Content

The Psalter is poetry which erupts at moments of emotional intensity; a transcript from real life; poetical accompaniment to real events and real experiences that appeals to the human being. They are completely and explicitly a human effort to express thought, anger, joy, thanksgiving, lament, doubt and more, to God. This unit will introduce the student to poetic literature in the Hebrew Bible, poetic devices and forms of expression, especially as they are found in the Book of Psalms. We will study the formation and development of the Psalter and attend to a full range of forms/genres of the Psalms, their structure, setting and their potential functions within the historical experience of Israel. The course also seeks to provide critical knowledge of the theological themes inherent in the Psalms and explore the relevance, use and functions of the Psalms in today’s context and for preaching.

Unit code: BA9020P

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Old Testament

Proposing College: Pilgrim Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Exhibit knowledge of Hebrew Bible poetic literature and the formation and development of the Psalter

2.

Critically analyse the various types of Psalms: their form, content, settings and potential functions

3.

Critically engage the Psalms and their varied theological positions

4.

Demonstrate understanding and ability to work with a variety of methods and critical approaches to the interpretation of the Psalter

5.

Apply the Psalms and their message to contemporary situations

Unit sequence

24 points in Old Testament Studies

Pedagogy

Lectures, Seminars and Tutorials

Indicative Bibliography

  • Brown, William P., ed. The Oxford Handbook of the Psalms. Oxford: OUP, 2014.
  • Brown, William P. Seeing the Psalms: A Theology of Metaphor. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002.
  • Brueggemann, W., and Billinger, William H., Jr. Psalms. New Cambridge Bible Commentary. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2014. (recommended for purchase)
  • deClaisse-Walford, Nancy L. Introduction to the Psalms. St Louis: Chalice, 2004.
  • Gerstenberger, E. Psalms 1–60 with an Introduction to Cultic Poetry, Part 1, FOTL. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988.
  • Gerstenberger, E. Psalms and Lamentations, Part 2. FOTL. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001.
  • Goldingay, John. Psalms. Volume 1: Psalms 1-41. Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006.
  • Goldingay, John. Psalms. Volume 2: Psalms 42-89. Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007.
  • Goldingay, John. Psalms. Volume 3: Psalms 90-150.* Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2008.
  • Jacobson, Rolf A., ed. Soundings in the Theology of Psalms: Perspectives and Methods in Contemporary Scholarship. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2011.
  • Lee, Nancy C. Lyrics of Lament: From Tragedy to Transformation. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2010.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Exegetical Essay

4000 word exegetical essay on a Psalm with contextual comments

4000 50.0
Essay

4000 word essay on a theme in the Psalms

4000 50.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 1 Sep, 2022

Unit record last updated: 2022-09-01 15:13:27 +1000