Unit information: Interpreting the Psalms in 2014/15

Unit name	Interpreting the Psalms
Unit code	THRSM0070
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Dr. Gordon Wenham
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	none
Co-requisites	none
School/department	Department of Religion and Theology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

The unit begins with a brief history of Psalm study, and then outlines the dominant approaches to interpretation in the last 100 years. Most attention will be given to the poetic devices in the Psalms, canonical criticism and reader-response approaches to elucidating the message of the texts. Selected psalms will be studied to clarify the leading theological and ethical concerns of the Psalter.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On completion of the unit students should:

• recognise the different genres of the Psalms, and evaluate the worth of form criticism for interpretation of the Psalms.
• be able to read the Psalter both diachronically and synchronically.
• be able to understand and critically evaluate the impact on the interpretation of the psalms of using them liturgically.
• demonstrate their ability to draw out the theological and ethical teaching from selected psalms

Teaching Information

The unit will consist of lectures and seminars.

Assessment Information

Formative assessment will be through leading one seminar, as evidenced by the written transcript of material prepared and used for the seminar (1,000 words).

Summative assessment will be through one essay of 3,500 words (50%) and a 2-hour written examination (50%).

Reading and References

• Futato, M. D. Interpreting the Psalms: An Exegetical Handbook (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2007)
• Holladay, W.L., The Psalms through Three Thousand Years (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1993)
• Johnston, P. S. and Firth, D. G., Interpreting the Psalms (Leicester: Apollos, 2005).
• McCann, J. C., A Theological Introduction to the Book of the Psalms (Nashville: Abingdon Press,1993)
• Mowinckel, S., The Psalms in Israel’s Worship (Oxford: Blackwell, 1962)
• Commentaries on the Psalms.