BIBLICAL STUDIES
It is vital that students encounter the Biblical witness.
Hence, Biblical Studies have a two-fold emphasis, which is reflected in each of
the courses. The student is expected to gain the tools necessary to deal
responsibly with the Biblical text. Secondly, the student should learn
continually to relate the results of Biblical study to personal faith,
devotional life and to the world in which we are living.
Because of Friends' long and historic witness to the presence
of the Holy Spirit in all forms of genuine religion, Biblical studies at ESR is
experimenting in its courses with an alternative set of names for Old Testament
and New Testament: First Testament and Second Testament. For over a century,
debate has left unsettled whether the traditional names or various
alternatives, such as Hebrew Testament and Greek Testament, are best for
contemporary scholarly study within the Church and among various faith
traditions. Time and experience will tell whether the ESR experiment, which is
part of a broader experiment within Biblical studies, will prove a success. As
part of this experiment, students will be introduced to the arguments for the various
alternatives. In our catalog, however, we continue to use the traditional
nomenclature in the titles of our courses and their descriptions.
BIST 101 & 101AC Old Testament History and Literature
This course introduces students to the diversity of
literary and theological traditions in the Old Testament. Attention will be
given to the formation and role of these traditions in the context of the life
and history of the people of Israel and to their function in contemporary life
and faith. Presupposes a basic familiarity with the content of the Old
Testament.
3 semester hours
BIST 102 & 102AC New Testament History and Literature
The development and content of the New Testament
will be examined within the context of Jewish and Hellenistic backgrounds. Overview
of basic introductory questions will be supplemented by exposure to a variety
of methodological approaches to the New Testament texts (including historical,
sociological, feminist and literary). Presupposes a basic familiarity with the
content of the New Testament.
3 semester hours
BIST 111, 112 Biblical Herbrew I and II
These courses provide an introduction to basic
Hebrew grammar and vocabulary, as well as to the tools for translation, such as
lexicons and dictionaries. These courses prepare the student for subsequent
reading and exegesis of the Hebrew biblical texts.
3
semester hours
BIST 113 Biblical Herbrew III
The focus of the third course is on the reading of
Hebrew biblical texts. Attention will be given to more advanced grammatical and
syntactical analysis as well as issues of translation and text criticism. (M.A.
students with an emphasis in Biblical Studies may count this as one of the
three electives in their degree program.)
3 semester hours
Prerequisites: BIST/B 111 and 112
BIST 115, 116 New Testament Greek I and II
These courses provide an introduction to the basic
elements of New Testament Greek for students with no background in classical
Greek. The mastery of forms and the fundamental syntax are emphasized, but
opportunity is also given to acquire a substantial reading vocabulary.
3 semester hours
BIST 117 New Testament Greek III
The third course will involve substantial practice
in reading the Greek text. Focus will be on grammatical analysis, vocabulary
building and textual criticism. (M.A. students with an emphasis in Biblical
Studies may count this as one of the three electives in their degree program.)
3 semester hours
Prerequisites: BIST/B 115 and 116
BIST 301 Exegesis of Prophets and Psalms
This course offers the study of a variety of
techniques as a guide to the process of analysis, explanation and interpretation
of Biblical texts in order to construct a coherent meaning from the text. This
process is applied to texts from prophets and psalms. Consideration is given to
the continuing role of the Biblical interpretation in the life of a faith
community.
3 semester hours
Prerequisite: BIST101/101AC
BIST 311 & 311EA The Exegesis of Biblical Narrative
Studies the method of interpretation known as
"narrative" or "literary" criticism, which focuses on the literary quality of
the Old Testament. Plot, characterization, point of view, and other aspects of
this discipline will be used to interpret narrative portions of the Old
Testament such as Ruth, Esther, and Jonah.
3 semester hours
Prerequisite: BIST101/101AC
BIST 330 The Bible, Violence and Nonviolence
Biblical studies are here applied to discerning what
the biblical tradition has to say about violence and nonviolence. Those
passages that portray varieties of violence and those that uphold peacemaking
are examined through the usual tools of biblical exegesis as well as literary
criticism.
3 semester hours
Prerequisites: BIST101/101AC or B102/102AC
BIST 362 Israel's Prophetic Tradition
Explores the phenomenon of Biblical prophets and
prophecy in Israelite society by focusing primarily on a major and a minor
prophet. Special concerns include: the social context and function of prophecy;
the language of prophecy; the theological and world constructions that under
gird the prophet's life and message; implications for contemporary ministry.
This course will focus on one major and one minor prophet.
3
semester hours
Prerequisite: BIST101/101AC
BIST 364 Israel's Wisdom Teaching
A careful study of Israel's wisdom literature
(Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes and Apocryphal books), in its ancient Near Eastern
cultural setting and within its own religious and social context. Special
attention is paid to the social construct of this literature and the worldview
within which it lives and functions. A focus of the course is the
interpretation of this literature by ancient and modern interpreters.
3 semester hours
Prerequisite: BIST101/101AC
BIST 390 & 390EA Seminar in Biblical Studies
Reading and research on selected topics from the
Bible, including both book studies from different parts of the Old and New
Testaments and topical studies, e.g., Images of God in the Old Testament; Women
in the Old Testament; Apocalyptic Literature; Old Testament Theology; Psalms;
Gospel of John; Pauline Psychagogy; James; Revelation; NT Apocrypha. Different
topics are considered in subsequent offerings; therefore this seminar may be
taken for credit more than once.
3 semester hours
Prerequisite: BIST101/101AC or B102/102AC
BIST 400 Independent Study
See ATST 400.
BIST 500 Master's Thesis
The thesis is a major work in research in the field
of the student's vocational or educational interest.
9
semester hours
