The Bible and Its Interpreters The University of Texas at Austin, Fall 2012 Prof. Lesley-Anne Dyer Course nos.: CTI 304 (33885) Class Meetings: MWF 10:00 11:00am, CBA 4.326 Office Hours: MW 11:00 12:00am & by appointment, WAG 401D Flags: Global Cultures, Writing I. Goals & Description This course aims at a wide-ranging familiarity with the Jewish and Christian Bibles as they have been understood through dominant traditions of biblical interpretation. This will be accomplished by extensive reading of the Bible itself and its most influential exegetes. The focus will be upon the narrative and themes of the Pentateuch because of the central place that these books and the person of Moses have played in both Judaism and Christianity. Interpreters from 200 BC to AD 200 will be prioritized because they are writing during the period that formed the various Biblical canons. Selections from interpreters in the Medieval, Reformation, and Modern periods will also be read and discussed. It will be seen that interpretation and exegesis takes many forms, including translation, re-telling, commentary, citation, preaching, and theology. Each of these forms exhibit its own hermeneutic strategies, and we will attempt to understand the motivations behind the different approaches to interpretation. As a major example of influential translation as interpretation, the King James Bible or Authorized version will be the primary text of the Bible studied in this particular course. In addition to being a core text of the English-speaking world, its translators were interested in the preservation of continuity between the text and the traditions of its interpretation. As such, it keeps technical terminology in the translation that is often helpful in understanding older exegetical texts. Objectives To read the Bible in light of the history of its interpretation, being sensitive to the variety of modes that this interpretation takes. To understand the function of narrative in Biblical literature, and to see how narratives are often appropriated differently depending upon context. To develop a general sense of the variety of Biblical literature. To learn how to recognize, speak, and write about the techniques, purposes, and distinctives of a piece of Biblical interpretation. To study carefully the Pentateuch narrative and its reception, especially interpretations found in Biblical literature and interpretations from 200 BCE 200 CE.
II. Requirements & Evaluation Assignments Pre-Class Assignments and Participation 25% Movie Analysis /Attendance of Liturgy 10% Midterm 20% Research Paper 20% Final 25% Journal on Blackboard If there is a question for a given days assignment, write a one-page response to the question using appropriate quotations to support your points. If there is no question for that day, choose your own topic for a journal entry, making sure to root your questions, insights, and opinions in the text. Satisfactory journal entries follow the instructions above and illustrate that you have looked at all of the readings for the day. These are due before class and are designed to encourage better class discussion, which means that you may be called upon to discuss your journal entry in class. If done well, they should also help you to prepare for the exams. While I will always check for completion of the journal, at random times, I will assign grades and give more detailed comments. If you would really like my comments on a particular day s journal, just write Please Comment at the top of the journal. More than 4 incomplete journals will always negatively affect your grade. Final grades will be based upon overall journal quality and improvement over time. Movie Analysis (4 5 pages) Read the biblical book(s) associated with one of these movies: The Prince of Egypt, The Ten Commandments (1956), The Story of Ruth (1960), One Night with the King, Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie (2002), The Passion of the Christ. After watching the movie, write a 5-page analysis of how and why the film version interpreted the biblical story the way it did. What kinds of things get added to the story for dramatic effect or to increase audience understanding? What kinds of questions might be answered by the film maker s added details, re-ordering of material, or visualization? What things might have been done as a matter of practicality or accomodation to a audio-visual, rather than a written, medium? Remember you must know the written text well in order to write meaningfully about the movie itself. One movie must be done for an assignment grade but additional movies, including those suggested by students, may be done for extra credit. Attendance of Festival Liturgy (4 5 pages) Attend a festival liturgy/worship service that you are not familiar with (i.e. is not your own tradition) and write a 4 5 page analysis of how scripture is used and interpreted in that service. Consider the selection of passages, order of service, preaching, music, and other forms of symbolism. The Jewish Holiday of Simchat Torah (October 9) in a Conservative or Orthodox Synagogue would be a particularly appropriate one to attend for this particular course because of its focus on the Pentateuch. Reformation Day services (October 31) in Lutheran churches, All Saints Day (November 1) services at Catholic churches, and Advent services (4 Sundays before Christmas) in Catholic or Protestant churches are also acceptable.
Research Paper (12 pages) Pick a Pentateuchal motif and research how it is used in other scripture and the history of biblical interpretation. Choose one major interpreter/interpretational text. Identify the genre of interpretation, the period in which it was written, the questions that it raises about the text, strategies it uses for resolving difficulties, and how it compares with other interpreters. Construct an informed theory for the unique aspects of this particular interpretation within its appropriate context. Midterm and Final The exams in this course will include the following sections: Identification of Terms, Analysis of Quotations, Chronological Ordering, and Short Answer. The final will also include an extended essay on a topic that synthesizes the themes of the course. III. Texts Required The Bible: Authorized King James Version with Apocrypha, edited by Robert Carroll and Stephen Prickett, Oxford World's Classics (Oxford University Press, 2008). James Kugel,The Bible As It Was (Belknap Press, 1999). Alfred Hoerth, Archaeology and the Old Testament (Baker Academic, 2009). Recommended James Kugel, Traditions of the Bible (Harvard University Press, 1999). IV. Policies Academic Integrity (quoted from: http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/acint_student.php) A fundamental principle for any educational institution, academic integrity is highly valued and seriously regarded at The University of Texas at Austin. More specifically, you and other students are expected to maintain absolute integrity and a high standard of individual honor in scholastic work undertaken at the University. This is a very basic expectation that is further reinforced by the University's Honor Code. At a minimum, you should complete any assignments, exams, and other scholastic endeavors with the utmost honesty, which requires you to: acknowledge the contributions of other sources to your scholastic efforts; complete your assignments independently unless expressly authorized to seek or obtain assistance in preparing them; follow instructions for assignments and exams, and observe the standards of your academic discipline; and avoid engaging in any form of academic dishonesty on behalf of yourself or another student. For the official policies on academic integrity and scholastic dishonesty, please refer to Chapter 11 of the Institutional Rules on Student Services and Activities. Attendance and Absences Attendance and thoughtful, prepared participation is one of the primary purposes of this course. Absences can be excused, or assignment deadlines extended, only for grave reasons (e.g., illness, family circumstances) and only with documentation by the University. Do not come to class if you
will make others sick, but please let me know ahead of time. In the case of an absence due to religious observance, notification must be given two weeks in advance. Please give me notice before any class absences. If that is not possible, contact me as soon as you can. Unexcused absences You are still responsible for the reading, journal, and getting notes from fellow student, even if you cannot make class: this will be important for your preparation for exams. Unexcused absences are penalized in the overall grade for the course: the penalty is extremely small for a single absence ( 1/48 th of a letter grade), but doubles with each repeated absence 48 (e.g., five absences = 1/3 of a letter grade); nine or more unexcused absences automatically result in failure of the course. Computers The use of computers or similar electronic devices during class is prohibited. Texting etc. in class will be counted as an unexcused absence (and may be mocked). Students with Disabilities Students with disabilities may request appropriate academic accommodations from the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, Services for Students with Disabilities, http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd/. Email Policy and Paper Drafts I will answer your email within 24hrs but cannot promise that I will get to it sooner than that. While I am willing to look at drafts, these require a minimum of 48hrs., and in the case of a large number of them received at one time, will be dealt with in the order received. I will send you an email if I think I will not be able to get to your paper in time. V. Schedule Wednesday, August 29: Introduction Friday, August 31: Translation and Interpretation In what way might translation be considered a form of interpretation? What problems for interpretation arise as a result of translation? How might the study of the King James translation align with some of the aims of our present course in a department like the Center for Core Texts and Ideas? Read: Selections from the introduction to the Oxford World Classics Bible (OWCB), p. xi xxiv; Figurative, Literal, and Christian Meanings from Scripture: Augustine, Yarchin, p. 61 75; The Bible of King James, Adam Nicolson, National Geographic, http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/12/king-james-bible/nicolson-text. Wednesday, September 5: Introduction to Early Interpretation How might early forms of interpretation compare and contrast with our modern concepts of interpretation? What are some of the major concerns of early interpreters?
Read: The Ancient Biblical Intepreters in Kugel, The Bible as It Was, p. 1 49; An overview of the Classical Jewish Interpretative Tradition, Yarchin, p.111 120. Deutoronomy 6: 1 20; Psalm 119, Hebrews 4:11 13 and 5:11 14; 2 Timothy 2:14 18, 3:14 17, 2 Peter 3:1-2, 15-16 Friday, September 7: Creation Why does Genesis begin with a creation story? What aspects of the way the story is told do you find significant? Read: OWCB, pp. 321 329, Genesis 1 and 2; Kugel, p. 53 64. Monday, September 10: Augustine on the Literal Interpretation of Creation What does Augustine mean by a literal intepretation of Genesis? Why is it so hard to attain a literal interpretation of Genesis? Augustine, On Genesis Against the Manichees, I (p.25 57), Unfinished Literal Commentary (p.105 118) and On the Literal Interpretation, I (p.155 201, 287) [Handout]. Wednesday, September 12: Adam and Eve Read: Genesis 2 3; Kugel, p.67 82; Hoerth, p. 183 189. Friday, September 14: Adam and Eve in Canonical Narrative The shape of a narrative is often affected by how that story is understood to end. How might the differences between the Jewish and Christian canons affect the meaning that each of these communities attach to this story? Gary Anderson, The Genesis of Perfection, 1 20, 177 188 and Appendix B (annotation); Augustine, City of God 13.1 4 and 12 15 and 14.1 7, 11 18, 23, 24, 26, 28 Monday, September 17: Cane and Abel Read: Genesis 4 5; Kugel, p.85 96; Augustine, City of God, 15.1 2, 4 7. Wednesday, September 19: Noah, the Flood, and the Tower of Babel (9) Read: Genesis 6 11; Kugel, p.99 130; Hoerth, p. 189 200. Friday, September 21: Problems of History, Archaeology, and the Bible With the story of Abraham, the narrative of the Bible begins to enter into the realm of history that is more clearly verifiable. What is the relationship between history, archaeology, and the Bible? Compare and contrast the various viewpoints from the readings below. Read: Enlightenment Rationality for Understanding Scripture: Baruch Spinoza, Yarchin, p. 195 207; Archaeology and Biblical Interpretation: William F. Albright, Yarchin, p. 260 275; Hoerth, pp. 13 22, 28 29, 31 36, scan 36 43, 44 54; Salvation History in Hartlich, Yarchin, p. 290 305; Introduction to the Oxford World Classics Bible, pp. xliv xlvi. Monday, September 24: Abraham s Call Why was Abraham called? What was he called to? What does it mean to be the God of Abraham? Read: Genesis 12 14; Kugel, p.133 148; Hoerth, p.56 74; Augustine, City of God, 16.12.
Wednesday, September 26: Melchizedek and the Trials of Abraham Why would Abraham give tithes to Melchizedek? Read: Genesis 15 22; Kugel, p.163 178; Origen, Genesis Homily 8 [handout]. Friday, September 28: Lot and Lot s Wife Read: Genesis 18 19; Kugel, p.179 195, Hoerth, p. 75 99. Monday, October 1: Jacob and Esau Read: Genesis 25 28; Kugel, p.199 214, Hoerth, p. 101 123. Wednesday, October 3: Jacob and the Angel Read: Genesis 29 32; Kugel, p.215 229. Friday, October 5: Joseph s Ups and Downs Read: Genesis 37, 39 41; Kugel, p.245 262; Hoerth, p.124 143 Monday, October 8: Jacob s Sons in Egypt Read: Genesis 42 50; Kugel, p.265 284; Hoerth, p.144 164. Wednesday, October 10: Moses and Israel s Slavery in Egypt Although he does not appear in the Pentateuch until Exodus, the person of Moses is traditionally associated with the entirety of the Pentateuch. Why is Moses so important? Try to identify and discern the different ways in which he had importance and has acquired importance (for example, as an example to others, etc.) Read: OWCB, p. 330 332; Exodus 1 4; Kugel, p. 287 308. Look at the following webpage, esp., Moses and Go down, Moses, http://ctl.du.edu/spirituals/freedom/source.cfm. Friday, October 12: The Exodus and the Red Sea Read: Exodus 5 15:21 Kugel, p.311 352*; Hoerth, p. 165 182. Monday, October 15: Into the Wilderness, Mt. Sinai and the Golden Calf What is the significance of the law for the Jewish people? What is halakic interpretation? Why is it important? Do we have analogous kinds of interpretation in our own culture? Read: Exodus 15:22 19; 28:1 3, 36 38; 29:42 46; 31:12 18; 32 36:7; 40; Kugel, p.356 437; Hoerth, p.201 222; Halakic Interpretation of Scripture, Yarchin, p.121 139. Wednesday, October 17: Worship in the Wilderness Read: OWCB, pp. 332 334; Numbers 11 36; Kugel, p.441 476. Friday, October 19: The Torah and Moses Departure What role does Moses death play in Deutoronomy? What issues might the death of Moses raise for the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch? If Moses did not write all of the Pentateuch, does this affect its relative spiritual authority?
Read: OWCB, pp. 334 340; Deutoronomy 1 13, 28 33; Kugel, p. 503 548; Renewing the Jewish Past to Engage the Present: Moses Mendelssohn, Yarchin, p. 208 217. Monday, October 22: Midterm Wednesday, October 24: Out of the Whirlwind No journal due for today. Read: OWCB, pp. 351 354; Job 1 6, 11 12, 14 16, 27 42. Friday, October 26: Medieval Interpretation of Job What view of the law is found in Job? Is it like the view found in the Pentateuch? Why or why not? Read: How can a Text Bear Multiple Meanings? Thomas Aquinas, Yarchin, p. 93 96; Gregory the Great, Commentary on the Book of the Blessed Job, I.1.1 [http://www.lectionarycentral.com/gregorymoralia/book01.html] and I.1.IV Preface [http://www.lectionarycentral.com/gregorymoraliaindex.html] and III.35.1 18, 26 32, 35, 49 [http://www.lectionarycentral.com/gregorymoralia/book35.html] Monday, October 29: Psalms and the Pentateuchal Narratives How do certain Psalms address Penteteuchal themes? How might these be contrasted with a typical Davidic Psalm? How might they be compared? The Psalms are divided into five books. Is there any significance for this? Read: OWCB, pp. 354 355, 34 342; Psalms 1 4, 8, 14 16, 19 20, 22 25, 51, 53, 76, 99, 104 106, 110, 119, 135, 139. Diodore of Tarsus, Prologue to the Commentary on the Psalms and Preface to Commentary on Psalm 118 [handout]; Medieval Recognition of the Literal Sense: Nicholas of Lyra and the Glossa Ordinaria on Psalm 23, Yarchin, p. 97 108; Haggadic Interpretation of the Scriptures, Psalm 23, Yarchin, p.140 148. Wednesday, October 31: Solomonic Literature What is the relationship between wisdom and the law? What is the appeal of an allegorical interpretation of the Song of Songs? How would such a book relate to the Law? Read: OWC Bible, pp. 342 347, 355 359; Proverbs 1 10, 31; Ecclesiastes; Song of Songs; selection from Denys Turner, Eros and Allegory [handout]. Friday, November 2: The Law s role in Exile and Return What role does the law play in the return of Israel from Exile under Ezra and Nehemiah? How has this given rise to theories of scriptural authorship? Read: OWC Bible, pp. 347 350; Nehemiah; Spinoza, Theological-Political Treatises 8.120 9.145; Plain Sense and Applied Meaning in Rabbinic Exegesis by David Halvini in The Return to Scripture, p.107 141; Hoerth, p. 296 403.
Monday, November 5: The Law and the Prophets Describe the relationship between the law and the prophets. Do all prophets relate to the law in the same ways? Read: OWC Bible, pp. 359 363, 366 371; Isaiah 5 6, 40, 52 66; Ezekiel 1 4; Daniel 1 7, 9 10; Hosea 1 3, 9, 11, 13 14; Jonah, Malachi 4; Heschel, What manner of man is the Prophet? Wednesday, November 7: The Gospel of Matthew and the New Testament What Old Testament figures does Christ resemble in the book of Matthew? What might be the significance of there being 5 discourses in Matthew? What teachings of Jesus appear to you to be the most significant? Read: Hoerth, p. 404 422; Kugler and Hartin, The Gospel of Matthew: Jesus as Teacher, An Introduction to the Bible (Eerdmans, 2009); Matthew 1 18. Friday, November 9: Chrysostom on the Law in the Teachings of Christ in Matthew How might Christ be understood to be the fulfillment of the law by his teachings? How would you characterize Chrysostom s style of interpretation? Chrysostom, Homilies on Matthew: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110.iii.iii.ii.html Homily 1 (The different Gospels): http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110.iii.iv.html Homily 15 (Sermon on the Mount): http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110.iii.xv.html Homily 16 (Law and the Prophets): http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110.iii.xvi.html Homily 17 (Moral Law) http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110.iii.xvii.html Homily 18 (Forbearing with Lawbreakers) http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110.iii.xviii.html Monday, November 12: The Crucifixion and Resurrection in Matthew How might Christ be understood to be the fulfillment of the law through his death and resurrection? Read: Matthew 19 28; Irenaeus, Against Heresies, IV.12ff. [handout]. Wednesday, November 14: John How does John use the motif of creation in his gospel? Why is this significant? Read: John; Rev. 1 and 21 22; The Word: Creation and New Creation in The Theology of John s Gospel and Letters, p. 336 354. Friday, November 16: The Early Spread of the Gospel How is the gospel told in Acts? What are considered the key points of the gospel? Does audience affect how the story is told? Read: Acts 1 12; Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 3.7.8 12 (Philip and Stephen) [handout]. Monday, November 19 and Wednesday, November 21: [Class cancelled: AAR Meeting] [Thanksgiving Holiday] Monday, November 26: Paul the Converted Pharisee
What is the significance of Paul s conversion? Why are there so many accounts of it? How does Paul s presentation of the Gospel differ when he is speaking to a Jewish or a Gentile audience? Why are Paul and Peter sometimes at odds? Read: Acts [9], 15, 17, 22, 26, Galatians 1; Luther, Sermon on the Occasion of the Conversion of St. Paul [handout]. Wednesday, November 28: Galatians Read: Galatians, Theodore of Mopsuestia s Commentary on Galatians in Yarchin, p.76 82; Calvin on Galatians in Yarchin, p.184 194. Friday, November 30: Romans How does Paul use the Hebrew Scriptures in Romans? What are some of the most important motifs he employs and why? Read: Romans; Luther, Prefaces to Romans [http://www.ccel.org/l/luther/romans/pref_romans.html] Monday, December 3: Irenaean Interpretations of Romans Read: Irenaeus, Against Heresies III.16,18, 21.10, 22, 23 [handout]. Wednesday, December 5: Hebrews Read: Hebrews; Masterplot and Meaning in Biblical Narrative by DLJ in Houses of the Interpreter. Friday, December 7: Reviewing with The Epistle of Barnabus How does the Epistle of Barnabus attempt to reconcile the Old and New Testament s resemble and differ from those of the canonical epistles studied so far? Read: The Epistle of Barnabus [http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/barnabas-lake.html]; Kugel and Greer, Christian Transformations of the Hebrew Scriptures in Early Biblical Interpretation [handout]. Saturday, December 15, 9:00-12:00 noon FINAL EXAM