The Book of Psalms (BA9450T)

Postgraduate, 24.0 points

Content

This unit engages with the Book of Psalms. It considers the history, forms, structure and contents of the Psalter, its genres and its theologies. Students will undertake exegesis of selected psalms; reflection on documents from the Christian tradition; personal prayer and reflection in the light of learnings.

Unit code: BA9450T

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Old Testament

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Trinity College Theological School

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Learning outcomes

1.

Critically exegete a psalm within its form critical and canonical context.
2.

Evaluate scholarly approaches to reading the Psalms.
3.

Synthesise insights in theology and liturgy of the Psalms from ancient Israelite and Christian traditions
4.

Apply insights from the Psalms to critique their liturgical use
5.

Synthesise theory and praxis in a contemporary context

Unit sequence

Prerequisite: BA8000T Introduction to the Old Testament or equivalent Recommend: BA8300T Interpreting the Old Testament or equivalent Familiarity with Biblical Hebrew is an advantage

Pedagogy

Lectures, guided readings, Socratic dialogue, flipped classroom

Indicative Bibliography

  • Brown, W.P. Seeing the Psalms: A Theology of Metaphor. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2002.
  • Brown, William P. The Oxford Handbook of the Psalms. New York: Oxford University Press, 2014.
  • Brueggemann, W. Psalms. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2014.
  • DeClaissé-Walford, Nancy L., R.A. Jacobson and B. Laneel Tanner, The Book of Psalms. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2014.
  • Firth, D.G. Surrendering Retribution in the Psalms: Responses to Violence in Individual Complaints. Bletchley: Paternoster Press, 2005.
  • Gillingham, Susan E. Psalms through the centuries. Oxford: Blackwell, 2008.
  • Hopkins, Denise Dombkowski. Psalms: Books 2-3. Collegeville, MN: Michael Glazier Book, Liturgical Press, 2016.
  • Jacobson, R.A. and K.N. Invitation to the Psalms: A Reader’s Guide for Discovery and Engagement. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013.
  • Wallace, Howard N. Psalms. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2009.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay - Thematic essay

Essay (2500 words)

 2500 35.0
Report 1000 15.0
Exegesis - Exegetical essay

Exegesis (2500 words)

 2500 35.0
Seminar or Tutorial - Tutorial presentation 1000 15.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 27 Sep, 2022

Unit record last updated: 2022-09-27 15:33:33 +1000