OT
3114 - WISDOM LITERATURE
Diane Jacobson, Professor Lecture
– Tuesday,
Bockman 104C, ext. 268 Precepts – #1 Thursday, 10:40- 11:30;
#2 Thursday, 11:40- 12:30
#3 Online
PURPOSE
To
explore the continual biblical search for truth, meaning, and the right path as
reflected in the wisdom writings of the Old Testament, Apocrypha, and New
Testament. These writings are studied
with particular attention to issues of discipleship, pastoral care, mission,
and biblical theology.
COURSE
REQUIREMENTS
1. Regular preparation for
and participation in class discussions, paying particular attention to
assignments for precepts
2.
A mini aural report (written optional) on an individual proverb due Sept.20.
4.
Take on the persona of one of Job’s four friends and prepare to argue your part
on Oct.11.
5.
Post a review of an article on Job due Oct.25.
Read other posted reviews.
6.
A 1-2 page paper answering questions about Job, due Nov.1.
7. A 2-3 page reflection paper on Qoheleth
in Various Contexts, due Tuesday, Nov.8.
8. A mini oral/written report on wisdom in a book in the New Testament due Tuesday, Dec.6.
9.
A one page preview
explaining your major paper topic and listing some of the resources you will be
using for the paper due no later than Dec 11.
10. A 10- to 15-page paper,
due on or before December 18, on a specific issue raised by studying wisdom
literature, such as:
-
wisdom
and experience, law, creation, mission, or
science;
-
a
specific subject related to Proverbs, Job, Qoheleth, or another wisdom book;
-
wisdom
in the New Testament;
-
an
area of your choice, selected in consultation with the professor.
N.B. For those taking this course as a ½
course rather than a full course, you need not write the final paper (#9-10). You need not do a report on an article on Job
(#5). You can choose between one of the
smaller papers on Job or Qoheleth (#6 or #7). So, you will have four assignments to do: #2,
#4, #6 or #7, and #8.
An extensive bibliography (always in need
of updating!), available on-line at http://www.luthersem.edu/djacobso,
should be consulted as you work on this final paper.
TEXTBOOKS
Required:
Brown,
William. Character in Crisis: A Fresh
Approach to the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament.
Crenshaw, James. Old Testament Wisdom, revised and enlarged.
Recommended:
Recommended Commentaries on Proverbs, Job, and Qoheleth
Brown,
William P. Ecclesiastes.
Clifford, Richard
J. Proverbs.
(Catholic; Old Testament Library,
Scholarly. Good on rhetoric. Can be helpful at times.)
Davis,
Ellen F. Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs.
(Episcopalian;
Fox, Michael V. Proverbs 1-9. Anchor Bible 18A.
(Jewish; Anchor Bible Most scholarly of all. Can learn a great deal. Has strong opinions, not always correct.)
Garrett, Duane A. Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs.
(Baptist; New American Commentary, Helpful for
literary analysis and structural issues)
Habel,
Norman. The Book of Job. Phil.:
Westminster, 1985.
Keck, Leander E. et al. New Interpreter's Bible: The Book of Proverbs, the Book of
Ecclesiastes, the Song of Songs, the Book of Wisdom, the Book of Sirach.
(President and prof at
Seow, Choon-Leong.
Ecclesiastes.
Van Leeuwen,
Raymond C. in Leander E. Keck et al. New
Interpreter's Bible: The Book of Proverbs, the Book of Ecclesiastes, the Song
of Songs, the Book of Wisdom, The Book of Sirach.
(Prof at
Other Highly
Recommended Books:
Brenner, Athalya. A Feminist
Companion to Wisdom Literature. Sheffield:
Camp, Claudia. Wisdom and the Feminine in the Book of Proverbs.
Collins, J J. Jewish Wisdom in the Hellenistic Age.
Luther, Martin. Notes on
Ecclesiastes. Luther's Works. Jaroslav Pelikan.
McKinlay, Judith E. Gendering
Wisdom the Host: Biblical Invitations to Eat and Drink.
Murphy, Roland E. The Tree of Life:
An Exploration of Biblical Wisdom Literature.
Perdue, Leo
& Gilpin, W.C., ed. The Voice From
the Whirlwind.
Witherington III, Ben. Jesus the
Sage: the Pilgrimage of Wisdom.
In addition, biblical reading and a number of articles are listed as required or recommended reading throughout the course. See specific class assignments and on-line bibliography.
Fall
2007 CLASS SCHEDULE
|
Tues., Sept. 11 |
Lecture
#1 |
Intro: What is Wisdom, Who is Wise, and How
Does One Read a Proverb? |
|
Sept. 13 |
Precept
#1 |
Considering
Wisdom |
|
Tues., Sept. 18 |
Lecture
#2 |
Proverbs
10-31: Introduced and
Explored |
|
Sept. 20 |
Precept
#2 |
Proverbs 10-30: Proverbial Sharing |
|
Tues., Sept. 25 |
Lecture
#3 |
Proverbs
1-9: Instruction and
Wisdom Speeches |
|
Sept. 27 |
Precept
#3 |
Proverbs 10-30: Proverbial Sharing Continued |
|
Tues., Oct.2 |
Lecture
#4 |
Proverbs 1-9, 31: Woman Wisdom and Woman Folly |
|
Oct. 4 |
Precept
#4 |
Considering
Proverbs 1-9 |
|
Tues., Oct. 9 |
Lecture
#5 |
Job: The Book, The Prologue, and The Lament |
|
Oct. 11 |
Precept
#5 |
Job: The Friends |
|
Tues., Oct. 16 |
Lecture
#6 |
Job: Job’s Case |
|
Oct. 18 |
Precept
#6 |
A Job: Reading
Texts with One Another |
|
Tues., Oct. 23 |
NO CLASS |
--Reading
Days |
|
|
Oct. 25 |
Precept
#6B Online |
Write a review of one article you have read on Job. |
|
|
Tues., Oct. 30 |
Lecture #7 |
Job: God |
|
|
Nov. 1 |
Precept #7 Online |
Job: Sharing
your answers to questions about Job |
|
|
Tues., Nov.6 |
Lecture
#8 |
Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes): What |
|
Nov. 8 |
Precept
#8 |
Qoheleth: Reading Texts |
|
Tues., Nov. 13 |
Lecture #9 |
Sirach
(Ecclesiasticus): History, Culture, and Woman Wisdom As
well as Wisdom in the Psalms |
|
Nov. 15 |
Precept #9 |
Sirach
(Ecclesiasticus): On History and Women |
|
Tues., Nov. 27 |
Lecture
#10 |
Issues
of Canon; Wisdom at Qumran; Baruch Wisdom
of Solomon: Wisdom Encounters Hellenism |
|
Nov. 29 |
Precept
#10 |
|
|
Tues., Dec. 4 |
Lecture
#11 |
Wisdom
in Judaism and Intro to Wisdom in the New Testament |
|
Dec. 6 |
Precept
#11 |
Sharing
insights about Wisdom in the New Testament |
|
Tues., Dec. 11 |
Lecture
#12 |
New Testament: Jesus Speaks Wisdom/ Jesus is Wisdom |
|
Dec. 13 |
Precept
#12 |
Exploring Wisdom in the New Testament |
|
Tues., Dec. 18 |
Lecture #13 |
Wisdom, Experience, Jesus, Canon, |
CLASS ASSIGNMENTS
(On-Line Precept, see your
own tailored precept assignments)
|
Tues., Sept.
11 |
Lecture #1 |
Intro: What is Wisdom, Who is Wise, and
How Does One Read a Proverb? |
|
Th., Sept. 13 |
Precept #1 |
Considering Wisdom |
|
Tues., Sept.
18 |
Lecture #2 |
Proverbs
10-31: Introduced and
Explored |
Required reading:
-
Read Proverbs 10-31 using NRSV, NIV and/or one of the Proverbs Commentaries which
are listed above.
-
Crenshaw, 1-79; Brown, 1-21.
Recommended Reading:
-
- Collins, John J. “Proverbial Wisdom and
the Yahwist Vision” Semeia, #17, 1980
- Jacobson, Diane, “What is
Wisdom? Who is She?” Word & World,
7, 1987, 241-244.
- States, Bert O. “Troping
Through Proverbs,” American Scholar (Summer, 2001): 105-112.
|
Th., Sept. 20 |
Precept
#2 |
Proverbial
Sharing |
|
Th., Sept. 27 |
Precept
#3 |
Proverbial
Sharing Continued |
Oral (and
optional written) Assignment: Pick out one proverb from your reading of Proverbs 10-31 that you find
particularly meaningful and/or interesting.
Use whatever Hebrew you have to study the proverb. Compare at least three translations and read
about your proverb in some of the newer commentaries or other books. Consider
the proverb's meaning for you personally, for today's society, for the church,
etc. Be prepared to make a 5- to 10-minute
presentation on your proverb to the class. If you
wish, write a one-to-two page paper or develop a handout on your proverb. You might want to look over the questions for
the on-line precept group.
|
Tues., Sept.
25 |
Lecture #3 |
Proverbs
1-9: Instruction and
Wisdom Speeches |
|
Tues., Oct. 2 |
Lecture #4 |
Woman Wisdom
and Woman Folly |
|
Th., Oct. 4 |
Precept #4 |
Considering Proverbs 1-9 |
Required Reading:
- Proverbs 1-9; Job 28
-
Crenshaw, 80-82; Brown, 22-49; McKinlay, 11-132.
Recommended Reading:
-
Brenner, A. A Feminist Companion to Wisdom
Literature. Sheffield:
- Camp, C. Wisdom and the Feminine in the Book of Proverbs.
- Camp,
C. “What's So Strange About the Strange Woman?” The Bible and the Politics of Exegesis. D. Jobling, P. L. Day, and
G. Sheppard, Cleveland: Pilgrim, 1991, 17-31.
- Camp,
C. “Woman Wisdom As Root Metaphor: A Theological Consideration.” The Listening Heart: Essays in Wisdom and
the Psalms in Honor of Roland E. Murphy, ed J.Hoglund, K.Huwiler, E.Glass.
-
Hadley, Judith M. “From Goddess to Literary Construct: The Transformation of
Asherah into Hokmah.” A Feminist
Companion to Reading the Bible: Approaches, Methods, and Strategies, ed.
Athalya Brenner, and C. Fontaine, 360-399. Sheffield:
-
Washington, Harold C. “The Strange Woman of Proverbs 1-9 and Post-Exilic
Judaean Society.” A Feminist Companion to
Wisdom Literature, ed Athalya Brenner, 157-84. Sheffield:
|
Tues., Oct. 9 |
Lecture #5 |
Job: The Book, The Prologue, and The
Lament |
|
Th., Oct. 11 |
Precept #5 |
Job: The Friends |
Precept Assignment: Take on the
persona of one of Job’s four friends. To
prepare to argue as that friend become familiar with one of the following sets
of chapters: Eliphaz (4-5; 15; 22); Bildad (8; 18; 25); Zophar (11; 20); or
Elihu (32-37)
|
Tues., Oct. 16 |
Lecture
#6 |
Job: Job’s Case |
|
Th., Oct. 18 |
Precept
#6A |
Job: Reading Texts with One Another |
|
Th., Oct. 25 |
Precept
#6B Online |
Write
a review of one article you have
read on Job. |
Precept Assignment: See suggested
articles below or choose an article from the bibliography on my web page http://www.luthersem.edu/djacobso
|
Tues., Oct. 30 |
Lecture
#7 |
Job: God's
Answer, Job's Response |
|
Th., Nov. 1 |
Precept
#7 Online |
Job: Sharing your answers to questions about
Job |
Online
Written Assignment: Answering
Questions about Job.
Answer
2 of the following 4 questions:
1. In the Prologue of Job we are
introduced to three major characters: Job, God, and the Satan. Choose a
characteristic or trait of each of the three and speak about how that trait or
speech raises questions that are addressed throughout the book. Do you think the issues raised are resolved
or adequately addressed?
2. Discuss
some aspect of God's response in Job 38‑41 specifically in terms of this
response's answering or resolving any of the poem's formal or theological
movements.
3. Picture
yourself in a grocery store parking lot collecting charity for a new half-way
house being sponsored by your home congregation. A distraught woman first drops some money
into your collection can and then turns and says, “So you clearly are a
religious leader. What is God up to any
way? He is supposed to be a loving
father. How can he let his children
suffer? Why doesn’t God do something?” What might you respond and how would your
response be informed by your study of the book of Job?
4. How does
the book of Job speak to us about the worldwide AIDS epidemic?
Required
Reading:
-
All of the Book of Job.
-
Introduction in Habel,
-
Crenshaw, 89-115.; Brown, 50-119.
-
Two of the following:
- Fingarette, Herbert. “The Meaning
of Law in the Book of Job,” Hastings Law
Journal, 29, 1978, 1581-1617.
- LaCocque, André. He Deconstruction of
Job’s Fundamentalism, Journal of Biblical
Literature 126:1, 2007, 83-97.
-
Newsom, Carol A. “The Moral Sense of
Nature: Ethics in the Light of God’s Speech to Job.”
- Tsevat, M., “The Meaning of the Book of
Job” in Crenshaw, Studies in ...,
341-374.
Also
read as much of the following book as possible.
- Perdue, Leo &
Gilpin, W.C., ed. The Voice of the Whirlwind.
Note particularly the
following articles:
-
Habel, Norman. “In Defense of God the Sage,” 21-38.
-
Mettinger, Tryggve. “The God of Job: Avenger, Tyrant, or Victor?,” 39-49.
-
Gilkey, Langdon. “Power, Order, Justice, and Redemption: Theological Comments
on Job,” 159-171.
|
Tues., Nov.6 |
Lecture
#8 |
Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes): What's it all about and is there Hope? |
|
Th., Nov. 8 |
Precept
#8 |
Qoheleth: Reading Texts, reflection paper on
Qoheleth due |
Required reading:
-
All of the book of Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes)
- Crenshaw, 116-139; 184-204; Brown,
120-150.
- Luther on Ecclesiastes, Vol. 15, pp.12ff. (Intro and comments on chapters
1-3)
Recommended reading:
-
Murphy, “The Faith of Qoheleth,” Word
& World, 253-60.
- Priest, John. “Humanism, Skepticism, and
Pessimism in
- Sheppard, G., “The Epilogue to
Qohelet as Theological Commentary,” CBQ 39:182-189.
- Seow, Choon-Leong. Ecclesiastes.
- Williams, J., “What Does it Profit
A Man?: The Wisdom of Koheleth” in Crenshaw, Studies in . . ., 375-389.
- Whybray, R.N. “Qoheleth, Preacher
of Joy,” JSOT, 23, 1982, 87-98.
Written
Assignment: Reflection Paper on Qoheleth:
Decide on a specific context (youth group
meeting, adult retreat, college class, etc.) in a specific congregation or
other setting. Write a 2-3 page paper
first briefly describing this real or imagined context and considering what
might be some of the missional challenges of this setting. Then reflect on how a study of, sermon on,
meditation using Qoheleth might be of help in or speak to this situation.
|
Tues., Nov. 13 |
Lecture
#9 |
Sirach(Ecclesiasticus): History, Culture, and Woman Wisdom As
well as Wisdom in the Psalms |
|
Th., Nov. 15 |
Precept
#9 |
Sirach(Ecclesiasticus): On Women |
Required reading:
- All of Sirach
-
Psalms 1, 19, 32-34, 111, 112, 119
- Crenshaw, 140-164.
- Mays, James L. “The Place of Torah
Psalms in the Psalter,” JBL, 106,
1987, 3-12.
- Ceresko, Anthony, “The Sage in the
Psalms,” in Gammie, J. and Perdue, L., ed., The
Sage in
Recommended Reading:
- Collins, J.J. Jewish Wisdom in the
Hellenistic Age.
- Di Lella, A. “Conservative and
Progressive Theology: Sirach and Wisdom,” in Crenshaw, Studies in ...., 401-416.
- Gammie, John, “The Sage in
Sirach,” in Gammie, John and Perdue, Leo, ed., The Sage in
- Sanders, Jack T. Ben
Sira and Demotic Wisdom, 1983.
- Trenchard, Warren. Ben
Sira's View of Women, 1982.
|
Tues., Nov. 27 |
Lecture
#10 |
Issues of Canon; Wisdom at |
|
Th., Nov. 29 |
Precept
#10 |
Reading Texts in Wisdom of Solomon |
Required reading:
-
All of Wisdom of Solomon
- Baruch 1-5
- Crenshaw, 165-183.
Recommended Reading:
- Collins, J.J. Jewish Wisdom in the
Hellenistic Age.
- Di Lella, A. “Conservative and Progressive
Theology: Sirach and Wisdom,” in Crenshaw, Studies
in ...., 401-416.
-
Gammie, John, “The Sage in Sirach,” in Gammie, John and Perdue, Leo, ed., The Sage in
- Harrelson, Walter. “Wisdom Hidden and Revealed According
to Baruch (Baruch 3:9-4:4).” Priests,
Prophets, and Scribes: Essays on the Formation and Heritage of Second
-
Harrington, Daniel J. “Wisdom at
-
Harrington, D. Wisdom Texts From
- Winston, David. Wisdom of Solomon. Anchor Bible, Garden City: Doubleday, 1979.
|
Tues., Dec.4 |
Lecture #11 |
Wisdom
in Judaism and Intro to Wisdom in the New Testament |
|
Th., Dec.6 |
Precept #11 |
Sharing insights about Wisdom in the
New Testament |
Oral Assignment:
-
Look for wisdom influence in one of the following:
-
Matthew
-
Luke
-
Paul: I Corinthians, Romans
-
Colossians, Ephesians
-
James
|
Tues., Dec. 11 |
Lecture #12 |
New
Testament: Jesus
Speaks Wisdom/ Jesus is Wisdom |
Required reading:
- Gese,
Hartmut. “Wisdom, Son of Man, and the Origins of Christology: The Consistent Development
of Biblical Theology.” Horizons in Biblical
Theology 3 (1981): 23-58.
-
Jacobson, Diane. “Jesus As Wisdom in the New Testament.” The Quest for Jesus and the Christian Faith, ed. Fred Gaiser,
72-93, St.Paul: Luther Seminary, 1997.
And
from at least two of the following:
-
Brown, 151-164
-
McKinlay, 179-237
- Bouzard, W.C. “The Theology of Wisdom in Romans 1 & 2,”
Word & World, 1987, 281-291.
-
Davis, James. Wisdom and Spirit: An
Investigation of I Cor
- Fuller, Reginald and Perkins,
Pheme. “Wisdom Traditions and Christology” in Who is This Christ?, 1983, 53-66.
-
Johnson,
- Lefebure, Leo D. “The Wisdom of
God, parts 1 & 2,” Christian Century,
Oct.19 & 26, 1994.
-
Perdue, L. “The Wisdom Sayings of Jesus.” Foundations
& Facets Forum 2, 3 (1986): 3-35.
-
Perkins, Pheme. “Jesus, God's Wisdom,” Word
& World, 1987, 273-280.
- Scott,
B.B., “Jesus as Sage: An Innovating Voice in Common Wisdom,” in Gammie, John and
Perdue, Leo, ed., The Sage ….,
-
Wilken, Robert. Aspects of Wisdom in
Judaism and Early Christianity. Notre Dame: Notre Dame, 1975. BS1455.A7
-
Witherington, Ben. Jesus The Sage,
|
Th., Dec.13 |
Precept #12 |
Exploring Wisdom in the New Testament |
|
Tues., Dec. 18 |
Lecture #13 |
Wisdom, Experience, Jesus, Canon, |
Recommended Reading:
- Perdue, Leo, “Cosmology and the
Social Order in the Wisdom Tradition,” in ...
The Sage in
Written Assignment:
A 10- to 15-page paper, due on or before
December 18, on a specific issue raised by studying wisdom literature, such as:
-
wisdom
and experience, law, creation, mission, or
science;
-
a
specific subject related to Proverbs, Job, Qoheleth, or another wisdom book;
-
wisdom
in the New Testament;
-
an
area of your choice, selected in consultation with the professor.