Course Title: THEO5911 MODERN INTERPRETATION OF THE BIBLE First Term 2015/2016 Tue 6:30pm-8:45 pm ELB 202 Prof Philip Chia (Email: theo5911chia@gmail.com) Course Description: This course covers the modern development of biblical interpretation in the western academic scholarship, which will interact vigorously with contemporary social, political, historical, philosophical and theological disciplines. Special emphases are given to different approaches and methods of interpretation, which were developed with insights and influences from modern literary and critical theories, social sciences and humanities, and various inter-disciplinary approaches. Course Objectives: 1. To learn different methods in biblical interpretations (with emphasis on the Hebrew Bible): their presuppositions, methodological questions, characteristics etc. 2. To evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of these methods. 3. To apply these methods to the interpretation of biblical texts. Course Content and Schedule: The class will meet three periods each week for lectures and discussion. This course mainly introduces various modern approaches to biblical interpretations. Date Topics Key concepts/persons Readings Sept 08 Course Introduction Biblical Interpretation: Past, Present, Future 3 distinct periods Sept 15 Historical, Tradition-historical, Source, Textual, Redaction Criticisms; Form Criticism and Rhetorical Criticism Sept 22 Canonical Criticism, Social-Scientific Criticism, Socio-literary Criticism Sept 29 Structural, Post-structural/ Deconstructionist, Narrative Criticisms; Reader-Response Criticism Oct 06 Ideological Criticism, Feminist Criticism New Historicism; Linguistic, Bakhtinian Reading; Traditional Methods of Biblical Criticism; heilsgeschichte, religionsgeschichte Schule; Gattungen, Sitz im Leben; Rhetoric, New Literary Criticism, Close-reading; James Muilenberg Canonical approach, B.S. Childs, James Sanders, G. Sheppard Norman Gottwald Daniel Patte, Ethics of Biblical Interpretation, David Jobling David Clines, Interested Parties, Interested Readers; J. Cheryl Exum, D. N. Fewell, P. Trible, Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, Voices, discourse 1 : Introduction Ch1-5, 8 Ch6, 7; Yee, Ch 3; Moore, Ch 6 Ch9-11; Yee, Ch 2, 6; Moore, Ch 2-4 Ch13,14; Yee, Ch 4, 7; Moore, Ch 5
Oct 13 Liberation, Political Readings; Ecological Criticism Oct 20 Postmodern and Postcolonial Biblical Interpretations Oct 27 Latino/a Criticism African Criticism Nov 03 Public, Visual, Cultural Interpretations analysis; Political Hegemony, Marxist theory Gerald West; Ronald Sider Class notes Political Hegemony, Marxist Class notes theory; Sugirtharajah, The Postcolonial Biblical Reader Racial-Ethnic-Nationalist Criticisms; Contextual/Location Criticisms Creation, Covenant theology, world-system, visual-culture Asian Contextual Interpretation I Nov 10 Asian Contextual Interpretation II Nov 17 No Class / / Nov 24 Presentation I Dec 01 Presentation II Class notes Class notes = Steven L. and Stephen R. Haynes, eds. To Each Its Own Meaning: An Introduction to Biblical Criticisms and Their Application Revised and Expanded (Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1993, 1999). [BS511.2.T64 1993] [BS476.T6 1999] Yee = Gale A. Yee, ed. Judges & Method: New Approaches in Biblical Studies Second Edition (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1995, 2007). [BS1305.2.J83 1995] [BS1305.52.J83 2007] Moore = Janice Capel Anderson and Stephen Moore, eds. Mark & Method: New Approaches in Biblical Studies Second Edition (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1992, 2008). [BS2585.2.M2397 1992] Stanley E. Porter and David Tombs, eds. Approaches to New Testament Study (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1995) John Barton, Reading the Old Testament: Method in Biblical Study Revised and Enlarged (Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1984, 1996) Barbara Green, Mikhail Bakhtin and Biblical Scholarship: An Introduction (Atlanta, Georgia: Society of Biblical Literature, 2000). Gooder, Paula. Searching for Meaning: An Introduction to Interpreting the New Testament. (Louisville: WJK Press), 2009. Learning Outcomes: Knowledge Outcomes: (1) To be able to understand methods of modern biblical scholarship and their struggle to make relevance the discipline to their contemporary contexts of public life (2) To be able to apply modern literary critical methods in engaging biblical text. Attitude Outcomes (1) To develop students ability to have a critical and yet sympathetic understanding and appreciation of the historical development of modern biblical scholarship. (2) To develop students sensitivity to the relevancy of biblical studies to the public dimension of human life 2
Learning Activities This course mainly consists of lectures and student participations through class presentation of project. Student participation is encourage to engage the relevant topics in class. Students will be required to do a 15 to 20 minute presentation (could be an individual or group project depending on the size of the class) and to lead the discussion in the session. This presentation will constitute 25% of the overall grade. Lecture Presentation & Web-based Course Reading Written Assignment Discussion teaching (hr) (hr) /course (hr) (hr) (hr) / course in class in class 3 per week 6 hr/ 2 week 1.0 per week 3 per week 12 hr M M M M M M: Mandatory activity in the course Assessment scheme Reading Report (25%) Submission Date: Oct 20, 2015 Readings from the suggested list to a combined total of 250 pages, and select THREE modern interpretive methods and write a 2000 words review on their relevance to contextual biblical interpretation. This will constitute 25% of the overall marks. Students are expected to spend 3 hour out-of-class per week for course reading. Project Presentation on Modern Method of Biblical Interpretation: (25%) Submission Date: Dec 07, 2015 Each student is to do a 10-15 mins presentation with Power Point in class, as a term project on a specific method in Modern Biblical Interpretation, introducing and highlighting the key contributing idea/concept of the method to modern biblical interpretation. The final Power Point is to be submitted on the above set date. Grading of this exercise will be based on a peer review of the presentation. Term Paper (50%) Submission Date: Dec 07, 2015 A written assignment (5,000 to 6,000 words & due on or before Dec 7) based on the assigned research topic on a specific method in modern biblical interpretation, illustrating how the method would have contributed to the understanding of a specific biblical text. This exercise will constitute 50 % of the total grade. Students must submit all written assignments via the Webpage of the Chinese University Plagiarism Identification Engine (VeriGuide) http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/veriguide; post a copy onto the and give a hardcopy together with a print out of receipt and signed Academic Honesty Declaration Statement from Veriguide (received via e-mail after you have submitted your assignment) to prof mail box at Divinity School of Chung Chi College. Task nature Description Weight Readings & Review Selected reading of 250 pages based on suggested course reading 25% on Methods list. Write a 2000 words on Methods review. Deadline Oct 20, 15 Presentation Written Assignment 10-15 minutes presentation in class based on the assigned topic + leading a discussion afterwards and participation in other presentations Term Paper (5,000 to 6,000 words & due on or before Dec 7) 3 25% 50%
Learning resources for students Basic readings will be taken from: A Moore = Anderson, Janice Capel, and Stephen D. Moore, eds. Mark & Method: New Approaches in Biblical Studies. Second Edition. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1992, 2008. [BS2585.2.M2397 1992] Yee = Yee, Gale A., ed. Judges & Method: New Approaches in Biblical Studies. Second Edition. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1995, 2007. [CC BS1305.2.J83 1995] [CC BS1305.52.J83 2007] =, Steven L., and Stephen R. Haynes, eds. To Each its Own Meaning: An Introduction to Biblical Criticisms and their Application. Revised and Expanded. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1993, 1999. [CC BS511.2.T64 1993] [CC BS476.T6 1999] B 1. Lemon, Joel M., and Kent Harold Richards, eds. Method Matters: Essays on the Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible in Honor of David L. Petersen. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2009. 2. McGowan, Andrew B., and Kent Harold Richards, eds. Method and Meaning: Essays on New Testament Interpretation in Honor of Harold W. Attridge. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2011. 3. Aitken, James K., Jeremy M. S. Clines, and Christl M. Maier. Interested Readers: Essays on the Hebrew Bible in Honor of David J. A. Clines. Atlanta: SBL, 2013. 4. Boer, Roland and Fernando F. Segovia, ed. The Future of the Biblical Past: Envisioning Biblical Studies on a Global Key. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2012. 5. Gooder, Paula. Searching for Meaning: An Introduction to Interpreting the New Testament. Louisville: WJK Press, 2009. C 1. Boer, Roland. The Hebrew Bible and Postcolonialism: The Next Step. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2013. 2. Lozada, Francisco Jr., and Fernando F. Segovia eds. Latino/a Biblical Hermeneutics: Problematics, Objectives, Strategies. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2014. 3. Moore, Stephen D., and Fernando F. Segovia, eds. Postcolonial Biblical Criticism: Interdisciplinary Intersections. London, New York: T & T Clark International, 2005. 4. Sugirtharajah, R.S., ed. The Postcolonial Biblical Reader. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2006. D 1. Barton, John. Reading the Old Testament: Method in Biblical Study. Revised and Enlarged. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1984, 1996. [CC BS1171.2.B33] [CC BS1171.2.B33 1996] 2. Coomber Matthew J.M. Bible and Justice: Ancient Texts, Modern Challenges. London, Oakville: Equinox, 2011. 3. Clines, David J.A. Interested Parties: The Ideology of Writers and Readers of the Hebrew Bible. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1995. 4. Exum, J. Cheryl, and David J.A. Clines, eds. The New Literary Criticism and the Hebrew Bible. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1993. 5. Habel, Norman C., Trudinger Peter. Exploring Ecological Hermeneutics. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2008. 6. Horrel, David. Ecological Hermeneutics: Biblical, Historical, and Theological Perspectives. London & New York: T&T Clark, 2010. 7., Hunt C, Southgate CCB. Greening Paul: Rereading the Apostles in an Age of Ecological Crisis. Waco, Texas: Baylor University Press, 2010. 8.. The Bible and the Environment: Towards a Critical Ecological Biblical Theology. London & Oakville, CT, Equinox, 2010. 9. Porter, Stanley E., and David Tombs, eds. Approaches to New Testament Study. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1995. [CC BS2361.2.A56 1995] 10. Knight, Barbara Green. Mikhail Bakhtin and Biblical Scholarship: An Introduction. Atlanta, Georgia: Society of Biblical Literature, 2000. [BS600.2.G74 2000] 11. Kim, Wonil; Ellens, Deborah; Floyd, Michael; Sweeney, Marvin A. Reading the Hebrew Bible for a New Millennium: Form, Concept, and Theological Perspective, Vo1.1&2. London, New York: T & T Clark International, 2000, 2001. 12. Sider Ronald J., Knippers Diane. Toward an Evangelical Public Policy. MI: Brazons Press, 2005. 13.. Just Politics: A Guide for Christian Engagement. MI: Brazons Press, 2012. 4
E 1. Jeanrond, Werner G. Text and Interpretation: As Categories of Theological Thinking. Reprint Edition. New York: Crossroad, 1988; SCM, 2005. 2.. Theological Hermeneutics: Development and Significance. New York: Crossroad, 1991; SCM, 1994. 3. Porter, Stanley E., and Robinson Jason. Hermeneutics: An Introduction to Interpretive Theory. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 2011. [CC BD241.P67 2011] 4. Thiselton, Anthony C. Hermeneutics: An Introduction. Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 2009. [BS476.T478 2009] Other suggested readings will be given in class and through the. A useful internet resource for this course is the website of the Society of Biblical Literature, http://www.sbl-site.org. Feedback for evaluation A tailored made mid-term course evaluation and end-of-term university wide course evaluation will be conducted in class. Students comments and feedback on the course through e-mail or within or personal meeting with instructor are always welcomed. Professors Contact Details Professor: Dr. Philip Chia 謝品然 (Divinity School of Chung Chi College) Department Webpage: http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/theology/ Professor s office Hour: By appointment Professor s email: theo5911chia@gmail.com Please use the e-mail and/or Discussion Forum in for all course communication A Facility for Posting Course Announcements Details for assignment and feedback for written assignment will be posted through the or email in due course. All questions with regard to the course could be posted on the discussion forum or via e-mail and/or within the. Academic Honesty and Plagiarism Students must submit all their written assignments via VeriGuide and hand in a hard copy and a print out of receipt and a signed Academic Honesty Declaration Statement. Relevant information on academic honesty and plagiarism can be allocated via: http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty 5