News
Welcome to OT100 in our weekend hybrid format.
I look forward to our conversations and learning together.
Julia M. O'Brien
Weekly outline
Feb 22-28
Check out the overview of the Pentateuch found in our Resource folder in the file Canonical Section Overview. The Pentateuch is the first section covered in this document.
Feb 28-Mar 4
Download this chart and fill it out to the best of your ability. You'll need to fill it out before you write your post. Bring your completed chart with you to class (along with your questions!).
Mar 21-27
Study guide for the week
hi everyone. I heard you and our Zoom conversation asking for ways to simplify and organize our learning. So here is my attempt at study guide for the week.
- start by watching my short into prophets video.
- Then do as much of the reading on Amos and Hosea as is feasible for you. Use Amos as your first pass at a prophetic book. What does it say? How does it say it?
Be prepared: our readings on Hosea will raise issues about domestic violence. Statistics suggest domestic violence affects the lives of at least 1 out of 6 in the U.S. Do you need emotional support for this discussion? If you have a therapist, it might be helpful to reach out to him/her. The seminary chaplains are also available to you. They sent out emails recently. Let me know if you need help reaching them.
3. Watch my short video on Hosea.
4. Your post will be based on the readings from Isaiah. Read everyone's posts. But let's skip replies this week.
In light of the stresses that we are all facing, I would like to offer two options for the final form of your interpretative essay. I’m attaching a document that explains two options. You can either (a) write the paper as it is described in the syllabus, or (b) you could follow a more structured step-by-step process that is outlined in this document. We can talk about this in our next Zoom meeting.
idea: For step 6 of your interpretive essay, where you consider the voice of a reader from a different social location than your own, you could interview one of your classmates.
Note regarding grading: in a link provided in an email from Dean Lovelace a few days ago, she explained that she has moved all courses to pass/fail grading. Students who would like to take the class for a letter grade simply need to inform their professors. You do not need to fill out paperwork through the Registrar's office. Simply send me an email if you would like to receive a letter grade.
Mar 28 - Apr 3
UPDATE TO OUR SYLLABUS
New due date for interpretive essay is April 27 at 3 PM.
You no longer need to write reflective essay 2 as a paper. Instead we will discuss that topic in a more extensive online forum that week.
Study guide for the week
Prophecy in the exile: Second Isaiah
- Refresh your memory about what we mean by "Second Isaiah."
- Read ch. 19 of Collins. You can skip ch 20.
- Watch the first part of the video below. Stop when you get to the discussion of Ezra-Nehemiah.
- Read the "Suffering Servant" article in Resources, esp. pp.158-top of 164.
- Download this chart: Understanding Suffering. Try to fill out the columns using the resources I've suggested.
- Reflect on what you've learned by filling out the chart. How distinctive do you believe Second Isaiah's view of suffering is? Be prepared to share your thoughts in our Zoom discussion on Saturday.
Other Persian period responses
- Read Collins p. 287 to get an overview of the Writings section of the Jewish Bible.
- Get an overview of what is in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Use Collins ch 21 and/or the introductions to the books in NOAB5.
- Watch the rest of the video.
- Our post will be based on the entry on Ezra-Nehemiah in TBC by Daniel Smith-Christopher.
Post and Zoom meeting
Apr 4-17
Bonus material:
Rabbi Jack Paskoff visited the day cohort of OT100 on Friday April 3rd. He talked with us about how Jews read the Bible, especially difficult texts. As a practicing rabbi, he is leading Torah study on Saturday mornings and can't meet live with our weekend class. But I did get his permission to record the session and share it with you. I'm sharing the video and also the documents he sent ahead of time.
He also invited me to share his email address with you in case you have questions: jpaskoff@shaarai.org
Overview of Week (leading into Apr 18)
This week, we consider two books likely composed/collected in the postexilic period. We'll talk first about Psalms and then about Proverbs (the first of the 3 Wisdom books that we will study).
Study Guide for the Week
- Complete the Collins reading on the book of Psalms.
- Watch my Psalms video. I'm also including the powerpoint version, which may be easier to navigate.
- Follow the directions on the last image of the presentation to compose a communal lament for our own time. Upload it to the Psalm forum.
- Complete the Collins reading on the book of Proverbs (we are going to skip Song of Songs).
- Watch my video on Proverbs (it is in 2 parts). Powerpoint version included.
- In our Zoom meeting on Saturday, be prepared to share your impressions of the book of Proverbs. Also, pick two proverbs from the book to discuss with us: one that fits your own experience and one that doesn't.
Apr 18-24
Study Guide for the Week
This week, we study two other Wisdom books: Ecclesiastes and Job.
You can omit the readings assigned in the syllabus. Instead, we are going to use some different resources and prepare for a different type of Zoom session.
1. (anytime during the week) Watch my Ecclesiastes video, following along in your Bible. I don't plan for us to discuss Ecclesiastes on Saturday, but it will be the basis for a later forum discussion.
2. We will focus on the book of Job. We will divide into groups and prepare to teach each other about the various sections of Job.
- Download the attached document "Job in Groups" and use the guidelines there for preparing to teach us on Saturday.
- We will be using for our resource a study guide on Job prepared by Prof. Charles Melchert: Job Study Guide Charles Melchert.
- Here are your group assignments:
- Group 1: Staley and Weitzel
- Group 2: Price and Collins
- Group 3: Tobin and Bashore
- Group 4: Smith and Merriman
- Group 5: Kohlkepp and Reeves
- You may want to email/call each other to prepare for your 5-minute teaching session.
Apr 25-May 1
Study Guide for the Week
- The two cohorts of OT100 will join in a discussion forum this week. By Tuesday 3 pm, write a post in which you compare the Prophets and Wisdom literature. By Thursday 3 pm, respond to 2 of your peers.
- Listen to this podcast episode. (It lasts about 28 minutes.) The presenter is Dr. Anathea Portier-Young from Duke University.
3. Read Collins ch. 27.4. Make sure you understand these concepts:- the genre of apocalypse
- the historical context of the writing of Daniel: the Hellenistic period (the difference between the history *in* in the text and the history *behind* the text)
- what Portier-Young believes that the theological value of this genre of material is
5. Reflect on your learning this semester. What stands out? What do you most want to know now?BONUS MATERIAL: two really good podcasts on Daniel by Dr. Philip Harland