Biblical Studies
B 230 Introduction to
Biblical Studies
This course has three purposes: 1) To aid the student in getting
acquainted with the Bible as well as developing the skills needed to makes
use of those tools; 2) To aid the student in understanding the Bible as
the Word of God; 3) To aid the student in understanding the development of
the Bible as a normative text for the Church. Among issues discussed
in this course will be: the historical-critical method, tradition history,
the Bible as literature, the transmission of the Bible, its various
English translations and textual criticism. Papers will be
required. (3 credits)
B 231 Introduction to Old
Testament Theology and Themes
This course is designed to help the student: 1) understand the context
of each book of the Old Testament, 2) appreciate the poetic and narrative
skills witnessed in the Old Testament, 3) comprehend the themes and
theologies developed in the Old Testament. (3 Credits)
B 232 History of Israel in
Biblical Times
This course will study the history of Israel from its roots in an Ancient
Near Eastern milieu, its election and call by God, its settlement in
Canaan, and its development through the Intertestamental Period. (3 Credits)
B 233, Introduction to
Theology and
B 234 History of the New Testament
An introduction to the world of the New Testament, to the various writings
which comprise it (who wrote them, where, when and why), to the thought
expressed by these writings and to the process by which they were gathered
into the New Testament. (6 Credits)
B 301 Book of Job
The purpose of this course is to provide the student with an opportunity
to appreciate the Book of Job as literature and as a theological statement
about man and God. The course will be conducted as a seminar; it is not a
lecture course. Commentaries will be assigned. At each session,
participants will be called upon to represent their particular
commentaries. Study guides will be distributed for each class. They will
serve to guide the preparation for each class; they also will serve as
resources for each session. Papers will be required. Limited to six
participants. No auditors. Prerequisites: B 231, B 232 or LPB 301. (
3 Credits)
B 305 Psalms: Prayer in the
Life of God's People
The structure and meaning of the Psalms will be studied in relationship to
their Hebrew roots and their later use by the Christian community.
Prerequisites: B 231, B 232 or LPB 301. (3 Credits)
B 306
Biblical Wisdom Literature
Biblical Wisdom literature will be studied for its literary form and
content with a view to understanding its growth through life experience
from practical wisdom to theological development.
Prerequisites: B 231, B 232 or LPB 301. (3 Credits)
B 307 Minor
Prophets
Minor Prophets, or the Book of the Twelve, will be studied in their
literary and historical context so as to understand their interaction with
the social and religious society in which they preached.
Prerequisites: B 231, B 232 or LPB 301. (3 Credits)
B 308
Isaiah: God's Children Lost and Found
The purpose of this course is to provide the student with an
opportunity to appreciate the artistry and theology of the Book of
Isaiah. We will approach the book as a literary unity and engage in
close reading of selected passages with an aim to: 1) gleaning what we can
of the historical milieu; 2) discovering what literary techniques the
author has employed to sustain our interest and convey his message; 3) and
benefiting from the book’s manifold insights into the relationship
between people and God. The course will be conducted as a seminar;
it is not a lecture course. Commentaries will be assigned. At
each session participants will be called upon to represent their
particular commentators. Study guides will be distributed for each
class; they will also serve as resources for discussion. Papers will
be required. Prerequisites: B 231, B 232 or LPB 301. (3
Credits)
B 310 Genesis-Exodus: Call
and Commitment
Israel's beginnings and its formation as a people are studied from
creation and Patriarchal narratives through the Exodus and covenant
making. Understanding the meaning of the books for salvation history
develops through recognition of the genre and the intent of the sacred
writers. Prerequisites: B 231, B 232 or LPB 301. (3 Credits)
B 313 Women in the Biblical
Tradition
Evolving attitudes toward women as reflected in the Hebrew Scriptures and
the New Testament will be considered against an historical background. New
approaches to New Testament understandings will be examined in order to
clarify the basic theologies which have a continuing influence in Church
and society today. Prerequisite: An introductory Old or New Testament
course. (3 Credits)
B 318
Claiming the Promised Land: The Book of Joshua
We will read and reflect on
the Book of Joshua. Our principal concern will be to learn and
appreciate the theological lessons within the book. We will also
take note of the narrative technique exhibited in it. Prerequisites:
B 231, B 232 or LPB 301. (3 Credits)
B 351
First and Second Corinthians
Brief investigation of Corinth and of the situations in the Christian
community there to which Paul responds, followed by a detailed examination
of the two letters that reveal in an unparalleled way the struggles of an
early group of Christians to live their faith, and Paul’s struggle to
guide them in doing so. Prerequisites: B 233, 234 or LPB 302.
(3 Credits)
B 353 Gospel of Luke and
Acts of the Apostles
An examination of various themes running through this two-volume history
of Jesus and of the church, among the most important: Luke's presentation
of Jesus, Luke's view of relations between Israel and the church, Luke's
understanding of history and Luke's presentation of Paul. Prerequisites: B
233, 234 or LPB 302. (3 Credits)
B 354 Johannine Literature
This course will provide the student with an opportunity to learn and
appreciate the theology and narrative techniques exhibited in the fourth
gospel. The course will follow the seminar rather than lecture format.
Commentaries will be assigned. At each session, students will be called
upon to share their insights and discoveries. A written paper is required
on the interpretation of a selected unit within the gospel. Topics to be
considered from a Johannine perspective include: Christology, eschatology,
and discipleship. Prerequisites: B 233, 234 or LPB 302. (3
Credits)
B 355 Galatians and
Philippians
Brief consideration of the situations to which these letters respond,
followed by detailed examination of the letters themselves. The main focus
of the course will be the question of the proper place of the Jewish law
in Christian life, a question central to both letters. Prerequisites: B
233, 234 or LPB 302. (3 Credits)
B 409 The Beginnings of
Prophecy - Elijah and Elisha
Through a close and careful reading of the Elijah/Elisha cycles in Kings,
this course will provide the participant with an opportunity to appreciate
the artistry and theology of those narratives. While giving some attention
to the historical context of the story, we will be principally interested
in the narrative techniques employed by the author(s) to convey the
message. Other considerations will include: the characteristics of an
Israelite prophet; the distinction between true and false prophecy; the
origin of prophetic authority. Finally, some attention will be given to
the role of Elijah within the New Testament. The course will be conducted
as a seminar; it is not a lecture course. Limited to six participants.
Prerequisites: B 231, B 232 or LPB 301. (3 Credits)
B 410 The Book of Jeremiah
The theology of Jeremiah is crisis theology. The course examines the
problems of faith and hope as dealt with by Jeremiah on the eve of the
destruction of Jerusalem, the temple, the priesthood and sacrifice, and
the State of Judah itself. Prerequisites: B 231, B 232 or LPB 301.
(3 Credits)
B 411 Ezekiel
The purpose of this course is to provide the student with an opportunity
to appreciate the artistry and theology of the Book of Ezekiel. We will
approach the book as a literary unit and engage in close reading of
selected passages. We will seek to learn what we can about the history
within the book as well as its historical context. We will strive to be
sensitive to any literary techniques employed within the book to help
convey its message. We will also be interested in what insights the book
provides about our relationship with God. The course will be conducted as
a seminar; it is not a lecture course. Commentaries will be assigned. At
each session, participants will be called upon to represent their
commentators. Study guides will be distributed to aid discussion and
preparation. Prerequisites: B 231, B 232 or LPB 301. (3 Credits)
B 412 Primeval History:
From Adam and Eve to Abraham and Sarah
The purpose of this course is to provide the participant with an
opportunity to appreciate the artistry and theology of the opening
chapters of Genesis (1-12). We will read the accounts closely, noting the
major difficulties in interpretation and the solutions proposed. We will
also strive to discover what literary techniques the authors have employed
to sustain our interest and communicate their message. The course will be
conducted as a seminar; it is not a lecture course. Commentaries will be
assigned. At each session, participants will be called upon to represent
their particular commentators. Study guides will be distributed. They will
serve to guide the preparation for each class; they will also serve as
resources for discussion. We will consider such questions as: what are the
key aspects of the relationship between humanity and divinity; what is the
origin of sin; what makes human life meaningful; what is faith; why must
we die. Limited to six participants. Prerequisites: B 231, B 232 or LPB
301. (3 Credits)
B 413 Wilderness
Narratives: Israel's Journey of Faith in Numbers 10-32
This course will provide the participant with an opportunity to learn and
appreciate the theology and narrative techniques exhibited in the account
of Israel's journey from Sinai to the Jordan River. The course will follow
the seminar rather than lecture format. Commentaries will be assigned. At
each session participants will be called upon to share their insights and
discoveries. Study guides will be distributed for each session. They will
serve as guides for preparation; they will also serve as resources for
classroom discussion. Papers will be required. No auditors. Prerequisites:
B 231, B 232 or LPB 301. (3 Credits)
B 452 Gospels of Mark and
Matthew
The course will note the development of the gospel form from the early
apostolic preaching to written document. The theology of each Evangelist
will be studied, and comparison of the two gospels will make clear the
distinctive character of each, and provide an example of the development
of early Christian thought in Matthew's revision of Mark. Prerequisites: B
233, 234 or LPB 302. (3 Credits)
B 454 Pauline Theology
A systematic synthesis of the theology which underlies the letters of
Paul, especially his letter to the Romans. We will consider Paul's
understanding of: 1) the human condition, 2) God's transformation of that
condition through Jesus Christ, and 3) the appropriate human response to
that transformation. Prerequisites: B 233, 234 or LPB 302. (3
Credits) LPB 301 Old Testament
Scriptures
Overview of the Old Testament studies the geographic and cultural
background from with the literary record of the Hebrew faith experience
emerged and grew. In this context the literature of the Pentateuch,
Prophets and Wisdom is explored. (3 credits)
LPB 302 New Testament
Scriptures
This course is designed to give an overall introduction to the New
Testament. The main goal is to provide basic background information
and some training in interpretation of the New Testament as it relates to
ministry. (3 credits)
LPB 404 Life and Death
Issues in the Old Testament
This seminar presents the participant with an opportunity to give serious
consideration to the significance of the biblical message for his or her
life. Attention will be given to Old Testament issues which present
us with fundamental options leading to life or death. The basic text
for the seminar is the Bible, but the participant will also read the major
theologians of the Bible. Papers exploring some facet of this
subject will be required each week. Participants will be called upon
to present their papers to the seminar. (3 credits)
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