Course Outline:

 

I.    INTRODUCTION

 

Bible as Literature, Biblical Literature, Hermeneutics, World Views & Religious Literature

 

II.  CREATION MYTH AND THE FLOOD-- PRIMEVAL SAGA, Story of Origins (Gen 1-11)

 

III.  NARRATIVE LITERATURE-- PATRIARCHAL (Gen 12-50)

 

Abraham and Isaac- Heroic Narrative (Gen 12-26) Joseph in Egypt (Gen 37-50)

 

IV  NARRATIVE AND LAW-- TORAH (EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, & DEUTERONOMY-- Selected Passages)   

 

            The Epic of the Exodus, Moses and the Israelites (Exod) Legal Forms and Codes (Exod,  Lev, Numb, Deut-- Selected Passages), and Ancient Treaty (Deut)

 

V.  NARRATIVE LITERATURE-- HISTORICAL (Josh, Judges, Ruth,  I and II Samuel,  I and II Kings, I and II Chrn-- Selected Passages)

 

Judges-- Deborah, Ancient Song

Ruth-- Ancient Story

United Kingdom-- Saul (Tragic Narrative), David (Heroic Narrative)

Divided Kingdom-- Israel and Judah

 

VI.  PSALM(S)-- POETIC LITERATURE, ANCIENT LYRIC

 

Cultic Poetry (Selected Psalms)

Personal/Expressive Poetry (Selected Psalms)

 

VII.  PROPHETIC LITERATURE  

 

Introduction to Prophetic Literature and Literary Forms

Major Prophets-- Isaiah, and Lamentations (Selected Passages)

Minor Prophets-- Amos, Micah, and Nahum 

 

VIII. WISDOM LITERATURE

 

Ecclesiastes (Chapters 1-12)

Proverbs (Selected Passages)

 


IX.  GOSPLE(S)-- ANCIENT BIOGRAPHY

 

Gospel as a Literary Genre-- Ancient Biography

Synoptics (Matthew, and Selected Synoptic Parables)

The Gospel of John and Symbolism (Selected Passages)

                       

X.  EPISTOLARY LITERATURE-- ANCIENT LETTERS

 

Epistolary Genre-- Ancient Letters, Occasional letters, General letters, and Pastoral letters (Selected Letters, and Passages)

 

XI.  APOCALYPTIC, VISIONARY LITERATURE-- REVELATION

 

XII.  INFLUENCE OF THE BIBLE ON ENGLISH LITERATURE