wisdom literature s 2145 · wisdom literature; 4. be able to integrate wisdom principles into their...
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WISDOM LITERATURE
S 2145 Fall 2019
COURSE INFORMATION
Jesse Harris, M.Div., B.S.
Title: Wisdom Literature Location: Classroom TBA e: [email protected]
Credit: 3 Units Academic Term: Fall 2019 p: 915.383.7133
Twitter: @jessewharris Schedule: See below w: www.gs.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
S 2145: Wisdom Literature. An analysis of the wisdom movement growth throughout the ancient Near
East with attention given to the content and message of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs,
providing their relevance for contemporary society and their applications to the human predicament in light
of current research.
Class Meetings:
•Thurs, 6-9 pm
•Aug 26 - Dec 12
Office Hours:
•Tues and Wed, 1-4pm
• Fall Semester
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COURSE RESOURCES
Throughout the academic term, hard-copy documents or online digital resources may be made available to
students registered for this class. Those resources may be presented in class or could be posted on the
seminary web portal, or by email. It is the student’s responsibility to regularly make himself or herself aware
of such materials and to save, print, archive, read, reference, and bring such items to class sessions.
Materials may appear online unannounced throughout the academic term.
SEMINAR OBJECTIVES AND INDICATORS
OBJECTIVES: Upon the successful completion of this seminar, learners will:
1. Possess an introductory understanding of ancient Near East wisdom literature;
2. Demonstrate the ability to articulate and analyze important textual, historical, and theological
aspects of biblical wisdom;
3. Demonstrate the ability to apply critical and analytical methodology for exegetical study of
wisdom literature;
4. Be able to integrate wisdom principles into their ministry and lives;
5. Grow in the love and pursuit of biblical wisdom.
INDICATORS: The learner will demonstrate they have satisfactorily fulfilled course objectives by:
1. Writing three interactive book reviews on important aspects of biblical wisdom literature
(Objectives 1, 2);
2. Engaging with a scholarly article or chapter and being able to effectively and cogently present
the content and personal insight to an unfamiliar audience (Objective 1, 2, 3);
3. Systematically working through important books of wisdom literature and producing outlines and
summaries (Objective 1, 2, 3);
4. Writing an academically proficient research paper on a topic or passage from biblical wisdom
literature (Objective 2, 3);
5. Developing a creative character sketch , applying the principles learned from biblical wisdom
(Objective 3, 4);
6. Integrating and implementing biblical wisdom in class discussion and presentations (Objective
4);
7. Completing a comprehensive examination of the material covered throughout the semester
(Objective 1, 2).
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Note: Each of the assignments in this course will be built upon these indicators. Refer to the numerous tasks
below for more complete descriptions of assignments. Students are expected to closely follow the letter and
spirit of each task description, otherwise full credit and a superior score on any given assignment will be
impossible to earn. When deemed necessary, visual examples are provided by the professor. Students are
first expected to read, collaborate as class members, and think creatively about the assigned tasks but are
encouraged to contact the professor as necessary.
REQUIRED TEXTS
DISABILITY SERVICES
Disability Services exist to assist any doctoral student who thinks he or she may need such assistance.
Students desiring accommodations for this class on the basis of physical learning, psychological and/or
emotional disabilities are to contact the professor and/or the seminary switchboard for more information
about learning assistance and disability services.
The Fear of the Lord is Wisdom: a Theological
Introduction to Wisdom in Israel
Author: Tremper Longman III
ISBN-13: 978-0-8010-2711-6
Hardback: 311 pages
Publisher: Baker Academic
(2017)
The Goldsworthy Trilogy: Gospel and Kingdom, Gospel and Wisdom, and the Gospel
in Revelation
Author: Graeme Goldsworthy
ISBN-13: 978-1-8422-7036-3
Hardback: 575 pages
Publisher: Paternoster Press (1995)
Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament
Author: John H. Walton
ISBN-13: 978- 0801027505
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Baker Academic
(2006)
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REQUIREMENTS FOR CREDIT
Special Instructions: Please submit all assignments via Canvas before the deadline on the Due Date.
Projects received after the due date will be penalized 15% and will not be accepted after the last day of class.
All assignments should be submitted in 12pt Times New Roman font.
Additionally, although reading the wisdom literature books will not be formally graded, it is necessary that
you read each section of wisdom literature before the day of class we lecture and discuss it in class. For
instance, read Proverbs 1-9 before the third week of class, and so on each week.
Task 1: Book Reviews
Due Date: September 1; September 15; October 1 (11:59pm PST)
Weighting: 15%
Possible Points: 150 points (50 points each)
Description: Carefully following the instructions below, write three book reviews, one for each of the
required texts (only “Gospel & Wisdom” in Goldsworthy). Each book review will be between 500 and 600
words. They should be single spaced with 12pt Times New Roman font. Papers should be saved in Word
format (.doc or .docx) with name, assignment, and date (John Smith_FA2019_Longman). No cover page.
For quotations, use in-text citations, ex: (Longman, 25). Keep quotations to a minimum and no block
quotations are allowed.
Structure of Sections for Book Reviews:
Bibliographic information (Turabian) and percent of pages read
Information on Author, thesis, and purpose of book (50-100 words)
Overview of book and its content (150-250 words)
Positive points, ideas, and take-a-ways (150-250 words)
Negative critique of several points (150-250 words)
*Note: Be concise in your language and attempt to meaningfully engage with the central ideas while paying
close attention to the minor or peripheral points. Use this example as a model.
Grading: Each book review has five sections (10 possible points for each of the five sections) and is worth a
total of 50 points (150 total possible points for the three book reviews).See Appendix B.
Task 2: Article and Chapter Presentations
Due Date: Assignments will be determined first day of class and due on scheduled class dates
Weighting: 10%
Possible Points: 100 points
Description: Students will be assigned scholarly journal articles or book chapters (see Appendix A), relating
to wisdom literature scholarship, to present to the class during normally scheduled class periods.
Assignments will take place on the first day of class. Presentations will begin the second day of class. The
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student will seek to fully understand the assigned reading and will make them clearly understandable to the
class. Each student will be assigned two presentations. Each presentation will be worth 50 points.
Directions: Presentations will be 15 min followed by 5 min of Q&A. The presentation will consist of an
overview of the article/chapter and a critical interaction with the content. This insightful and thoughtful
interaction will likely require some additional reading and research in order to form original thoughts and
fully present the pros and cons of the article/chapter.
Grading will take into consideration 1) how well prepared and logical the presentation is, 2) the level of
interaction with the content, 3) delivery, 4) attention to allotted time, and 5) professional/godly handling of
Q&A.
*Note: A copy of the presentation manuscript or outline MUST be turned in at the time of presentation in
order to receive credit. Though this will not be formally graded, it will be necessary to receive a grade on
the assignment.
Grading: Each presentation has five sections and is worth a total of 50 points (100 total possible points for
the two presentations). See Appendix B.
Task 3: Character Sketch Paper
Due Date: October 15, 11:59pm PST
Weighting: 10%
Possible Points: 100 points
Description: This assignment will allow the student to think deeply about one of the characters mentioned in
the wisdom literature corpora covered in the class. To complete this assignment, the student will choose one
character to analyze and put themselves in the shoes of (examples: the father figure in proverbs, Elihu in Job,
etc.). This paper should be creative and thoughtful but rooted in the actual text and words. So, the student
should seek to imagine the characteristics and qualities of their character, asking questions like: what are
they like, what do they want, what do they fear, what motivates them, what are things might they say or
think, and so on. There is no particularly right way to make the character sketch but it should be fun and
engaging. Second, the student will then write a section responding to the character’s questions and
personality. Principles of biblical wisdom should be applied as though being given to a friend or family
member but specific to character just sketched. This paper will be worth 100 points.
The paper will be 1500-2000 words. The first two-thirds will be the character sketch and the last third the
interactive response. The paper should be single spaced with normal formatting. No cover page or
bibliography. This is creative rather than research oriented paper. Grading will take into account creative
engagement and effort, along with writing style and assignment requirements.
Grading: See Appendix B for grading rubric.
Task 4: Research Paper
Due Date: November 15, 11:59pm PST
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Weighting: 25%
Possible Points: 250 points
Description: Students will conduct scholarly research on a topic within the field of wisdom literature. The
purpose of this assignment is to deepen the level of understanding and interaction with a topic or passage of
choice. Students will apply knowledge and skills to evaluate the relevant literature and cogently synthesize
and argue a sound thesis. Topics or passages must be pre-approved. Papers will be between 4000 and 5000
words (including footnotes but not title page, content page, or bibliography). Papers should include a title
page, contents page, body of content, footnotes, and a bibliography. The paper should be double-spaced with
1in margins, following Turabian style in 12pt Times New Roman font. Papers should be saved in a Word
format (doc or docx) and include the students name, semester, and assignment).
Grading for this paper will assess five areas: Content (100 points), Structure (50 points), Writing (50
points), Resources (25), and Formatting (25). Excellent papers will demonstrate both depth and breadth of
their chosen topic or passage with appropriate and scholarly resources. Excellent papers will develop a very
clear thesis and craft the flow of information, sections, and interaction in a logical and persuasive manner.
Excellent papers will demonstrate professional and graduate level writing, which conform to proper
formatting, grammatical rules, and scholarly writing style. See Appendix B.
*Note: Topic approvals must be submitted on the course website by October 1. Failure to submit topic on
time will result in a 10% deduction from the paper’s grade
Task 5: Outline and Summary of Wisdom Books
Due Date: December 1, 11:59pm PST
Weighting: 20%
Possible Points: 200 points
Description: Students will produce book outlines and summaries for important wisdom literature books:
Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Sirach, and Wisdom of Solomon. Outlines will seek to build a
structure of content for each book. This outline should seek to provide a heading, followed by one to two
sublevels of headings with the related chapter and verse numbers. Each heading should be a summary of the
content within the verses designated. Each outline will also include a one-sentence thesis of the book and a
summary of the book between 100 and 200 words. The summary should include a brief overview of the
content and the theological message and purpose of the book. These outlines and summaries should be
single-spaced.
Structure for Book Outlines and Summaries:
Book Title
Thesis sentence
Summary
Outline
*Note: Each book should have this structure. All books should be included on the same document, in the
order given in the description. Do not go overboard with the outline subheadings. Each outline should be
between one and three pages, depending on the length and complexity of the book.
Grading: The assignment is worth 200 points and will be graded as a whole. The grading will be broken
down into the three sections. The thesis sections altogether will be worth 20 points and the summaries
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altogether will be worth 70 points. The outlines altogether will be worth 110 points. See Appendix B.
. Task 6: Final Exam
Due Date: December 15, 11:59pm PST
Weighting: 20%
Possible Points: 200 points
Description: Students will take an online final exam. This exam will be available on the course website
from December 6 to December 12. It will be open book and open notes. The exam will consist of two
sections: multiple choice questions and essays. The multiple choice will have fifty questions worth 100
points. The essay section will have four prompts worth 25 points each.
CLASS INFORMATION
1. Class Attendance and Attendance Policy:
Attendance and Tardiness
Attendance to class is a matter of stewardship and ministerial calling. A high level of expectation rests
on students in this regard, and all students should exhibit the highest degree of attention to this matter, as
it is foundational to the proper functioning of the learning environment and the educational experience as
a whole. In keeping with these values, attendance will be taken at the beginning and, at the professor’s
discretion, also the end of each class. Being tardy is both unprofessional and interrupts the learning
environment of each student and the professor who arrived for class on time. Persistent tardiness, early
departure, or disruptive behavior will result in a 5% deduction in overall grade for the course.
Absence Policy
Students are expected to attend the entire course instructional time on each day of class and full
attendance is required for the successful completion of the seminar. More than two absences will result
in a failing grade.
2. Late Assignments:
Every late assignment will be penalized 15% and will not be accepted after the last day of class.
Turning in high-quality work, complete and on-time, is a vocational expectation in ministry and in
graduate studies. As such, that value is cultivated in this course by expecting students to complete work
as assigned.
3. Turning in Assignments:
Please submit all assignments via Canvas before the deadline on the Due Date. All assignments should
be submitted in 12pt Times New Roman font. Papers should be saved in Word format (.doc or .docx)
with name, assignment, and date (John Smith_FA2019_Longman).
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4. General Requirements for Written and Oral Projects:
Gateway Seminary desires to maintain the highest standards with respect to the composition of all written
work. As such, any student paper exhibiting poor grammar, spelling errors, typographical errors,
colloquialisms-slang, or any other egregious substandard work shall have the overall grade for that paper
reduced accordingly. If/when needed, and for cover pages, use a Turabian style manual with footnotes.
Moreover, at the discretion of the professor, the severely substandard paper may be returned to the
student ungraded for immediate correction and resubmission with appropriate grade penalties. Students
are asked not to use Courier fonts in their papers/presentations, or other fonts that may be considered
unprofessional or distracting.
5. Professional Courtesy
Students are expected to uphold the highest standards of courtesy and professionalism to the professor,
classroom guests, and fellow doctoral students. This includes the employment of institutional and
academic titles when addressing faculty, administrators, and other seminary personnel or classroom
guests. Classroom dress, proper grooming, behaviors, and hygiene should be such that they are not
distracting or offensive to classmates or dishonoring to the Lord Jesus Christ and this institution.
6. Respect for Divergent Viewpoints
In Christian higher educational institutions, it can be assumed that each believer-learner is at a different
place of personal maturity and educational preparedness. For these reasons, it is requested and expected
that each student exhibit mutual respect, even when divergent viewpoints are expressed in the classroom.
Such respect, even when it results in a student’s frustrated silence, does not require or imply agreement
with or acceptance of any such perspectives.
7. Technology Use and Classroom Etiquette
Students should refrain from behaviors that negatively affect the teaching environment or its facilities.
This includes any potentially distracting action that could inhibit the primary purposes of the classroom–
namely, learning and personal transformation. Students should conduct themselves as ministerial
professionals who give, and are worthy of, a high level of respect. Material presented in the classroom
represents the intellectual property of the professor and of others who may have contributed to the
professor’s perspectives. Class meetings may not be recorded by audio and/or video without the express
consent of the professor.
The use of items like laptops, cell phones, mp3 players, and all other electronic or digital devices are
matters that are strictly governed in academic environments such as this. With the exception of laptops
(which are to be used solely and strictly for educational purposes directly related to what is happening
moment by moment in this class) and other similar note-taking devices, students are expected to take the
initiative and choose either not to bring such devices or to “fully power down” each of these items prior
to the beginning of class and to keep them off until class is dismissed.
Neither the professor nor one’s classmates should expect to endure buzzing, vibrating, ringing, singing,
or other intended/not intended but nevertheless distracting noises from your device(s).
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Except for those very infrequent genuine emergencies, students who fail or “forget” to turn off
communication devices and who receive such communications show marks of immaturity, a lack of
social awareness, or both. Incidents like these are frowned upon and cannot be tolerated for the integrity
of the learning atmosphere. In addition, it is expected that students not participate in distracting activities
such as e-mailing, web-surfing, instant messaging, and computer gaming during class.
8. Plagiarism:
Gateway Seminary sees any form of plagiarism as a serious problem with serious consequences. Please
refer to the academic integrity statement in the Seminary Catalog.
If a student is discovered to be actively participating in plagiarism, disciplinary action will be taken. This
may include failing the assignment, overall grade reduction and, in some cases, failing the seminar.
Unwitting participation in plagiarism or copying from other sources will also cause formal academic
action to be taken against the student. In such cases, the Academic Dean will be notified of the situation
and it will become a high-level administrative matter.
9. Computation of Final Grade:
1. Book Reviews =150 points
2. Presentations =100 points
3. Character Sketch =100 points
4. Research Paper =250 points
5. Book Outline/Summaries =200 points
6. Final Exam =200 points
Total Possible Points: =1000 points
GENERAL INFORMATION
1. The Grading System adopted by this professor is:
A 940+ points A- 900-939 points
B+ 870-899 points B 840-869 points B- 800-839 points
C+ 770-799 points C 740-769 points C- 700-739 points
D+ 670-699 points D Below 669 points
2. Method of Instruction:
The following methods of instruction may be included in this course:
1. Lecture 07. Other Audio/Visual Resources
2. Group Discussion 08. Reading
3. Written Reports 09. Digital and/or Print Media
4. Oral Reports 10. Library and Qualitative Research
5. Electronic Presentations 11. Guest Presenters
6. Use of the Internet 12. Technical Writing and Digital Product Production
3. Posting of Final Grades:
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The professor does not post, nor provide final grades to individual students. Final grades are delivered
by the Registrar’s Office, whose responsibility it is to perform that task.
4. Incomplete Grade:
In virtually every case that students do not meet the course requirements and when required course tasks
are not submitted to the professor on time, those students should anticipate receiving a failing grade. In
rare and unusual situations (e.g., serious illness of the student or illness or death of a student’s
immediate family), when written agreements have been made by the professor-student, the professor
may grant an extension in the form of an incomplete grade. Receiving an Incomplete is rare. In those
cases an Incomplete is given, the student must submit the late work at the earliest opportunity and by a
required date. Missing those required dates automatically forces the Incomplete into a failing grade for
the course.
5. Course Calendar
The following course calendar and daily schedule are given as a courtesy to the student and may change
as the need and dynamics of the course transpires.
WEEK DATE COURSE SECTION OR CLASS LECTURE
CLASS INFORMATION
1
Aug 22 THURSDAY 6:00-9:00pm
Syllabus and introductions
Overview and introduction to wisdom literature
2
Aug 29 THURSDAY 6:00-9:00pm
Ancient Near East
Presentations 1&2
Sept 1 SUNDAY
11:59pm PST
Book Review (Longman) DUE
3
Sept 5 THURSDAY 6:00-9:00pm
Proverbs: chapters 1-9
o History, Text, Theology
Presentations 3&4 Read and prepare
4
Sept 12 THURSDAY 6:00-9:00pm
Proverbs: chapters 10-31
o History, Text, Theology
Presentations 5&6 Read and prepare
Sept 15 MONDAY
11:59pm PST
Book Review (Walton) DUE
5
Sept 19 THURSDAY 6:00-9:00pm
Job: chapters 1-27
o History, Text, Theology
Presentations 7&8 Read and prepare
Sept 26
NOTE: SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN ORDER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CLASS.
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6 THURSDAY 6:00-9:00pm
Job: chapters 28-42 o History, Text, Theology
Presentations 9&10
Read and prepare
Oct 1 TUESDAY
11:59pm PST
Topic Approval Submission DUE
Book Review (Goldsworthy) DUE
7 Oct 3
THURSDAY 6:00-9:00pm
Ecclesiastes: chapters 1 and 12
o History, Text, Theology
Presentations
11&12 Read and prepare
8 Oct 10
THURSDAY 6:00-9:00pm
Ecclesiastes: chapters 2-11
o History, Text, Theology
Presentations
13&14 Read and prepare
Oct 15 TUESDAY
11:59pm PST
Character Sketch DUE
9 Oct 17
THURSDAY 6:00-9:00pm
Song of Songs
o History, Text, Theology
Presentations
15&16 Read and prepare
10
Oct 24 THURSDAY 6:00-9:00pm
Sirach: chapters 1-25 o History, Text, Theology
Presentations
17&18 Read and prepare
11
Nov 7 THURSDAY 6:00-9:00pm
Sirach: chapters 26-51 o History, Text, Theology
Presentations
19&20 Read and prepare
12
Nov 14 THURSDAY 6:00-9:00pm
Wisdom of Solomon: chapters 1-9
o History, Text, Theology
Presentations
21&22 Read and prepare
Nov 15 FRIDAY
11:59pm PST
Research Paper DUE
13
Nov 21 THURSDAY 6:00-9:00pm
Wisdom of Solomon: chapters 10-19
o History, Text, Theology
Presentations
23&24 Read and prepare
Nov 28 THANKSGIVING WEEK
Dec 1 11:59pm PST
Book Outline and Summeries DUE
14
Dec 5 THURSDAY 6:00-9:00pm
Review of wisdom literature, discussion of
research papers, and Q&A
15
Dec 6- 12
11:59pm PST
Final Exam DUE
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BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR WISDOM LITERATURE
Commentaries:
Akin, Daniel L., and Jonathan Akin. Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Proverbs. Christ-
Centered Exposition. Edited by Daniel L. Akin, David Platt, and Tony Merida. Nashville: Holman
Reference, 2017.
Akin, Daniel L. Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Song of Songs. Christ-Centered Exposition.
Edited by Daniel L. Akin, David Platt, and Tony Merida. Nashville: Holman Reference, 2017.
Andersen, Francis I. Job : An Introduction and Commentary. The Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries.
Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1976.
Clines, David J. A. Job. Volume 17ABC. Word Biblical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2017.
Duguid, Iain M. The Song of Songs: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale Old Testament
Commentaries volume 19. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2015.
Fox, Michael V. A Time to Tear down and a Time to Build up: A Rereading of Ecclesiastes. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1999.
Hamilton, James M. Song of Songs: A Biblical-Theological, Allegorical, Christological Interpretation.
Fearn, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2015.
Hartley, John E. The Book of Job. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1988.
Loader, J. A. Ecclesiastes: Text and Interpretation. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986.
———. Proverbs 1-9. Historical Commentary on the Old Testament. Walpole, MA: Peeters, 2014.
Longman, Tremper. Proverbs. Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms. Grand
Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006.
Seow, C. L. Job 1-21: Interpretation and Commentary. Illumination Commentaries Series. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 2013.
Waltke, Bruce K. The Book of Proverbs. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand
Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Pub, 2004.
Ancient Near East
Alster, Bendt. The Instructions of Suruppak: A Sumerian Proverb Collection. Copenhagen: Akademisk
Forlag, 1974.
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Cheon, Samuel. The Exodus Story in the Wisdom of Solomon: A Study in Biblical Interpretation. Journal for
the Study of the Pseudepigrapha Supplement Series 23. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic, 1997.
DeSilva, David Arthur. Introducing the Apocrypha: Message, Context, and Significance. 2nd ed. Grand
Rapids: Baker Academic, 2018.
Glicksman, Andrew T. Wisdom of Solomon 10: A Jewish Hellenistic Reinterpretation of Early Israelite
History through Sapiential Lenses. Deuterocanonical and Cognate Literature Studies. Berlin: De
Gruyter, 2011.
Lambert, W. G. Babylonian Wisdom Literature. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 1996.
Linebaugh, Jonathan A. God, Grace, and Righteousness in Wisdom of Solomon and Paul’s Letter to the
Romans: Texts in Conversation. Supplements to Novum Testamentum 152. Boston: Brill, 2013.
Journal Articles
Fox, Michael V. “Job 38 and God’s Rhetoric.” Semeia 19 (1981): 53–61.
———. “The Epistemology of the Book of Proverbs.” Journal of Biblical Literature 126, no 4 (2007): 669–
84.
———. “The Pedagogy of Proverbs 2.” Journal of Biblical Literature 113.2 (1994): 233–43.
Hayman, A P. “Qohelet and the Book of Creation.” Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 16.50 (1991):
93–111.
Murphy, R. E. “Wisdom Literature and Biblical Theology.” Biblical Theology Bulletin 24.1 (1994): 4–7.
James, Elaine. “Battle of the Sexes: Gender and the City in the Song of Songs.” Journal for the Study of the
Old Testament 42.1 (2017): 93–116.
Samet, Nili. “Religious Redaction in Qohelet in Light of Mesopotamian Vanity Literature.” Vetus
Testamentum 66.1 (2016): 133–48.
Szpek, Heidi M. “On the Influence of the Septuagint on the Peshitta.” The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 60.2
(1998): 251–66.
Vayntrub, Jacqueline E. “The Book of Proverbs and the Idea of Ancient Israelite Education.” Zeitschrift Für
Die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 128.1 (2016): 96–114.
Biblical Wisdom Literature
Bartholomew, Craig G., and Ryan O’Dowd. Old Testament Wisdom Literature: A Theological Introduction.
Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2011.
Berry, Donald K. An Introduction to Wisdom and Poetry of the Old Testament. Nashville: B&H, 1995.
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Blenkinsopp, Joseph. Wisdom and Law in the Old Testament: The Ordering of Life in Israel and Early
Judaism. The Oxford Bible Series. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990.
Clements, R. E., and Edward Ball, eds. In Search of True Wisdom: Essays in Old Testament Interpretation in
Honour of Ronald E. Clements. Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 300. Sheffield, England:
Sheffield Academic Press, 1999.
Crenshaw, James L. Old Testament Wisdom: An Introduction. Rev. and enl. Louisville: Westminster John
Knox Press, 1998.
———, ed. Studies in Ancient Israelite Wisdom. The Library of Biblical Studies. New York: Ktav
Publishing House, 1976.
Day, John, and John Adney Emerton, eds. Wisdom in Ancient Israel: Essays in Honour of J. A. Emerton.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998.
Dell, Katharine J., and Will Kynes, eds. Reading Job Intertextually. Library of Hebrew Bible Old Testament
Studies 574. New York: Bloomsbury, 2013.
Frydrych, Tomáš. Living under the Sun: Examination of Proverbs and Qoheleth. Supplements to Vetus
Testamentum v. 90. Boston: Brill, 2002.
Goldsworthy, Graeme. Gospel and Wisdom: Israel’s Wisdom Literature in the Christian Life. Carlisle:
Paternoster Press, 1995.
Hunter, Alastair. SCM Core Text: Wisdom Literature. SCM Press, 2006.
Longman, Tremper. The Fear of the Lord Is Wisdom: A Theological Introduction to Wisdom in Israel. Grand
Rapids: Baker Academic, 2017.
Murphy, Roland E. Wisdom Literature: Ruth, Esther, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Canticles. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1981.
Passaro, Angelo, and Giuseppe Bellia, eds. The Wisdom of Ben Sira: Studies on Tradition, Redaction, and
Theology. Deuterocanonical and Cognate Literature Studies 1. New York: De Gruyter, 2008.
Perdue, Leo G., ed. Scribes, Sages, and Seers: The Sage in the Eastern Mediterranean World. Forschungen
Zur Religion Und Literatur Des Alten Und Neuen Testaments Bd. 219. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck &
Ruprecht, 2008.
———. Wisdom Literature: A Theological History. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2007.
Rad, Gerhard von. Wisdom in Israel. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1972.
Longman, Tremper, and Peter Enns, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings.
Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2008.
Whybray, R. N. The Intellectual Tradition in the Old Testament. Beiheft Zur Zeitschrift Für Die
Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 135. New York: De Gruyter, 1974.
———. Wisdom in Proverbs: The Concept of Wisdom in Proverbs 1-9. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock
Publishers, 2009.
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Wilken, Robert Louis, and Notre Dame, Ind, eds. Aspects of Wisdom in Judaism and Early Christianity.
Studies in Judaism and Christianity in Antiquity 1. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press,
1975.
Old Testament
Arnold, Bill T., and Richard S. Hess, eds. Ancient Israel’s History: An Introduction to Issues and Sources.
Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2014.
Bartholomew, Craig G., and David J. H. Beldman, eds. Hearing the Old Testament: Listening for God’s
Address. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2012.
Greidanus, Sidney. Preaching Christ from the Old Testament: A Contemporary Hermeneutical Method.
Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999.
Harrison, R. K. Introduction to the Old Testament. Reprint. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2016.
Johnson, Dru. Biblical Knowing: A Scriptural Epistemology of Error. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2013.
Kaplan, Jonathan. My Perfect One: Typology and Early Rabbinic Interpretation of Song of Songs. New
York: Oxford University Press, 2015.
Longman, Tremper, and Raymond B. Dillard. An Introduction to the Old Testament. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 2006.
Waltke, Bruce K., and Charles Yu. An Old Testament Theology: An Exegetical, Canonical, and Thematic
Approach. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007.
Walton, John H. Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament: Introducing the Conceptual World
of the Hebrew Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006.
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Appendix A: Articles and Chapters
Week 2:
Purdue, Leo G. “Sages, Scribes and Seers in Israel and the Ancient Near East: an Introduction” in
Scribes, Sages, and Seers: The Sage in the Eastern Mediterranean World.
Lemaire, André. "Wisdom in Solomonic Historiography" in Wisdom in Ancient Israel.
Week 3:
———. “The Pedagogy of Proverbs 2.” Journal of Biblical Literature 113.2 (1994): 233–43.
———. “The Epistemology of the Book of Proverbs.” Journal of Biblical Literature 126, no 4
(2007): 669–84.
Week 4:
Vayntrub, Jacqueline E. “The Book of Proverbs and the Idea of Ancient Israelite Education.”
Zeitschrift Für Die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 128.1 (2016): 96–114.
Waltke, Bruce K. “Theology” in The Book of Proverbs (NICOT).
Week 5:
Schultz, Richard L. “Job and Ecclesiastes: Intertextuality and a Protesting Pair” in Reading Job
Intertexually
Bartholomew, Craig. “Hearing the Old Testament Wisdom Literature: the Wit of Many and the
Wisdom of One” in Hearing the Old Testament: Listening for God’s Address.
Week 6:
Waltke, Bruce K. “The Gift of Wisdom” in Old Testament Theology.
Fox, Michael V. “Job 38 and God’s Rhetoric.” Semeia 19 (1981): 53–61.
Week 7:
Fox, Michael. “Excursus I: Time in Qohelet’s ‘Catalogue of Times’” in A Time to Tear Down and a
Time to build Up: A Rereading of Ecclesiastes.
Hayman, A P. “Qohelet and the Book of Creation.” Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 16.50
(1991): 93–111.
Week 8:
Johnson, Dru. “Scientific Epistemology, Wisdom, and the Epistles” in Biblical Knowing.
Blenkinsopp, Joseph. “Theological Wisdom” in Wisdom and Law in the Old Testament.
Week 9:
James, Elaine. “Battle of the Sexes: Gender and the City in the Song of Songs.” Journal for the Study
of the Old Testament 42.1 (2017): 93–116.
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Murphy, R. E. “Wisdom Literature and Biblical Theology.” Biblical Theology Bulletin 24.1 (1994):
4–7.
Week 10:
Rizzi, Giovanni. “Christian interpretations in the syriac version of Sirach” in The Wisdom of Ben
Sira: Studies on Tradition, Redaction, and Theology.
Gilbert, Maurice. “Methodological and Hermeneutical trends in modern exegesis on the Book of Ben
Sira” in The Wisdom of Ben Sira: Studies on Tradition, Redaction, and Theology.
Week 11:
Pistone, Rosario. “Blessing of the sage, prophecy of the scribe: Ben Sira to Matthew” in The Wisdom
of Ben Sira: Studies on Tradition, Redaction, and Theology.
Bellia, Giuseppe. “An historico-anthropological reading of the work of Ben Sira” in The Wisdom of
Ben Sira: Studies on Tradition, Redaction, and Theology.
Week 12:
Glicksman, Andrew T. “Exegesis” in Wisdom of Solomon 10.
Purdue, Leo G. “Wisdom and Alexandrian Hellenism” in Wisdom Literature.
Week 13:
Linebaugh, Jonathan A. “Soteriological Semantics: Righteousness and Grace in Wisdom and
Romans” in God, Grace, and Righteousness in Wisdom of Solomon.
Davies, Eryl W. “Walking in God’s Ways: The Concept of Imitatio Dei in the Old Testament” in In
Search of True Wisdom
Presentation Signup Sheet:
Student 1 Student 2
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
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Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Appendix B: Rubric Forms
Book Reviews:
Bibliography Author/Thesis Overview Positive Negative
TASK 1 5 points 5 points 10 points 15 points 15 points
Exceeds Standard Expectations
The Bibliographical information is present and perfectly formatted to Turabian style.
Includes in a clear and logical manner relevant and pertinent information about the author and their thesis and purpose for writing the book, free of grammatical errors and meets word count.
Provides a clear and logical overview of the book and its important sections, free of grammatical errors and meets word count.
Highlights and interacts with the important positive points in the book with engaging insight, free of grammatical errors and meets word count.
Highlights and interacts with the important negative points in the book with engaging insight, free of grammatical errors and meets word count.
POINTS 3-4 points 3-4 points 6-9 points 10-14 points 10-14 points
Meets Standard Expectations
The Bibliographical information is present but has minor Turabian style formatting errors.
Includes in a good manner relevant and pertinent information about the author and their thesis and purpose for writing the book, some grammatical errors and/or does not meet
Provides a good overview of the book and its important sections, some grammatical errors and/or does not meet word count.
Highlights and interacts with the important positive points in the book satisfactorily, some grammatical errors and/or does not meet word count.
Highlights and interacts with the important negative points in the book satisfactorily, some grammatical errors and/or does not meet word count.
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word count.
POINTS 2 points 2 points 4-5 points 5-9 points 5-9 points
Below Standard Expectations
The Bibliographical information is present but has major Turabian style formatting errors.
Includes information about the author and their thesis, grammatical errors or outside of word count.
Provides a weak overview of the book and its important sections, many grammatical errors and/or does meet word count.
Highlights and interacts with the important positive points in the book poorly, many grammatical errors and/or does not meet word count.
Highlights and interacts with the important negative points in the book poorly, many grammatical errors and/or does not meet word count.
POINTS 0-1 points 0-1 points 0-3 points 0-4 points 0-4 points
Fails to Meet Minimum Expectations
Bibliographical information is missing.
Does not include necessary information and/or severely misses word count.
Does not include necessary information and/or severely misses word count.
Does not include necessary information and/or severely misses word count.
Does not include necessary information and/or severely misses word count.
Presentations:
Logical/Prepared Interaction Delivery Time Conduct
TASK 2 20 points 15 points 5 points 5 points 5 points
Exceeds Standard Expectations
Presentation was well prepared and very logical in summarizing the content and the structure of the article/chapter.
Presentation shows excellent interaction and insight with the major points of the article/chapter.
Presentation is delivered in a well-prepared manner with evidence of ample consideration of the audience.
Presentation meets the time standard outlined in the task description.
Student interacts with author and fellow students during Q&A in a professional and godly manner.
POINTS 12-19 points 8-14 points 3-4 points 3-4 points 3-4 points
Meets Standard Expectations
Presentation was prepared and logical in summarizing the content and the structure of the article/chapter.
Presentation shows good interaction and insight with the major points of the article/chapter.
Presentation is delivered in a good manner with evidence of some consideration of the audience.
Presentation closely misses the time standard outlined in the task description.
Student interacts with author and fellow students during Q&A in a somewhat professional and somewhat godly manner.
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POINTS 5-11 points 4-7 points 2 points 2 points 2 points
Below Standard Expectations
Presentation was not well prepared in summarizing the content and the structure of the article/chapter.
Presentation shows weak or illegitimate interaction and insight with the major points of the article/chapter.
Presentation is delivered in a weak manner with little evidence of consideration for the audience.
Presentation greatly misses the time standard outlined in the task description.
Student interacts with author and fellow students during Q&A in a somewhat unprofessional and somewhat ungodly manner.
POINTS 0-4 points 0-3 points 0-1 points 0-1 points 0-1 points
Fails to Meet Minimum Expectations
Presentation was poorly prepared and difficult to understand in summarizing the content and the structure of the article/chapter.
Presentation poorly interacts with the major points of the article/chapter.
Presentation is delivered poorly.
Presentation severely misses the time standard outlined in the task description.
Student interacts with author and fellow students during Q&A in an unprofessional and ungodly manner.
Character Sketch:
Character Sketch Interactive Response Writing
TASK 3 35-40 points 35-40 points 20 points
Exceeds Standard Expectations
Character sketch is creative, well thought out, and provides intriguing aspects of the character.
Interactive response creatively and winsomely applies the principles of biblical wisdom to pressing issues facing the character.
Paper is free of grammatical errors, is structured and flows very well, and meets the word count.
POINTS 25-34 points 25-34 points 12-19 points
Meets Standard Expectations
Character sketch is moderately creative, thought out, and provides interesting aspects of the character.
Interactive response applies the principles of biblical wisdom to pressing issues facing the character.
Paper has some grammatical errors, has acceptable structure and flow, and meets the word count.
POINTS 12-24 points 12-24 points 5-11 points
Below Standard Expectations
Character sketch is not very creative, loosely developed, and weak in engagement with aspects of the character.
Interactive response attempts to apply the principles of biblical wisdom to pressing issues facing the character.
Paper has many grammatical errors, has weak structure and flow, and/or does not meet the word count.
POINTS 0-11 points 0-11 points 0-4 points
Fails to Meet Minimum Expectations
Character sketch is minimally creative, poorly developed, and
Interactive response poorly applies the principles of biblical wisdom to pressing
Paper has severe grammatical errors, has poor structure and flow,
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does not engage well with aspects of the character.
issues facing the character. and/or does not meet the word count.
Research Paper:
Content Structure Writing Resources Format
TASK 4 90-100 points 45-50 points 45-50 points 25 points 25 points
Exceeds Standard Expectations
Paper is an excellent work on the topic with excellent points, research, and engagement.
Paper follows a very logical and well laid out approach to the topic, meets word count.
Paper is free of grammatical errors and is written with with excellent and professional prose.
Paper shows a high level of interaction with relevant and important resources.
Paper follows proper formatting for Turabian style with no errors.
POINTS 70-89 points 30-44 points 30-44 points 18-24 points 18-24 points
Meets Standard Expectations
Paper is a good work on the topic with good points, research, and engagement.
Paper follows a logical approach to the topic, may not meet word count.
Paper has some grammatical errors and is written with with good and somewhat professional prose.
Paper shows a good level of interaction with relevant and important resources.
Paper nearly follows proper formatting for Turabian style with some errors.
POINTS 40-69 points 15-29 points 15-29 points 10-17 points 10-17 points
Below Standard Expectations
Paper is a weak work on the topic with weak points, research, and engagement.
Paper does not follow a logical approach to the topic, may not meet word count.
Paper has many grammatical errors and is written with with weak and professional prose.
Paper shows a weak level of interaction with relevant and important resources.
Paper does not follow proper formatting for Turabian style and has many errors.
POINTS 0-39 points 0-14 points 0-14 points 0-9 points 0-9 points
Fails to Meet Minimum Expectations
Paper poorly demonstrates research and engagement.
Paper poorly demonstrates approach to the topic, may not meet word count.
Paper poorly demonstrates attention to grammatical and professional prose.
Paper poorly demonstrates interaction with relevant and important resources.
Paper poorly demonstrates proper formatting for Turabian style and has severe errors.
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Outlines and Summaries:
Thesis Summary Outline
TASK 5 20 points 65-70 points 100-110 points
Exceeds Standard Expectations
Clear, concise, and thoughtful thesis sentence for the book, free of grammatical errors.
Provides a well-thought and very useful summary of the book, free of grammatical errors and meets the word count.
Exceptional structure and flow of outline with original breaks and creative headings, free of grammatical and textual errors.
POINTS 12-19 points 40-64 points 70-99 points
Meets Standard Expectations
Good thesis sentence for the book, some grammatical errors.
Provides a good summary of the book, some grammatical errors and/or does not meet the word count.
Good structure and flow of outline with some original breaks and some creative headings, some grammatical and textual errors.
POINTS 5-11 points 20-39 points 30-69 points
Below Standard Expectations
Weak thesis sentence for the book, many grammatical errors.
Provides a weak summary of the book, many grammatical errors and/or does not meet the word count.
Weak structure and flow of outline with no original breaks or creative headings, many grammatical and textual errors.
POINTS 0-4 points 0-19 points 0-29 points
Fails to Meet Minimum Expectations
Does not include thesis or is poorly given.
Does not include summary or is poorly given.
Does not include outline or is poorly given.