Preaching Apocalyptic Texts
KNP3371HS
Syllabus
Spring Term, 2007
Class Sessions: Mondays,
Prof.
David Schnasa Jacobsen
Phone: 884-1970 ext. 3493
E-mail:
Office Hours: Generally, Mondays between
Learning
Goals:
The purpose of this course is to help students gain competence in exegetical
and homiletical methods that aid Biblical preaching.
It sets the following learning goals:
1. understanding the genre apocalypse and its related forms,
2. applying exegetical methods that focus on the text's form or genre,
3. using a variety of homiletical methods which focus
on the form of the text,
4. and reflecting on how to use the above skills in a sermon.
To meet these learning goals, the instructor is more than happy to help
students individually.
Required
Texts:
Buttrick, David. Preaching the
New and the Now.
Collins, John J. The Apocalyptic Imagination.
2d ed.;
Jacobsen, David Schnasa. Preaching in the New Creation.
Reddish, Mitchell, ed. Apocalyptic Literature: A Reader.
This text is available on reserve only. Please also see vol. 1 of Charlesworth's Old
Testament Pseudepigrapha, vol. 1 in the reference
section of the library as an alternative reading source.
Rogers, C., J. Jeter, eds. Preaching through the Apocalypse.
Schüssler Fiorenza,
Recommended Texts:
Pippin, Tina. Death and Desire.
Talbert, Charles. The Apocalypse.
Grading:
The percentage of the final grade goes up with each assignment. One goal of
this course is to set a trajectory for learning. It values especially students'
improvement over time. Students need not fret that a difficult first review or
presentation dooms them to homiletical purgatory. In
fact, as the semester progresses, the opportunities for growth and improvement
only increase. Nonetheless, since pastors almost always have to produce weekly
sermons regardless of circumstances, late papers of any sort will result in an
automatic reduction of grade by one letter.
M.Th. and doctoral students will be
expected to perform at a higher level and will be asked to complete extra work.
Attendance at extra discussions for advanced students may also be required.
CLASS SCHEDULE
Session
1, 1/8
First Hour: Introductions & Discussion of Syllabus
Second Hour: "Biblical Preaching and the Form of the Text"
For next class: Read Revelation: Vision of a Just World
Session
2, 1/15
First Hour: Hand in Assignment 1, Discuss Revelation:
Vision of a Just World
Second Hour: "Preaching and Exegetical Method"
For next class: Read Preaching through the Apocalypse (on
reserve)
Session
3, 1/22
First Hour: Discuss Preaching through the
Apocalypse
Second Hour: "Apocalypses in historical and social view"
For next class: Read materials in Reddish or Charlesworth.
Session
4, 1/29
First Hour: Student presentations (Assignment 2): Daniel 7-12, 1 Enoch 1-36
Second Hour: 1Enoch 37-71; 85-90; and 93:1-10, 91:11-17
For next class: Read rest in Reddish or Charlesworth
Session
5, 2/5
First Hour: Student presentations: T. Levi, 4 Ezra
Second Hour: 2 Baruch, T. Abraham, related works from
For next class: Read The Apocalyptic Imagination
Session
6, 2/12
First Hour: Hand in Assignment 3, Discuss The Apocalyptic Imagination
Second Hour: Discussion: What's the impact of literature for NT?
2/19 Reading Week. No Class!
Session
7, 2/26
First Hour: Lecture: The Genre Apocalypse in Biblical Studies
Second Hour: Discussion: How well does Revelation fit genre?
Session
8, 3/5
First Hour: Lecture: "Homiletic Approaches to Apocalyptic Literature"
Second Hour: Lecture: "Homiletic Approaches,
continued"
For next class: Read Preaching in the New Creation
Session
9, 3/12
First Hour: Lecture: "A Contemporary Approach to the Issue"
Second Hour: Lecture: "A Contemporary Approach, cont."
Session
10, 3/19
Assignment 4, Sermons
____________________ ____________________
Session
11, 3/26
Assignment 4, Sermons
____________________ ____________________
Session
12, 4/2
Assignment 4, Sermons
____________________ ____________________
For next class:
Read Preaching the New and the Now
Session
13, 4/9
Discuss Preaching the New and the Now
Evaluations
Assignments:
1.
Book Review
Write a two page book review of Elizabeth Schüssler Fiorenza's Revelation: Vision of a Just World to
hand in at the beginning of class, Session 2. The book review should include
(1) a summary of her work, (2) some critical engagement and (3) an evaluation
or critical appreciation of her contribution to understanding Revelation for
today. Be sure to read the book of Revelation alongside the commentary. Don't
sweat it. Brief is good.
Due Date: Session 2, January 15--Percentage of Grade: 10%
2.
Presentations on Jewish Apocalypses
For two weeks students will need to present on Jewish apocalypses and related
literature. The presentations should be about twenty minutes in length. Use
this presentation as a way of becoming familiar with apocalypses as a literary
genre. Take note of things like characters, plots, type scenes but also look at
the proposed date, provenance and likely historical context(s) of these books.
Feel free to consult commentaries and other resources to help you. However, be
sure to cite any sources you consult.
Due Date: Sessions 4-5, January 29 and February 5--Percentage of Grade: 25%
each
3.
Book Review
Write a two page book review of J. Collins' The Apocalyptic Imagination
to hand in at the beginning of class, Session 6. The book review should include
(1) a summary of the work, (2) some critical engagement of Collins' argument
(3) and an evaluation of the book's significance for preachers studying
apocalyptic texts. Don't sweat it. Even in October, brief is still good.
Due Date: Session 6, February 12--Percentage of Grade: 10%
4.
Sermon on an Apocalyptic Text with Exegetical and Homiletical
Rationale.
Students will write out a sermon (approximately 15 minutes in length) to preach
before the class based on the exegesis of a text chosen from Revelation or
another apocalyptic text in the NT. Whether you use one or not in the pulpit, a
full manuscript must be handed in one week in advance of preaching sessions. In
addition to the sermon itself, students should also prepare a paper that
explains how they exegeted the text (five pp.) and
how the form of the text influenced the shape of the sermon in a homiletical rationale (2 pp.) and hand that in the day of
the sermon. Students will need to agree on a selected text with the professor
prior to preaching and can thus expect the professor to help them locate
resources that might be helpful in preparing the sermon.
Due Date: One week before Sessions 10-12, March 12, 19, and 26--Percentage of
Grade: 50%
X.
Attendance and Group Participation
In order to learn preaching together regular attendance is expected. More
importantly, however, we will attempt to learn how to preach as part of a
community. Preachers can expect to benefit homiletically by studying and
reflecting with their sisters and brothers in the pulpit and out. By struggling
together with our papers and sermons we will also grow together in ways that we
can hardly imagine. This aspect of our time together will necessarily require
the voicing of perspectives that some of us often ignore. Yet this is the
greatest blessing preachers can receive. After all, the Gospel may not come to
us who are called to preach, unless it comes first through the voice of Another. How did Paul put it?:
faith comes by hearing.
Due Date: Every Class--Percentage of Grade: 5%
FINAL
NOTES:
Students with disabilities or special needs are advised to contact UT for
information regarding its services and resources. Students are encouraged to
review the Calendar for information regarding all services available on campus.
Students
may be required to submit their written work in electronic form and have it
checked for plagiarism.