the faculty member. It is typically allowed in situations in which the student has satisfactorily completed major components of the course and has the ability to finish the remaining work without re-enrolling, but has encountered extenuating circumstances, such as illness, that prevent his or her doing so prior to the last day of class. To request an incomplete, distance-learning students must first download a copy of the Incomplete Request Form. This document is located within the Shared folder of the Files tab in Populi. Secondly, students must fill in any necessary information directly within the PDF document. Lastly, students 7

8 must send their form to their professor via for approval. Approval should be understood as the professor responding to the student s in favor of granting the Incomplete status of the student. Students receiving an Incomplete must submit the missing course work by the end of the sixth week following the semester in which they were enrolled. An incomplete grade (I) automatically turns into the grade of F if the course work is not completed. Students who have completed little or no work are ineligible for an incomplete and must receive the grade that they have earned. Students who feel they are in danger of failing the course due to an inability to complete course assignments should withdraw from the course. A W (Withdrawal) will appear on the student s permanent record for any course dropped after the end of the first week of a semester to the end of the third week. A WF (Withdrawal/Fail) will appear on the student s permanent record for any course dropped after the end of the third week of a semester and on or before the Friday before the last week of the semester. 13. ABOUT YOUR PROFESSOR Fr. Randy Soto is a Roman Catholic priest from San Jose, Costa Rica, currently serving as Associate Professor of New Testament at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. He completed his Sacred Theology Doctorate (SThD) in Biblical Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 2003 and has also since served as a parish pastor and Director of Faith Enculturation in the Archdiocese of San Jose, Professor of New Testament at the Instituto Ciencias Religiosas while in Toledo. 8