INSTITUTE FOR BIBLICAL EDUCATION AND SPIRITUAL INSPIRATION I
COURSE
IN THE BEGINNING
DURATION:
12 WEEKS
FACILITATOR:
PHYLLIS A. GREEN
REQUIRED TEXTS:
THE HOLY BIBLE (PREFERABLY NRSV(STUDY BIBLE EITHER OXFORD OR HARPER COLLINS) READING THE OLD TESTAMENT: (Second Edition)(Boadt)
AN INTRODUCTION
RECLAIMING THE BIBLE FOR A NON-RELIGIOUS WORLD (SPONG) RECOMMENDED TEXTS:
II
RESCUING THE BIBLE FROM FUNDAMENTALISM (SPONG)
SUMMARY This 12-week course focuses on the history of the Hebrew people as depicted in the 39 books of the Hebrew Scriptures. It will highlight and explain the three divisions of these Scriptures – the Torah, the Nevi’im and the Ketubim - and show their interrelatedness. It will also seek to give students an understanding of the following events:
The Flight out of Egypt
The March into the Promised Land
The United Kingdom
The Divided Kingdom
The Assyrian Invasion
The Babylonian Captivity
The Restoration and Foreign Domination
The Maccabean Revolution
Defeat, Hellenization and Roman Colonization
The Intertestamental Period
III
METHODOLOGY The Webinar format using Webex will be used for:
Individual and group presentations Class discussions Review sessions One-on-one discussions
For the purposes of group work, students will be divided into groups, the number of which will be determined by the number of persons registered for the course, and be given group assignments. Each student is encouraged to pursue individual research via the Internet and other means to supplement prescribed reading
IV
ASSIGNMENTS
V
In-class individual and group oral presentations Individual assignments Group assignments Class evaluation by each student
COURSE OUTLINE
WEEK 1
INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
WEEK 2
THE CONTEXT OF THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES (BOADT, Chapters 1-3) - Historical - Geographical - Economic - Social - Political - Archeological
WEEK 3
THE ORIGIN, COMPONENTS AND THEOLOGY OF THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES (BOADT, CHAPTER 26) (SPONG, Part II) - The Four Traditions - The Components - The Patriarchs - The Theology
WEEK 4
THE TANAKH (PART I)(THE TORAH/PENTATEUCH) The Law(BOADT, Chapters 5-9) - Moses, The Law Giver - Joshua, The Chosen Implementer - Preparation For Entry Into The Promised Land
WEEK 5
THE TANAKH(PART II)(THE NEVI’IM)(FIRST SECTION) - The Books of History (BOADT, CHAPTERS 10-11)
WEEK 6
THE TANAKH(PART II)(THE NEVI’IM)SECOND SECTION) - The Books Of The Prophets (SPONG, PARTS III, IV and V)(BOADT, CHAPTERS 12-16)
WEEK 7
THE RISE OF THE MONARCHY AND THE UNITED KINGDOM (BOADT, CHAPTERS 12-13) - The Rise Of The Monarchy - The Consolidation Of The Monarchy - The Demise Of The Monarchy
WEEK 8
THE DIVIDED KINGDOM (BOADT, CHAPTERS 15-18) - The Rise of Israel - The Assyrian Invasion And Israel’s Demise - The Creation Of The Diaspora - Judah As The Bedrock Of Judaism - The Babylonian Invasion And Captivity
WEEK 9
THE BABYLONIAN EXILE (BOADT, CHAPTERS 19-20, SPONG PART IV) - The Challenges Of The Exile - The Role Of The Prophets In Emphasizing The Benefits Of The Exile - The Positive Results Of The Persian Overthrow
WEEK 10
RETURN, RESTORATION AND REBUILDING (BOADT, CHAPTERS 21,22,25) (SPONG, PARTS V AND VI) - The Remnant And Its Attempts At Reform - From Children Of Israel To Jews - The Rise Of The Temple And Oral Torah - Protest And Protest Literature - Post-Exilic Prophecy - Colonization, Independence, Re-Colonization
WEEK 11
THE KETUBIM(BOADT,CHAPTER 23, SPONG, PART VII) - Wisdom Literature - Liturgical Books
WEEK 12
PREPARING TO RE-START THE STORY (BOADT, CHAPTER 24-26) - The Intertestamental Period - Bondage From Within?