Justice, Mercy and Theodicy in the Old Testament (BA9018Y)

Postgraduate, 24.0 points

Content

This unit will examine how the Old Testament portrays God as just and merciful and the criteria whereby Israel is called to be the just and merciful society. It will consist of an analysis of the terms Justice and Mercy and associated terminology within their literary, historical and theological contexts. It will consider how these terms and the contexts in which they are used contribute to Theodicy—the notion of the just God.

Unit code: BA9018Y

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Old Testament

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Yarra Theological Union

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Learning outcomes

1.

apply their exegetical skills to the understanding of key theological terms in the Old Testament
2.

demonstrate an advanced ability to grasp the meaning of texts and terms
3.

critically assess the relationship between terminology in different contexts with a view to constructing a theology of mercy and justice
4.

demonstrate a critical knowledge of the relevant background material
5.

research papers and lead seminar discussions
6.

compare and critically evaluate contemporary insights in the study of the topic

Unit sequence

Successful completion of BA8000Y or equivalent

Pedagogy

Face-to-face lectures and tutorial discussion

Indicative Bibliography

  • Birch, B. C. Let justice roll down: The Old Testament, ethics, and Christian life. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1991.
  • Boda, Mark J. A Severe Mercy: Sin and Its Remedy in the Old Testament. Siphrut; Literature and Theology of the Old Testament Scriptures. Winona Lakes IN.: Eisenbrauns, 2009.
  • Gillmayr-Bucher, Susanne & Maria Hausl (eds.) Sedaqa and Torah in Post-Exilic Discourse. London: Bloomsbury, T & T Clark, 2017.
  • Crenshaw, J. L. Theodicy in the Old Testament. London: SPCK, 1983.
  • ––––––––– . Defending God: Biblical Responses to the Problem of Evil. Oxford: OUP, 2005.
  • Heagle, John. Justice Rising: The emerging biblical vision. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 2010.
  • Houston, Walter J. Contending for justice: Ideologies and theologies of social justice in the Old Testament. London: T & T Clark, 2006.
  • * O’Brien, Mark A. Restoring the Right Relationship: The Bible on Divine Righteousness. Adelaide: ATF Press, 2014. (Set text)
  • Perdue, Leo. The Collapse of History: Reconstructing Old Testament Theology. OBT. Augsburg, MN: Fortress Press, 1994.
  • –––––––––––. Reconstructing Old Testament Theology: After the Collapse of History. OBT. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2005.
  • Weinfeld, Moshe. Social Justice in Ancient Israel and in the Ancient Near East. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1995.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Exegesis 3000 35.0
Essay 5000 65.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Maggie Kappelhoff on 11 Sep, 2020

Unit record last updated: 2021-06-07 08:43:50 +1000