Introduction to the Bible: Historical Context of Ancient Israelite Scripture

The Bible: Context and Interpretation
Facilitator: Nate Ramsayer
Email: ramsa026@umn.edu
Class times: 7-9pm
Class dates: 4 Wednesdays, July 22nd-August 12th
Place: University of MN Ford Hall 155 (East Bank campus)

Min: 8 Max: 25

Welcome to the exciting world of the Biblical Studies! New contexts and meanings have been ascribed to the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) as the text has traveled throughout different regions, cultures and eras. Our goal in this brief introductory course will be to read the Bible within the context of the original setting and culture of its authors (i.e. the ancient Near East). This will be accomplished by employing the historical-critical method to the text. By examining several books of the Bible, particularly the Torah (Pentateuch), students will be shown how to read the text closely and think critically about the meaning of a particular text. This course is intended for anyone interested in the learning more about the Bible, in the hope that the academic knowledge that is granted only to “religious studies majors” can be shared with the larger community.

IMPORTANT!

*This course is not a “Bible study group” in the manner that many people are familiar with, concerning contemporary theological approaches to the Bible. This course will approach the Bible in an academic manner of study. Students will be presented with material that may or may not conflict with personal belief systems, and therefore must be willing to attempt to understand the information presented.  Students in the class will be expected to respect various manners of biblical interpretation.

*This course is open to ALL students, regardless of religious affiliation. Though we will be reading the “Hebrew” Bible, this text is central in most denominations of Christianity, Islam and Judaism, and is a great vehicle for the academic study of religion for anyone, including atheists and agnostics.

*Prior knowledge of Hebrew or Greek is certainly NOT NECESSARY, as we will be reading the text in English.

MATERIALS

For this course, students must have access to the Jewish Study Bible (see below for reference info), as we will note that the translation of a Bible will greatly affect the message it presents. We will also use Marc Brettler’s How to Read the Jewish Bible as our main text. IMPORTANT CHANGE FOR STUDENTS: Photocopies of chapters will NOT be provided for students, as this would infringe on copyright laws.  All students must have a copy of this text also, though it is very inexpensive.  Both books can be found at your community or college library or local Borders or Barnes&Noble, though I recommend trying www.cheapesttextbooks.com. Brettler’s text is going for under $5 and the Bible as low as $10!  PLEASE NOTE that Brettler's text is a 2nd edition of his book originally titled How to Read the Bible.  The 1st edition was a hardcover which is now out of print, but may be found at a used bookstore. The books are identical except for a new short preface; either edition is completely acceptable.                                                                                                                                                                                                               

• Berlin, Adele and Brettler, Marc Zvi (ed). The Jewish Study Bible: Tanakh Translation. New
  York: NY: Oxford University Press, Inc, 2004. ISBN: 9780195297546.
• Brettler, Marc Zvi. How to Read the Jewish Bible.  New York: NY, Oxford University Press, 2007.  ISBN: 9780195325225.  (Paperback/white) OR
• Brettler, Marc Zvi. How to Read the Bible. Philadelphia, PA: The Jewish Publication Society,
  2005. ISBN: 9780827607750.  (Hardcover/gold)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                What experience do you bring to this class?  I am a senior undergraduate honor's student studying religion at the U of M and have taken several graduate credits and scripture and interpretation. I have also given several lectures on religious topics at NDSU's Science, Religion, and Lunch seminar, including one on biblical criticism.