This course will introduce the student to two aspects of the Poetic Books: poetry and wisdom. Poetry is the structure and delivery of the literature. The course will examine the ability of poetry to communicate at the emotional level and the place of poetry in communicating biblical themes.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Apply principles of sound biblical interpretation.
Identify literary devices found in the Poetic Books and explain their significance.
Summarize the contributions of wisdom writings to living a full Christian life in contemporary cultures and contexts.
Identify the form, content, and social context of wisdom writings.
Compare and contrast Israel’s wisdom tradition with that of her neighbors.
Describe the compilation of Job, Psalms, and Proverbs.
Explain the fundamental tension in wisdom writings between doctrinal belief and life experiences.
Identify major themes of wisdom tradition and ways they, at times, stand in tension with one another.
Summarize the special contributions of individual wisdom writers.
Identify ways wisdom tradition influenced and shaped New Testament faith.
