Old Testament and Semitic Languages Department Course Descriptions

Master's Level

OT 5010 (506)      Foundations in Biblical Studies
The course emphasizes biblical content and application with attention to developing skills to guide interpretation and understanding of Scripture in order to build, inform, and critique vocational practice. In the context of such an overview, relevant passages throughout the whole of Scripture may be sampled with particular attention to methods of understanding, interpreting, and applying such passages. This course does not satisfy requirements in the MDiv program. Not open to students taking OT 5000 or NT 5000. Cross-list as NT. Offered fall. Three hours.

OT 5050 (706)      Geography of Bible Lands
Examination of the geography of Bible lands, including an analysis of the physical topography of natural regions and ancient sites, an assessment of political and territorial subdivisions, and a diachronic unfolding of those events that have transpired in the land that lend themselves to geographic explanation. The course will suggest and illustrate how some large blocks of biblical material, as well as several entire canonical books, can be significantly nuanced with historical and theological texture as a result of discerning the spatial dimensions embedded in the text. Three hours.

OT 5060 (724)      Development of the Old Testament Canon
Study of the formation of the canon, the history of ancient versions, and manuscript transmission, as well as critical analysis of the documentary hypothesis of the Pentateuch, consideration of major critical approaches, and issues of unity, dating, and authenticity of selected Old Testament books. Two hours.

OT 5075 (721)      Biblical Archaeology: Introduction to the World of the Old Testament
The relationship between archaeological data and the Old Testament is investigated with special interest in current problems in the field of biblical archaeology, such as the origins of Israel and the United Monarchy. The science of archaeology, fieldwork, and research methods are introduced. Four hours.

OT 5100 (550)      English Bible: (Book Title)
Demonstration of inductive Bible study method and treatment of the special teaching of a particular book or books of the Old Testament based on the English text. May be repeated for credit. Not applicable to the MA program. Two to three hours.

OT 5240 (503)      Elementary Hebrew I
Essentials of biblical Hebrew grammar with emphasis on morphology, phonology, syntax, and vocabulary. OT 5240-5241 is taught in a sequence. Students must register for the same section both semesters. May not be audited unless already taken for credit at Trinity. Cap 16. Three hours.

OT 5241 (504)      Elementary Hebrew II
Further consideration of Hebrew grammar and vocabulary with a focus on the Hebrew weak verb. Designed to prepare the advancing Hebrew student for exegetical study by a detailed consideration of Hebrew syntax and the reading of selected texts. Students must register for the same section both semesters. May not be audited unless already taken for credit at Trinity. Prerequisite: OT 5240. Cap 16. Three hours.

OT 5242 (602)      Hebrew Exegesis
Application of exegetical methods to selected passages in the Hebrew text of the prophets. The course will equip the student to move from text to sermon and effectively to make the transition from exegesis to exposition. May not be audited. Prerequisite: OT 5241. Four hours.

OT 5250 (703)      Hebrew Reading Skills
Guided reading in selected passages to develop facility with Hebrew vocabulary and modes of expression, provide continued review of phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics, and improve reading comprehension. May be repeated for credit. May not be audited. Prerequisite: OT 5241. Two hours.

OT 6000 (675)      Current Studies in Old Testament
Topics selected deal with significant issues related to Old Testament studies. May be repeated for credit. One to three hours.

OT 6216 (716)      Pentateuch and Historical Books
Examination of the Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy) with emphasis on the historical and hermeneutical questions of Genesis 1–11; the law-grace question and the Ten Commandments; sacrifices, atonement, and the forgiveness of sin; the covenant form; formation of the Hebrew canon; and critical analysis of the documentary hypothesis of the Pentateuch. Analysis of the historical books (Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra–Nehemiah, Esther), with emphasis on biblical narrative and the writing of biblical history, as well as on the biblical account of the conquest, period of the judges, united and divided monarchy, exile, and postexilic period. May not be audited. Prerequisite OT 5242, and OT 5000 or passing the OT portion of the Standard Bible Content Test. Cap 50. Four hours.

OT 6217 (717)      Poetic and Prophetic Books
Examination of biblical poetry and Near Eastern background, nature, purpose, and form of the poetical books of the Hebrew Bible (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations). Consideration of prophecy in the ancient world and selected prophetic themes, e.g., true and false prophecy, the day of the Lord, restoration. Study of the Major and Minor Prophets with particular concern for hermeneutical and theological issues. Exegesis of selected texts. May not be audited. Prerequisite OT 5242, and OT 5000 or passing the OT portion of the Standard Bible Content Test. Cap 50. Four hours.

OT 6600 (600)      Preaching from the Old Testament
An interdepartmental “exegesis for preaching” course team-taught by faculty from both the Old Testament and Pastoral Theology departments. The course will equip students to move from exegesis to exposition, from text to sermon. Prerequisites: HM 5000 and OT 5242. Cap 12. One hour.

OT 7010 (756)      Biblical Aramaic
Reading of the Aramaic portions of Daniel 2–7 and Ezra 4–7 and comparison of Aramaic phonology, morphology, and syntax with Hebrew. May not be audited. Prerequisite: OT 5242. Three hours.

OT 7014 (757)      Extrabiblical Aramaic
Reading of Aramaic papyri and inscriptions from the first seven centuries of the first millennium B.C., as well as selected Aramaic Targums. Comparison of phonology, morphology, and syntax with biblical Aramaic. May not be audited. Prerequisite: OT 7010. Three hours.

OT 7020 (761)      Akkadian I
Introduction to the Sumero-Akkadian cuneiform script of ancient Babylonia and Assyria and inductive study of the essentials of the grammar. Reading of selections from the Code of Hammurabi, the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Babylonian Creation Epic, and the Neo-Assyrian royal inscription, with comparisons to the Hebrew Bible. May not be audited. Prerequisite: OT 5242. Offered on demand. Three hours.

OT 7021 (762)      Akkadian II
Continuation of OT 7020. May not be audited. Prerequisite: OT 7020. Three hours.

OT 7030 (758)      Ugaritic
Guided reading in selected Ugaritic texts. Study of Ugaritic vocabulary, morphology, and syntax. Linguistic comparison of the language and texts with reference to points of contact with the Hebrew Bible. May not be audited. Prerequisite: OT 5242. Offered on demand. Three hours.

OT 7040 (769)      Syriac
Introduction to Syriac grammar with limited reading of the Peshitta text of the Old Testament. May not be audited. Prerequisite: OT 7010. Offered on demand. Cross-list as NT. Three hours.

OT 7050                Sumerian
May not be audited. Prerequisite: OT 5242. Offered on demand. Three hours.

OT 7090 (731)      Old Testament Theology
A study of the approaches to the theology of the Old Testament in the last two hundred years with an emphasis on the motifs of creation and redemption as integrative themes and as anticipatory of the coming of Jesus Christ. Cross-list as ST. Three hours.

OT 7395 (751)      Hermeneutics
Cross-list as ST. Three hours.

OT 7410 (743)      West Semitic Inscriptions
Prerequisite: OT 5242 or consent of the department chair. Three hours.

OT 7415       Middle Egyptian
Three hours.

OT 7420       Ancient Near Eastern Religions
Three hours.

OT 7425       Egypt and the Bible
Three hours.

OT 7430       Origins of Israel
Three hours.

OT 7435       History of Israel
Three hours.

OT 7440       History of the Ancient Near East
Three hours.

OT 7455 (795)            Fieldwork in the Middle East
This course serves as a capstone experience in the MA in Biblical Archaeology program. The student will spend a minimum of three weeks working on an excavation at a site in the world of the Bible that is approved by the Department and will write a paper that will integrate the field experience with an issue in Biblical Archaeology. The course normally will be taken at the conclusion of the first year of residency. Two hours.

OT 7460 (747)      Qumran Scrolls
The literature and archaeology of Qumran with emphasis on the beliefs, practices, and history of the community and its significance for biblical studies. Offered on demand. Three hours.

Advanced Master’s/Doctoral Level

OT 7710 (745)      Intertestamental Period
Cross-list as NT. Master’s three hours, doctoral 3+1 hours.

OT 8000 (845)      Seminar: Current Issues in Old Testament Studies
Topics chosen deal with significant issues in Old Testament content, history, introduction, and/or interpretation, and seminar discussion and presentation of advanced research papers. Course titles include the following: Biblical Theology; New Testament Use of the Old Testament; Theological Themes: Isaiah; Old Testament Backgrounds to the Book of Revelation; Issues in Old Testament Ethics; Expository Preaching: Psalms; Poetry in the Pentateuch; History of Old Testament Exegesis; Priestly Theology of the Old Testament; Translation Technique and the Ancient Versions; Synoptic Passages in Old Testament Theology; Use of Critical Methods in Old Testament Study; Puritan Old Testament Exposition; Historiography; Old Testament and Modern Interpreters; History and Theology of Jerusalem; and Rabbinics and Old Testament Interpretation. May not be audited. Prerequisites determined by seminar topic. Two to three hours, doctoral as posted.

OT 8210 (733)      Exegesis of Genesis
Consideration of the historical, historical-critical, interpretative, and theological issues in Genesis in the context of careful exegesis of selected passages. May not be audited. Prerequisite: OT 5242. Master’s three hours, doctoral 3+1 hours.

OT 8230 (735)      Exegesis of Psalms
Overview of the Psalter’s structure, major genres, themes, theology, and exegesis of representative psalms. May not be audited. Prerequisite: OT 5242. Master’s three hours, doctoral 3+1 hours.

OT 8250 (736)      Exegesis of Isaiah
A text-linguistic study of selected portions of the Hebrew text of Isaiah. May not be audited. Prerequisite: OT 5242. Master’s three hours, doctoral 3+1 hours.

OT 8720 (744)      Advanced Hebrew Exegesis: (Book)
Exegesis of selected texts with special attention to relevant theological issues. Attention to the book’s structure, central themes, and historical, cultural, and literary contexts may also be included. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: OT 5242. Master’s three hours, doctoral 3+1 hours.

OT 8723 (741)      Old Testament Textual Criticism
Introduction to the textual critical study of the Old Testament and its relationship to other areas of Old Testament study. Consideration is given to the goals and methodology of Old Testament textual criticism and the ancient versions as translations. Analysis of selected texts, comparing the readings of the Masoretic Text with selected ancient versions. Prerequisite: OT 5242. Offered on demand. Master’s three hours, doctoral 3+1 hours.

OT 8729 (742)      Advanced Hebrew Studies: (Topic)
Study of linguistic, methodological, and historical issues related to the Hebrew language. Course titles include Advanced Hebrew Syntax, Historical Hebrew Grammar, Hebrew Lexicography and Semantics, and Postbiblical Hebrew. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: OT 5242. Master’s three hours, doctoral 3+1 hours.

OT 8911 (840)      Old Testament Studies I: Pentateuch and Historical Books
The course provides participants committed to the field of Old Testament studies with a disciplined approach to the language, grammar/syntax, methodology, and rigors of the academic study of the Old Testament. Offered each fall. No auditors. Two hours, master’s or doctoral.

OT 8912 (841)      Old Testament Studies II: Poetic and Prophetic Books
The course provides participants committed to the field of Old Testament studies with a disciplined approach to the language, grammar/syntax, methodology, and rigors of the academic study of the Old Testament. Offered each spring. No auditors. Two hours, master’s or doctoral.

Doctoral Seminars

OT 9000 (910)      Issues in Old Testament Theology
Topics reflect research interests of faculty or program participants or that explore matters of concern to Old Testament theology. May be repeated. One to four hours.

OT 9210 (914)      Exegesis of Genesis 1–11
A seminar on Genesis 1–11 that focuses on the five primary features of biblical exegesis: textual criticism, grammar and syntax, semantics, literary analysis, and biblical theology. 3+1 hours.

OT 9410 (913)      History of the Hebrew Bible
A study of the textual evidence and theories regarding the compositional growth, progressive canonical development and recognition, and manuscript transmission of the books of the Old Testament from the 15th century B.C. down through the Masoretic period. The course will also consider the issue of intertextual reference and interpretation within the Old Testament and its contribution to our understanding of the historical growth and development of the Hebrew Bible. 3+1 hours.

OT 9710 (911)      Old Testament Theological Systems
Analysis and critique of the goals of various Old Testament theological systems and their methodologies. Special emphasis on the role of the exegetical method in the formulation of Old Testament theological concepts. 3+1 hours.

OT 9925 (923)      Historiography: The Theology of Writing History
This course will focus on the problems of general historiography and consider biblical historiography. Questions of selectivity, literary artistry, point of view, purpose, use of sources, and the author’s theology that emerges from these will be studied. Course content will focus on biblical historiography in 1–2 Samuel, 1–2 Kings, and 1–2 Chronicles. 3+1 hours.

Updated to 2008-09 Catalog