MOD TITLE: DATED:

NCTR7007 Exegesis of Key Texts in Adventism: Marriage Texts 03/09/2015

LEVEL: CREDITS:

7 20

JACS CODE:

V610

AIMS 

To develop an in-depth exegetical understanding of the key texts on marriage in both Old and New Testament, with a specific emphasis on their different cultural contexts

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To develop an understanding of marriage as an institution in biblical as well as modern times, and in the contemporary Adventist church in particular

LEARNING OUTCOMES Upon the successful completion of this module, the student should be able to demonstrate the ability to: 1. Engage in informed and sophisticated exegesis of marriage texts in both Old and New Testaments. 2. Demonstrate an ability to assess the cultural elements of the marriage institution in the biblical, as well as their own contemporary, context. 3. Assess the implications of a critical understanding of the key texts on marriage for biblical theology as well as pastoral practice. INDICATIVE CONTENT 

Introduction to exegesis as a method

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Introduction to the literary, historical, and social context of biblical marriage texts

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Concept of marriage and family in the Old Testament and in the ancient Near East

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Pre-marital issues, marriage, divorce and re-marriage in the Old Testament

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Historical context of marriage in Roman Palestine (Second Temple Judaism)

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New Testament use of key Old Testament marriage texts (Matt. 5 and //)

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New Testament developments on the issues of marriage, divorce and remarriage o Paul’s view (1 Cor. 6-7) o Statements from the gospels

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The “mystery” in Ephesians 5

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Various texts o Marriage and resurrection (Matt. 22 and //) o Ascetic heresy (1 Tim 4.3) o Women/marriage in Jesus’s genealogy according to Matthew’s gospel o Contemporary anthropological and sociological research and the appropriation of marriage texts

LEARNING AND TEACHING STRATEGY Lectures will introduce the students to the concepts, principles, and practices of the topics studied for the module. Case studies may be used to provide examples and will be used to develop further understanding of what has been learned. Tutorials and seminars are used to support the discussion and critical evaluation of what has been learned, normally in a smaller group size than a lecture. Guided independent study allows students to further their independent learning skills with appropriate support provided by the module tutor(s) (e.g. preparation for lectures and seminars, follow-up work, background reading, revision, completion of assessment tasks). Activity type Scheduled learning Independent learning TOTAL

Hours 50 150 [20 x10]

Percentage 25 75 100%

ASSESSMENT Assessment Component 100% Essay (5,000-words) Exemplar a. “Husband of one wife”: interpretation of the Pauline restriction in Titus 1.5-6. b. The reality and symbolism of divorce in the Old Testament.

Assessment Summary Activity type Coursework TOTAL

Percentage 100% 100%

EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (ESD) Yes X Does the module contribute to ESD?

No

If yes please provide brief details (no more than 100 words): The module contributes to the sustainability agenda in its broadest sense by encouraging students to think about the skills they require to solve their academic problems. These are transferrable skills and assist in nurturing critical and creative thinking. As such the module is focused on meeting the immediate needs of the students while also equipping them to think critically and solve problems in an unknown future.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Essential Barton, John. Ethics in Ancient Israel (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014) Gehring, René. The Biblical One Flesh Theology of Marriage as Constituted in Genesis 2:24 (Eugene, OR: Wipf &Stock, 2013) Campbell, Ken M. Marriage and Family in the Biblical World (Downers Grove: IL, InterVarsity Press, 2009) Loader, William. Sexuality in the New Testament: Understanding the Key Texts (London: SCPK, 2010)

Recommended Gane, Roy E., Nicholas P. Miller and H. Peter Swanson (eds). Homosexuality, Marriage, and the Church (Berrien Spring, MI: Andrews University Press, 2012) Instone-Brewer, David. Divorce and Remarraige in the Bible: The social and Literary Context (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2002)

Matthews, Victor H., and Don C. Benjamin. The Social World of Ancient Israel 1250587 BCE (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2011) Miletic, Stephen, Francis. “One Flesh”: Eph. 5.22-24, 5.31. Marriage and the New Creation, Analecta Biblica 115 (Rome: Pontifico Istituto Biblico, 1988)

Background Davidson, Richard M. Flame of Yahweh: Sexuality in the Old Testament (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2007) Hezser, Catherine (ed). The Oxford Handbook of Jewish Daily Life in Roman Palestine (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010) Deming, Will. Paul on Marriage & Celibacy (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2004) Ferguson, David, Fritz Guy and David Larson (eds). Christianity and Homosexuality: Some Seventh-day Adventist Perspectives (Roseville, CA: Adventist Forums, 2008). The Oxford Handbook of Jewish Daily Life in Roman Palestine. Edited by Catherine Hezser (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010) Phillips, Anthony. Essays on Biblical Law, JSOTSup 344 (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 2002) Journals Biblica Biblical Theology Bulletin Harvard Theological Review Journal of Biblical Literature Journal for the Study of the New Testament Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Neotestamentica Novum Testamentum New Testament Studies Vetus Testamentum Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft Websites www.bibleodyssey.org www.ntgateway.com www.nobts.edu www.stepbible.org www.tyndale.cam.ac.uk