IC 3610 EXERCISES IN BIBLICAL THEOLOGY
Luther Seminary
Fall Semester 2008-2009
Instructors: Frederick J. Gaiser GH 203 ext
210 fgaiser@luthersem.edu
Janet
L. Ramsey BH126c ext
350 jramsey@luthersem.edu
Course Description: A study of the Bible as a living word that informs the
imaginative framework through which we encounter the world and engage in
Christian ministry. Through lectures, case studies, and field projects,
students and instructors engage in doing biblical theology in the context of
the practice of ministry, including such specifics as the care of souls, moral
deliberation and action, community formation and conflict, evangelism, and
mission.
Course Requirements:
1. Faithful
attendance at all class sessions. Diligent and timely completion of all
assignments.
2. Participation
in an online discussion group. In conjunction with the reading assignments for
each week of the course, students will post a response to the question(s) posed
by the instructors and comment upon the response posted by at least one other
classmate (normally the student who responded immediately prior to him or her).
3. When
assigned, weekly writing assignments are necessarily due at the time of the
class period, since they will provide the basis for part of the class
discussion on the day in question.
4. Group
work and in-class presentations. Each student will participate in a small
working group (3-5 classmates) assigned to exercise biblical theology on a
particular case study throughout the semester. Group members will share
responsibility for making presentations to the class based on their findings
and deliberations.
Evaluation: All assignments will be evaluated by the
instructors, and constructive feedback will be offered. Grades for the course
will be assigned as follows:
30% Class participation (quality of
preparation, engagement in small groups and class discussions, in-class
presentations)
50% Written communication (quality of the
several daily papers)
20% Online discussion of course readings
Other
required readings will be made available in class, online, or through the
library.
COURSE CALENDAR
Week One
Mon, Sept 8 Introduction
to the course and the participants. Assignment to online discussion groups.
Instructors
begin to model exercises in biblical theology.
Week Two On Falling in
Love with the Bible
By Thu, Sept 11 Read:
Oliver, Introduction and chapter 1
(xv-22)
Krister Stendahl, “Why I Love the
Bible,” Harvard Divinity Bulletin 35/1 (2007) (e-reserve)
Post a response to the instructors’ online question.
By
Sat, Sept 13 Respond to the posting of at least
one other student.
For Mon,
Sept 15 Write about two pages on
“What the Bible Means to Me” or “Why I Love the Bible.”
Class
discussion will focus on these papers, the readings for the day, and on one
instructor’s presentation: “Why I Love the Bible and How I Read It.”
During
this class period, students will choose groups for their ongoing case studies.
Week Three On
Taking the Bible Seriously
By Thu, Sept 18 Read: Oliver, chapters 2-3 (23-66)
Claus
Westermann, Our
Controversial Bible (1969) 1-16 (e-reserve)
Post
a response to the instructors’ online question.
By
Sat, Sept 20 Respond
to the posting of at least one other student.
For
Mon, Sept 22 On the basis of
interviews or conversations with other Christians (who are not seminary
students), write about two pages on why or whether Christians (in general) love
or appreciate the Bible.
Class
discussion will focus on these papers and on one instructor’s presentation:
“Why I Love the Bible and How I Read It.”
By
this period, groups will have consulted with the instructors regarding the
duplication.
Week Four On Reading the
Bible Confessionally I
By
Thu, Sept 25 Read: From Word & World 26/4 (2006), Gaiser, “The Heresy of Infallibility,”
355-356, and Kathryn Kleinhans, “The Word Made Words:
A Lutheran Perspective on the Authority and Use of Scripture” (402-411)
(e-reserve)
View: Diane Jacobson’s 2008 convocation
presentation (available at
http://www.luthersem.edu/convo/redeaux.asp
)
Post
a response to the instructors’ online question.
By
Sat, Sept 27 Respond
to the posting of at least one other student.
For
Mon, Sept 29 Write three to four
pages on how your own personal experience and theological convictions influence
how you read the Bible (or vice versa?). Trace briefly your own biographical
and theological development as you consider how you have come to your present
understanding of the Bible.
Instructors’
presentations on “What is biblical theology? How does biblical theology relate
to confessional and systematic theology?”
By
this period, the groups will submit to the instructors a written proposal for
their case studies for review and approval.
Week Five On
Reading the Bible Confessionally II
By Thu, Oct 2 Read: Oliver, chapter 4-5 (67-102)
Gail O’Day, “‘Today this word is fulfilled in your hearing’: A
Scriptural Hermeneutic of Biblical Authority,” Word & World 26/4
(2006) 357-364 (e-reserve)
Post
a response to the instructors’ online question.
By
Sat, Oct 4 Respond to the
posting of at least one other student.
For
Mon, Oct 6 Write one to two pages on how other Christian
groups (or a particular other Christian group) read(s) the Bible differently
from you, putting the best construction on those positions (that position) in a
way that could lead to constructive dialogue.
Week Six Using
the Bible Appropriately I
By
Thu, Oct 9 Read: Oliver,
chapter 6 (103-116)
“Nine
Theses on the Interpretation of Scripture,” in The Art of Reading Scripture
(1-5) (e-reserve)
Post a response to the
instructor’s online question.
By
Sat, Oct 11 Respond to the
posting of at least one other student.
For
Mon, Oct 13 Write your own “Here
I Stand” paper on the convictions that inform your reading of the Bible,
following the model of the “Nine Theses” chapter in this week’s
readings—developing perhaps five to nine theses of your own. As in the model,
each of your sections must also include a “For ongoing discussion” paragraph,
that is, a downside or ditch to avoid while affirming the thesis in question.
Instructors
will model an exercise in biblical theology, beginning here and continuing in
the next session (or beginning next time).
NO CLASS
OCTOBER 20 (READING DAY)
Week Seven Using
the Bible Appropriately II
By Thu, Oct 23 Read: Frederick J. Gaiser, “‘Your Sins Are Forgiven...Stand
Up and Walk’: A Theological Reading of Mark 2:1-12 in the Light of Psalm 103,” Ex
Auditu 21 (2005) 71-87 (link to ATLA in e-reserve)
Janet L. Ramsey and Alan G.
Padgett, “The Wisdom of Forgiveness: Singing Like Birds in the Cage with Old
King Lear,” Word & World 27/1 (2007) 40-49 (link to ATLA in e-reserve)
View: The two 2008 convocation presentations on law
and gospel by David
Lose
and Rolf Jacobson (available at http://www.luthersem.edu/convo/redeaux.asp)
Post
a response to the instructor’s online question.
By
Sat, Oct 25 Respond to the
posting of at least one other student.
Mon, Oct
27 Instructors’ modeling of
an exercise in biblical theology (continued).
Week Eight Defining
the Issues I
By Thu, Oct 30 Read: Oliver, chapters 7-8 (117-156)
Dieter
Nestle, “An Evangelical Understanding of the Bible,” translated from Neues Testament Elementar
(e-reserve)
Selected portions of Bonhoeffer, Worldly Preaching
(101-104, 116-118, 128-132) (e-reserve)
Post
a response to the instructors’ online question.
By Sat,
Nov 1 Respond to the posting
of at least one other student.
Mon, Nov
3 Presentation by groups 1
and 2 defining the issues of their case studies. Groups should have a written
summary or similar handout to distribute to the class.
Week Nine Defining
the Issues II
Mon, Nov 10 Presentation
by groups 3 through 5 defining the issues of their case studies. Groups should
have a written summary or similar handout to distribute to the class.
Week Ten Thinking
the Issues I
By Thu, Nov 13 Read: Martin Luther, “How Christians Should Regard
Moses,” in Luther’s Works 35:157-174 (e-reserve)
Gerhard von Rad, “Ancient Word and Living Word—Deuteronomy,” in From
Genesis to Chronicles (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2005) 89-98 (e-reserve)
Post
a response to the instructors’ online question.
By
Sat, Nov 15 Respond
to the posting of at least one other student.
Mon,
Nov 17 Presentation by
groups 1 and 2 of a biblical theological analysis of the issues for the present
context. Groups should have a written summary or similar handout to distribute
to the class.
NO CLASS
NOVEMBER 24 (THANKSGIVING BREAK)
Week Eleven Thinking
the Issues II
Mon,
Dec 1 Presentation by
groups 3 through 5 of a biblical theological analysis of the issues for the
present context. Groups should have a written summary or similar handout to distribute
to the class.
Week Twelve Meeting
the Issues I
By Thu, Dec 4 Read: Maggie Ross, “Ways of
Thinking about God: Can Athens and Jerusalem Ever Meet?” in Pillars of Fire (59-78);
also Appendix A (194-205) (e-reserve)
Post
a response to the instructors’ online question.
By Sat, Dec 6 Respond
to the posting of at least one other student.
Mon, Dec
8 Presentation by
groups 1 and 2 of a plan or plans to implement the results of their case study
in a congregation. Groups should provide a summary handout for the class that
wraps up their case study.
Week Thirteen Meeting
the Issues II
Mon,
Dec 15 Presentation by
groups 3 through 5 of a plan or plans to implement the results of their case
study in a congregation. Groups should provide a summary handout for the class
that wraps up their case study.