Content

An examination of the book of Genesis, in light of various critical methods. Attention will be given to literary sources and editing, theological issues, anthropological approaches to the text, and contemporary postcolonial interpretation.

Unit code: BA9714W

Unit status: Archived (New unit)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Old Testament

Delivery Mode: Online

Proposing College: Whitley College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Analyse the range of theories relating to sources and editing of the book

2.

Discriminate between religious perspectives in Genesis and other theologies in the Hebrew Bible, especially those relating to creation, politics and law

3.

Reflect critically on the poetics of the text

4.

Discuss the potential of this text in contemporary inter-religious dialogue between Judaism, Christianity and Islam

5.

Evaluate the implications of critical historical studies for theology

Unit sequence

Foundational unit in Hebrew Bible / Old Testament

Pedagogy

12 weekly sessions, requiring online participation. Each session consists of lecturer’s input, guided reading, additional suggested resources, and tutorial tasks requiring critical reflection and peer interaction. For Classroom based, this will primarily consist of lectures and tutorials.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Alter, Robert. Genesis: translation and commentary. New York: W W Norton, 1996.
  • Blenkinsopp, Joseph. Creation, un-creation, re-creation. A discursive commentary on Genesis 1-11. London: T&T Clark, 2011.
  • Brett, Mark G. Genesis: procreation and the politics of identity. London: Routledge, 2000.
  • Firestone, Reuven. Journeys in holy lands: The evolution of the Abraham-Ishmael legends in Islamic exegesis. Albany: State University of New York, 1990.
  • Hendel, Ron. Reading Genesis: Ten methods. Cambridge: CUP, 2010.
  • Kaminsky, Joel. Yet I loved Jacob: Reclaiming the biblical concept of election. Nashville: Abingdon, 2007.
  • Levenson, Jon D. Inheriting Abraham: The Legacy of the Patriarch in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2012.
  • Lipton, Diana. Visions of the night. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1999.
  • Moberly, R W L. The Old Testament of the Old Testament. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1992.
  • Sternberg, Meir. The poetics of biblical narrative. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 1985.
  • Wenham, Gordon. Genesis. 2 vols. Waco: Word 1987 and 1994.
  • Westermann, Claus. Genesis. 3 vols, Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1984, 1985, 1986.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

2,500 word essay

2500 40.0
Exegetical Essay

2,500 word exegetical paper

2500 40.0
Tutorial Paper/Seminar Paper

Online tutorial participation – not fewer than 5 entries of approximately 200 words

1000 20.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 1 Oct, 2015

Unit record last updated: 2020-10-09 09:42:55 +1100