This course focuses on the Old Testament and is intended for those seeking to bring out (exegete) the message of ancient scripture for contemporary communities of faith. Rather than beginning with a description of exegetical methods, this course provides an overview of Old Testament literature (stories, laws, histories, novellas, prayers, et al.), exploring how to identify its primary literary and theological message and meaning.
This course is inductive, moving from reading to seeing to asking questions to articulating. Through this process we identify, engage and use pertinent methods of biblical exegesis. We enter into dialogue with scripture because it is the Word of God, containing a normative message. Our goal is to be able and ready to read a sometimes user-unfriendly biblical text, discerning and exegeting that message for today.
Instructor: Donn Morgan is Professor of Old Testament Emeritus at Church Divinity School of the Pacific. Always a student and teacher of the Bible, he also held administrative positions at CDSP (academic dean, president). He has been deeply involved in theological education in The Episcopal Church and the Graduate Theological Union, as well as teaching in Asia and England. His books include Fighting with the Bible, Manifesto for Learning, Talking with the Bible and The Oxford Handbook of the Writings of the Hebrew Bible (editor).