This course examines the accounts of creation in Genesis and in other ancient Near Eastern literature. Primary texts and iconography will provide the basis for studying the role of creation in the religious life and political systems of Israel and other Near Eastern societies. This study of creation will provide a window through which to better understand Genesis as a whole as well as large portions of the Hebrew Scriptures. Students will pursue independent intersts related to these topics and this research will culminate in a final paper. Prerequisite: An Area B course or permission of instructor. Fall semester, even years.
[ Presentations , Schedule , Required Texts , Other ]
Professor: Dr. Andy Vaughn
office: Old Main 103A
office telephone: x7475
home telephone: 507-665-6294 (before 9pm)
email: avaughn@gustavus.edu
office hours: MW 1:45-2:30pm; TuTh 11:30-12:00 & by appointment
Anderson, Bernhard. From Creation to New Creation. Overtures to Biblical Theology. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1994.
Matthews, Victor, and Don Benjamin. Old Testament Parallels, fully revised and expanded edition. New York / Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1997.
von Rad, Gerhard. Genesis, A Commentary. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1973.
Meeks, Wayne, ed. The Harper Collins Study Bible (if you already own another NRSV translation, you may use this version; however, you are required to use the NRSV translation in order that we will all have the same text).
Test 10%
Class participation 10%
Class presentations / reports 15%
Semester Project Presentation 15%
Semester Project response / critique 10%
Final Paper 35%
100%
Sep. 09 (W): course description; signup for presentations
11 (F)): What does it mean to study "creation" in the Old Testament
-R. Clifford, "The Concept of Creation," photocopy from book (pp. 1-10)
-Anderson, FCNC, Chapter 1: "The Earth is the Lord's," 1-18.
14 (M): What is exegesis?: Genesis 1:1 2:4a as a case study.
16 (W): The Priestly Account of Creation
-Gen 1:1-2:4a
-"The Enuma Elish Stories," OTP, 9-18
-"The Hymn to Ptah," OTP, 3-5
-"Stores of Adapa," OTP, 41-45
study questions:
-Why are the sun and moon created on the 4th day and not on the first day?
-What is the background and significance of 1:21?
-How is the passage structured and what significance might this have held
for liturgical life of the people?
-Who might have written chapter 1? Why?
-How is this story similar or different from other creation stories listed
above?
18 (F): Short exegesis projects on Gen 1:1-2:4a
-Jonathan Hundt: the use of "to have dominion"
-Juliet Lund: the relationship or lack of relationship between Gen 1:1 and 2:4a
-Bryan McWhite: the blessing in Gen 1:28
-Thomas Mueler: the identity of God and humans in Gen 1:27
-Magdalen Skelton: the creation of a world that regenerates (i.e., reproduces on its own without the need for a fertility cult).
-Brent Voight: the character of God in this story (i.e., is God a character that is removed from the story or is God a talkative character in the story?).
21 (M):
23 (W):
25 (F):
28 (M):
30 (W):
Oct. 02 (F):
05 (M):
07 (W): Nobel Conference
09 (F):
12 (M):
14 (W):
16 (F):
19 (M):
21 (W):
23 (F):
26 (M):
28 (W):
30 (F):
Nov. 02 (M):
04 (W):
06 (F):
09 (M):
11 (W):
13 (F):
16 (M):
18 (W): no class
20 (F): no class
23 (M): no class
25 (W): go over paper topics with professor
27 (F): Thanksgiving Break
30 (M): student presentations
Dec. 02 (W): student presentations
04 (F): student presentations
07 (M): student presentations
09 (W): student presentations
11 (Th): student presentations
Exam period: Final Paper (35%)