RGB 2263HF,  2009,  Mondays 9-11 am,                        The Psalms                 Michael Kolarcik    
Regis College, 100 Wellesley Street West                                                                                             

The goal of this course on the Psalms is to introduce the student to the diverse forms of prayer contained in the Psalter. Robert Bellarmine described the Psalter as a "short compendium of the entire Old Testament" and this expresses well the diversity of prayers and theological ideas underpinning the Psalms.  The literary types of psalms (lament, penitence, confidence, thanksgiving, praise) will be studied with the view to appreciate the complex movements of prayer expressed by the individual and community alike. The expectation is that by the end of the course, the student will readily be able to identify a psalm by its type and appreciate both its convention and the uniqueness of its particular dynamic of prayer. .

Assignments and Evaluation

1) 25% Take Home mid-term assignment  (will be posted Oct 16th, to be handed in Oct 19th)   Mid-Term Examination    or  see  it as an announcement on the blackboard through portal.

2) 25% A contemporary version of two of the three psalm types: 
   a) Lament, b) Declarative Praise, c) Descriptive Praise - due Nov 23, 
      preferably done through a collaborative effort in a group of three. 

3) 50% A short essay of 8 pages (2000 words), due on Dec 14th (last class); please use Turabian for notation and bibliographical entries.

There are two introductory books on the Psalms that I have ordered at Crux Bookstore for the course. I recommend that you purchase at least one of these. Both are  relatively inexpensive.

1) Stuhlmueller, Carroll. The Spirituality of the Psalms. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical, 2002.
2) Murphy, Roland E.  The Gift of the Psalms. Peabody. Mass.: Hendrickson, 2000.

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Office hours:

My office is located at 100 Wellesley Street West, # 319. Please feel free to drop in at any time I am in the office. To make sure I am available, I would suggest you make an appointment either verbally or by phone 416 922-5474, or by  "e-mail" mf.kolarcik@utoronto.ca

webpage address: http://individual.utoronto.ca/mfkolarcik/

 

1) INTRODUCTIONS and7 THEOLOGY:

KEEL, O. The Symbolism of the Biblical World. Trans. T.J. Hallett. New York.: Seabury, 1978.
BARTH, C.F. Introduction to the Psalms. Trans. R.A. Wilson. New York: 1966.
BELLINGER, W.H  Jr. Psalms, Reading and Studying the Book of Praises. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 1990.
CRENSHAW, James L.  The Psalms: An Introduction. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2001.
DAY, J. Psalms. Old Testament Guides, JSOT. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic, 1990.
HOLLADAY, W.L.  The Psalms through Three Thousand Years: Prayerbook of a Cloud of Witnesses. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1996.
KRAUS, H.-J. Theology of the Psalms. Trans. Keith Crim, (Theologie der Psalmen. Neukirchen-Vluyn: 1979). Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1986.
LIMBURG, James.  "The Book of Psalms." Anchor Bible Dictionary.  Vol. 5. 1992.
MURPHY, Roland E. The Gift of the Psalms. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 2000.
STUHLMUELLER, Carroll.  The Spirituality of the Psalms. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical, 2002.
WESTERMANN, C.  The Psalms: structure, content and message. Trans. R.D. Gehrke. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1980.
* WESTERMANN, C.  Praise and Lament in the Psalms. Trans. K.R. Crim and R.N. Soulen. Atlanta: T&T Clarke,1981.
SEYBOLD, K.  Introducing the Psalms. Trans. R.G. Dunphy. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1990.

 2) COMMENTARIES :

ALLEN, Leslie C. Psalms 101-150. Word Biblical Commentary. Vol. 21. Revised. Dallas, Texas: Word Books, 2002.
COXE,  A.C. ed. St. AUGUSTINE: Exposition on the Book of Psalms.The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, vol. 8. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1974.
CRAIGIE, Peter C. Psalms 1-50. Word Biblical Commentary. Vol. 19. Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1983.
BRIGGS, C.A.  A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Psalms. International Critical Commentary. Edinburgh: 1906-7.
BROYLES, Craig C.  Psalms. New International Biblical  Commentary. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1999.
CLIFFORD, R.J.  Psalms 1-72. Collegeville Bible Commentary, OT 22. New York: Liturgical, 1986.
CLIFFORD, R.J. Psalms 73-150. Abingdon Old Testament Commentaries. Nashville: Abingdon, 2003.
DAHOOD, M.  Psalms, I-III. Anchor Bible. New York: 1966-70.
EATON, J.L.  Psalms. Torch Bible Commentaries. Naperville: 1967.
FEUER, Avrahom Chaim, Nosson SCHERMAN, Meir ZLOTOWITZz. Tehillim, A New Translation with a Commentary Anthologized from Talmudic, Midrashic and Rabbinic Sourses. 2 volumes. Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications Ltd., 1985-2001.
GERSTENBERGER, E.S.  Psalms, Part 1 with an introduction to Cultic Poetry. FOTL XIV, Grand Rapids: 1987.
GERSTENBERGER, E.S. Psalms, Part 2 and Lamentations. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B Eerdmans, 2001.
HOSSFELD, Frank-Lothar and Erich ZENGER. Psalms 2: A Commentary on Psalms 51-100. Translated by Linda Maloney. [Die Psalmen II, Psalm 51-100,
Die Neue Echter Bibel, Echter, 2002.] Hermeneia. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2005.
*** JACQUET, L.  Les Psaumes et le Coeur de l'Homme, I-III. Gembloux:1975-78.
KRAUS, H.-J.  Psalms 1-59 vol 1, Psalms 60-150 vol 2: A Commentary. Translated by Hilton C. Oswald. Minneapolis : Fortress Press, 1993. [Psalmen I-II. BKAT. Neukirchen: 1978].
McCANN, Jr., J. Clinton. The Book of Psalms. The New Interpreter's Bible, vol. 4. Nashville: Abingdon, 1996.
ROGERSON, J.W.,  J.W. MCKAY. Psalms, I-III. Critical Biblical Commentary on the New English Bible. Cambridge: 1977.
SCHAEFER, Konrad. The Psalms. Collegeville; Liturgical Press, 2001.
* STUHLMUELLER, C.  Psalms 1-72, 73-150. Old Testament Message 21, 22. Wilmington, Delaware: 1983.
TATE, Marvin E. Psalms 51-100. Word Biblical Commentary. Vol. 20. Dallas, Texas: Word Books, 1990.
TERRIEN, S.  The Psalms, Strophic Structure and Theological Commentary. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans, 2003.
* WEISER, A.  The Psalms.  Trans. H. Hartwell. Philadelphia: 1962.

3) STRUCTURE AND FORM :

ALETTI, J.-N.  J. TRUBLET.  Approche poétique et théologique des Psaumes, Analyses et Méthodes (Initiations). Paris: 1983.
BODA, Mark J., Daniel K. FALK, Rodney A. WERLINE, eds. Seeking the Favor of God: The Origins of Penitential Prayer in Second Temple Judaism. Early Judaism and Its Literature, 21. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2006.

Werline, Rodney A. “Defining Penitential Prayer.” In Seeking the Favor of God. Edited by Mark J. Boda, D.K. Falk, R.A. Werline, Atlanta: SBL Publications, 2006. xiii-xvii.
Balentine, Samuel E. “I Was Ready to Be Sought Out by Those Who Did Not Ask.” In Seeking the Favor of God. Edited by Mark J. Boda, D.K. Falk, R.A. Werline, Atlanta: SBL Publications, 2006. 1-20.
Boda, Mark J. “Confession as Theological Expression: Ideological Origins of Penitential Prayer.” In Seeking the Favor of God. Edited by Mark J. Boda, D.K. Falk, R.A. Werline, Atlanta: SBL Publications, 2006. 21-50.
Morrow, William.  “The Affirmation of Divine Righteousness in Early Penitential Prayers: A Sign of Judaism’s Entry into the Axial Age.” In Seeking the Favor of God. Edited by Mark J. Boda, D.K. Falk, R.A. Werline, Atlanta: SBL Publications, 2006. 101-118.
Boda, Mark J. “Form Criticism in Transition: Penitential Prayer and Lament, Sitz im Leben and Form.” In Seeking the Favor of God. Edited by Mark J. Boda, D.K. Falk, R.A. Werline, Atlanta: SBL Publications, 2006. 181-192.

BALENTINE, Samuel E.  Prayer in the Hebrew Bible: The Drama of Divine-Human Dialogue. Overtures to Biblical Theology. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1993.
DRIJVERS, P. The Psalms: their structure and meaning. Montreal: Herder and Herder, 1965.
GUNKEL, H.  The Psalms: a form critical introduction.  Trans. T. M. Horner.  Philadelphia: 1969.
MORROW, William S. Protest Against God: The Eclipse of a Biblical Tradition. Sheffield:  Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2006.
MOWINCKEL, S.  The Psalms in Israel's Worship.  Trans. D.R. Thomas,. Oxford: 1962.
RINGGREN, H. The Faith of the Psalmists.  London: 1963.
SABOURIN, L. The Psalms: their origin and meaning.  New York: 1969.
* WESTERMANN, C.  Praise and Lament in the Psalms.  Trans. K.R. Crim and R.N. Soulen.  Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1981.

4) CHRONOLOGY :

BUTTENWIESER, M.  The Psalms: Chronologically treated with a new translation. New York: 1969.

5) THEMES

BEAUCHAMP, P.  Psaumes nuit et jour. Paris: 1980.
BLUMENTHAL, David R.  Facing the Abusing God: A Theology of Protest. Lousville, KY, Westminster/John Knox, 1993 (Pss 128, 44, 109, 27, pp. 57-189).
COMBS, A.E.  The Creation Motif in the 'Enthronement Psalms'. Ann Arbor: University Microfilms, 1964.
BRUEGGEMANN, W.  David's Truth in Israel's Imagination and Memory. New York: Fortress,1985.  |bs 580 d3 b78
DAVIS, E.F.  "Psalm 98." Interpretation 44 (1992) : 171-175.
EATON, J.  Kingship and the Psalms. London: 1976.
GOURGUES, M.  Les psaumes et Jésus, Jésus et les psaumes.Cahiers Evangile 25 (1978).
* GUTHRIE, H.  Israel's Sacred Songs, a study of dominant themes. New York: 1966.
HOWARD, V.  "Psalms 104." Interpretation 44 (1992) : 176-180.
JACOBSON, R. "Linguistics and Poetics." In Style in Language, ed. T.A. Sebeok, Cambridge: 1960. 350-377.
KRAUS, H.-J.  Worship in Israel.  Trans. Geoffrey Buswell. Oxford: 1966.
MARTIN-ACHARD, R.  Approche des Psaumes. Neuchâtel: 1969.
McCANN, JR., J. Clinton.  "The Psalms as Instruction." Interpretation 44 (1992) : 117-128.
MONLOUBOU, L.  L'Imaginaire des Psalmistes, Psaumes et Symboles. Paris: 1980.
MURPHY, R.E. Wisdom Literature and the Psalms. (Interpreting Biblical Texts). Nashville: Abingdon, 1983.
PRÉVOST, J.-P.  Petit dictionnaire des psaumes.Cahiers Evangile 71, Paris: 1990.
TSEVAT, M.  A Study of the Language of the Psalms. Philadelphia: 1955.
TOSTENGARD,  S. "Psalm 22." Interpretation 44 (1992) : 167-170.
* ZENGER, Erich.  A God of Vengeance? Understanding the Psalms of Enmity. Trans. Linda M. Maloney, Louisville: Westminster, John Knox, 1996. BS1430.2 .Z4613 1996
 

6) PSALMS AND PRAYER :

ALONSO-SCHÖKEL, L.  Treinta Salmos: Poesía y Oración. (Estudios de Antiguo Testamento 2). Madrid: 1981.
ANDERSON, B.W.  Out of the Depths, The psalms speak for us today. Philadelphia: 1975.
ATTRIDGE, Harold W., Margot E. FASSLER, eds. Psalms In Community: Jewish and Christian Textual, Liturgical, and Artistic Traditions. Symposium Series, 25. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2003.
BARCLAY, W.  The Lord is my Shepherd: exposition of selected Psalms. London: 1980.
BONHOEFFER, D.  Psalms, The prayer book of the bible. Trans. J.H. Burtness, Minneapolis: 1970.
BOZAK, B.  "Suffering and the Psalms of Lament." Église et Théologie 23 (1992) : 325-338.
BRUEGGEMANN, W. Abiding Astonishment, Psalms, Modernity and the Making of History.  (Pss 78, 105, 106, 136). Lousville: John Knox, 1991.
BRUEGGEMANN, W.  Israel's Praise: Doxology against Idolatry and Ideology. Philadelphia: 1989.
* BRUEGGEMANN, W.  Praying the Psalms.  Winona: 1982.
* BRUEGGEMANN, W.  The Message of the Psalms.  Augsburg Old Testament Studies. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1984.
* BRUEGGEMANN, W.  The Psalms & the Life of Faith.  Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1995.
BRUEGGEMANN, W.  The Spirituality of the Psalms.  Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2002.
CRENSHAW, James L. Trembling at the Threshold of a Biblical Text. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1994.
DAVIDSON, Robert. The Vitality of Worship: A Commentary on the Book of Psalms. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1998.
GRIFFITH, L.  God in Man's Experience, The activity of God in the Psalms,.London: 1968.
GUARDINI, R.  The Wisdom of the Psalms.  Trans. Stella Lange, Chicago: 1968.
HEFFEY, M.W. Understanding the Psalms. New York: 1981.
SIMON, Uriel.  Four approaches to the Book of Psalms : from Saadiah Gaon to Abraham Ibn Ezra. Translated from the Hebrew by Lenn J. Schramm. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1991.
* WESTERMANN, C.  The Living Psalms.  Trans. J.R. Porter. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989.
WILCOCK, Michael. The Message of the Psalms 73-150: Songs for the People of God. Leicester, England: Intervarsity Press, 2001.

7) THE PSALTER, QUMRAN, SOLOMON :

CROW, Loren D. The Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134): Their Place in Israelite History and Religion. Society of Biblical Literature Dissertation Series, No. 148. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1996.
GOULDER, M.D.  The Songs of the Sons of Korah.  Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, Supplement Series, 20.  Sheffield: Sheffield Academic, 1982.
GOULDER, M.D. The Prayers of David (Psalms 51-72), Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, Supplement Series,  102, Sheffield: Sheffield Academic, 1990.
GARCÍA MARTÍNEZ, Florentino. , The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated.  Trans. W.G.E. Watson, Textos de Qumrán, 1992, 2^nd edition. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1996.
KEET, C.C.  A Study of the Psalms of Ascent, (Psalms 120-134). London: 1969.
KITTEL, B.P.  The Hymns of Qumran: translation and commentary. SBLDS 50. Chico, Cal.: 1981.
MITCHELL, David C. The Message of the Psalter: An Eschatological Programme in the Book of Psalms. Journal for the STudy of the Old Testament. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic, 1997.
O'DELL, J.  "The Religious Background of the Psalms of Solomon (Re-evaluated in the Light of the Qumran Texts)." RQum 3 (1961) : 241-257.
SANDERS, J.A.  The Dead Sea Psalm Scrolls. New York: 1967.
SHEPPARD,  G.T. "Theology and the Book of Psalms." Interpretation 44 (1992) : 143-155.
SHEPPARD, G.T.  "Enemies and the Politics of Prayer in the Book of Psalms." In The Bible and the Politics of Exegesis. .Editors. D. Jobling, P.L. Day,  G.T. Sheppard.  Cleveland: Pilgrim, 1991.
SMITH, M.S.  "The Psalms as a Book for Pilgrims." Interpretation 44 (1992) : 156-166.
WILSON, G.H.  "The Shape of the Book of Psalms." Interpretation 44 (1992) : 129-142.