REL 240: "The Prophets"

Course Description

This course examines the writings and roles of biblical prophets within an extended context that includes prophecy in the ancient Near East, New Testement views of prophecy, and modern adaptations of the prophetic role as agent of social, religious, and political change. Resources will be drawn from non-biblical traditions and works in anthropology, sociology, feminist, and African-American studies. Fall semester.

[Schedule of Topics (Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec) , Textbooks, Books on Reserve, Study Guides and Worksheets ]

Syllabus

Re 240 "The Prophets

Fall 2005

MWF 10:30AM-11:30PM SocSc 203 

Professor: Dr. Andy Vaughn

office: CV 316 (temporary office)

office telephone: x7475

home telephone: 507-934-1225 (before 9pm)

email: avaughn@gustavus.edu

office hours: M 9:00-10:00; W 9:00-10:00; F 8:30-9:30 AND by appointment

Required Texts:

David L. Petersen, The Prophetic Literature—An Introduction (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2002). 

Additional Text:

The Bible. Either NRSV, NIV, JPS, or another approved translation. A paraphrase such as the Good News Bible or Living Bible or the King James Version may not be used exclusively. The professor recommends the Harper-Collins Study Bible, ed. by W. Meeks. The professor prefers that you use the NRSV. 

Anticipated Method of Evaluation:

Short papers: 20%
First Exam 25%
Second Exam 35%
Group Projects 10%
Class Participation 10%
____
100%

 TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND READINGS

Sept. 9 (F): Course introduction and "What are Prophets Anyway?"

• The concept of the Divine Council
  • read Gen 1:26-28; Gen 3:22-24; Gen 11:1-9; Isa 6:1-13; 1 Kgs 22:13-38; Job 1; Psalm 82
  • go over notes from class and think about how the Israelite writers adapt this motif
• Think about what makes a person a prophet. What does it mean to be "prophetic" and is that different from being a prophet?
• Develop a tentative or working definition of a "prophet"

12 (M): Continuation of discussion of Divine Council

• Peterson 1-18
• reread biblical passages cited above and review notes from Friday

14 (W): Rethinking "Prophetic Literature"

• Petersen 1-18
• Read Amos 5:4-15
• Group projects (groups of 3 or 4)
  • contemporary fundamentalist reading:
  • historical reading:
  • 2/3s world reading:

16 (F): Rethinking "Prophetic Literature"

• Group projects (groups of 3 or 4)
• Read Amos 5:4-15 again
  • Harlem reading:
  • St. Peter reading (white, ELCA church):
  • Edina, Roman Catholic church reading:

19 (M): The Social Location of the Prophet

• Read Andrew Mayes, "Prophecy and Society in Israel," pp. 25-42 in Prophets' Vision and Wisdom Sages: Essays in Honor of R. Norman Whybray on His Seventieth Birthday (ed. H. A. McKay and D. J. A Clines; JSOTSup 162; Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1993). To be placed on reserve.
• Read John S. Kselman, "The Social World of the Isrealite Prophets: A Review Article," Religious Studies Review 11:2 (April 1985): 120-29. To be placed on reserve.
• Look back over Peterson, pp. 8-13
• Read Judges 6, 1 Kings 22.
• Look back over Isa 6 and the chapters that we read in Amos for information pertaining to social location.

21 (W): The Prophetic Call and True and False Prophets

• visionary prophets
• prophets who receive the "word" of God
• prophets as a professional guild
• How to tell true and false prophets
• Read part of the entry (pp. 896-905) on "Prophet, Prophetism" in The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible (New York: Abingdon Press, 1962) in the reference section in the library
• Read Michael Fishbane, "Biblical Prophecy as a Religious Phenomenon," pp. 62-81 in Jewish Spiritualty: From Bible to Middle Ages (ed. Arthur Green; Crossroad, NY, 1987). To be placed on reserve.
• small group assignment TBD

23 (F): 1 Kgs 22:13-28

-complete worksheet

-1st round of four-page papers (a) Carrie, Robby, Mary, Amy, Katie:

26 (M): Elijah and Elisha:

• Read Numbers 12:3-16; Deuteronomy 30:1-20; Deut 34:1-12; 1 Kgs 17-19; 2 Kgs 1-2; 4-5
• Read Peterson, pp. 215-231

28 (W): Nobel Conference (no class)

30 (F): Amos 5:21-24

• 1st round of four-page papers (b) Manny, Emily, Jeff, Chris, and Aaron:
• complete worksheet

Oct. 03 (M): Amos and Today

• read article (pp. by professor on the relationship of history and theology. link.
• Read Amos chapters 1-5
• Read Peterson, 184-189

05 (W): Micah

• Read Micah chapter 1-6
• Read Peterson, 193-196
• Read D. Hillers, "Micah, Book Of," in IV:807-10 in The Anchor Bible Dicionary in the reference section of the library (IV:807-10 stands for vol. IV, pp. 807-10).

07 (F): Micah 6:6-8

-look at a commentary on the passage

-complete worksheet that will be handed out in class

-1st round of four-page papers (c) Mark, Tore, Laura, Elizabeth, Justin:

10 (M): Isaiah of Jerusalem

• Read Isaiah, chapters 1-4, 6
• Read Peterson, 47-57, 61-63, 69-70, 78-81

12 (W): use of Mosiac and Davidic Covenants

• Gen 12:1-4
• 2 Sam 7
• Exodus 19-20; Deuteronomy 4-5
• Read Peterson, 89-95

14 (F): Isaiah and today

• TBA

17 (M): Messianic Prophecies

-Isa 7:1 - 11:16

19 (W): Review

21 (F): First Exam (25%)

24 (M): Reading Period

26 (W): A historical overview of the 7th century

28 (F): Nahum

31 (M): Use of violent texts

Nov 02 (W): Zephaniah

04 (F): Zeph 1:14-18

-complete worksheet that will be distributed on the web

-2nd round of papers (a):

07 (M): Josiah's reign and reforms

-2 Kings 22:1 - 23:30

-"Josiah" in the Anchor Bible Dictionary (see the reference section of the library)

09 (W): Jeremiah

11 (F): Jeremiah 31:31-34

• complete worksheet
• 2nd round of short papers (b):

14 (M): Jeremiah and today

• small group assignment due (groups of 5)

16 (W): Jeremiah and today cont.

18 (F): TBD (Prof. at conference)

21 (M): TBD (Prof. at conference)

23 (W): TBD (Prof. at conference)

25 (F): No class (Thanksgiving break)

28 (M): Ezekiel

30 (W): Ezekiel

Dec 2 (F): Ezekiel

05 (M): Ez 36:16-38

• 2nd round of short papers (c):

07 (W): The Second Isaiah

09 (F): The Second Isaiah

12 (M): Isa 55 and today

• complete worksheet

14 (W): Last Day of Semester

Final Exam: (35%)