DESCRIPTION:

The course involves reading the whole of Isaiah, section by section, and gaining a grasp of the contents and nature of each of these sections (chs 1-12; 13-23; 24-27; 28-33; 34-39; 40-55; 56-66). It also studies a section of about ten verses in Hebrew from each section and offers students practice in analyzing passages with a view to preaching on them and seeking to discern how they speak to the church today. It considers major themes and motifs which run through the book, the nature of the unity of the book as a whole, and its significance for Christian faith and life.

Students completing this course successfully will have gained a grasp of the book called Isaiah as a whole, gained skill in analyzing and exegeting particular texts, become enthusiastic about the way Hebrew helps them to understand the text, and considered how Isaiah relates to Christian faith and life.

The course meets twice weekly for two-hours. One class is given to section-by-section and thematic study, combining lecture and plenary discussion with work in groups of four or five. The other is given to study of individual passages in Hebrew. Classes require substantial preparation on the part of students, on average one hour of preparation for each class hour, including study of the biblical text and other specified reading. The course emphasizes collaborative learning and students need to be willing to be committed to working together with other students.

Students do not need to possess any books except a copy of the Hebrew text of Isaiah, an NRSV and one other translation, and a copy of the course reader.

Baltzer, D. Isaiah 40-66. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1998.

Brueggemann, W. Isaiah. 2 vols. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1998.

Oswalt, J. Isaiah. 2 vols. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986 and 1997.

Sawyer, J. Isaiah. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1986.

Westermann, C. Isaiah 40-66. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1969.

Wildberger, H. Isaiah 1-12. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1991.

_________. Isaiah 13-27. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1997.

1. Preparation for each class (33%).

2. 10-page study of a chosen text in Hebrew (33%).

3. 10-page reflection on studying the book as a whole (33%).

LG502. PLEASE NOTE: OT515 and OT565 are different variants of the same course, respectively based on the Hebrew text and the English text, meeting together one day and separately the other days. Students may register for only one of the two courses.

Meets M.Div. core requirement in Old Testament "B" (OTBE).

Only for students who miss more than one class.