Catholic Bible Institute - Diocese of Orange Co-sponsored by Loyola Institute for Spirituality, Orange, CA and Institute for Pastoral Ministry, Diocese of Orange

Syllabus for Year Two (2014–2015): Old Testament

Monthly Sessions & Topics (with biblical books covered, and detailed reading and writing assignments)

• Please do all the assigned readings (from biblical books and modern textbooks) BEFORE coming to each month’s session (or as soon as possible afterwards, before you write your monthly paper).
• The biblical readings are divided into those books/chapters that you should READ completely and carefully vs. the rest that you are encouraged to SKIM over quickly, and to read as much as your time permits.
• The textbook readings are listed by page numbers, for you to read either in Ceresko (for Certificate students) or Smith-Christopher (for Enrichment students).
• For the monthly one-page reflection papers, please choose one of the chapters listed in each section below, and EMAIL your paper to your table’s reader within two weeks after each session.

September 6, 2014 – Intro to Hebrew Scriptures

• READ: Exodus 1–3;  1 Samuel 8–10;  1 Kings 11–12;  2 Kings 17, 22–25;  Ezra 1–6;  1 Maccabees 1
• Read Ceresko, pp. 3-39;  or  Smith-Christopher, pp. 1-49
• Write Reflection Paper (due Sept. 20): focusing on 1 Samuel 8 or 1 Kings 11 or 2 Kings 22
• HANDOUTS: Schedule & Prayers; Biblical Handouts
• AUDIO Recordings: Morning Session 1 | Session 2A | Session 2B | Afternoon Session 3 | Session 4
  [Note: You probably need to DOWNLOAD these files to your computer first, before you can listen to them.]

October 4, 2014 – Torah/Pentateuch I

• READ: Genesis 1–11, 12–22, 37–50;  SKIM: the other chapters of Genesis not listed above
• Read Ceresko, pp. 40-78;  or  Smith-Christopher, pp. 50-79
• Write Reflection Paper (due Oct. 18): focusing on Gen 5 or Gen 17 or Gen 49
• HANDOUTS: Schedule & Prayers; Handouts by Daniel Smith-Christopher; Handouts by Sr. Christine & Fr. Felix
• AUDIO Recordings: Morning Session 1 | Session 2A | Session 2B | Afternoon Session 3 | Session 4A | Session 4B
  [Note: You probably need to DOWNLOAD these files to your computer first, before you can listen to them.]

November 1, 2014 – Torah/Pentateuch II

• READ: Exodus 1–11, 19–23;  Leviticus 1–6, 19–25;  Numbers 13–14;  Deuteronomy 20–25;
  SKIM: other portions in the rest of the Torah/Pentateuch, as you have time and interest
• Read Ceresko, pp. 79-93;  or  Smith-Christopher, pp. 81-104
• Write Reflection Paper (due Nov. 15): focusing on Exod 19 or Lev 19 or Num 14
• HANDOUTS: Opening and Closing Prayers; Schedule & Biblical Handouts
• AUDIO Recordings: Morning Session 1 | Session 2A | Session 2B | Afternoon Session 3 | Session 4A | Session 4B
  [Note: You probably need to DOWNLOAD these files to your computer first, before you can listen to them.]

December 6, 2014 – Historical & Prophetic Writings I

• READ: Joshua 1–8;  Judges 1–7;  Ruth (all);  1 Sam 8–10, 16–20;  2 Samuel 11–12, 15, 24;  1 Kings 1–4, 8, 12, 17–21;  2 Kings 2–9, 22–25;  again, SKIM the other portions, as you have time and interest
• Read Ceresko, pp. 97-178;  or  Smith-Christopher, pp. 105-146
• Write Reflection Paper (due Dec. 20): focusing on Judges 4 or Ruth 2 or 2 Sam 15
• HANDOUTS: Opening & Closing Prayers; Schedule & Biblical Handouts
• AUDIO Recordings: Morning Session 1 | Session 2A | Session 2B | Session 2C | Afternoon Session 3 | Session 4
  [Note: You probably need to DOWNLOAD these files to your computer first, before you can listen to them.]

January 3, 2015 – Historical & Prophetic Writings II

• READ: Isaiah 1–5, 36–39;  Jeremiah 1–2, 7, 20, 26–29;  Amos (all);  Hosea 1–3;  Micah (all);
  SKIM: Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and the chapters omitted from the other books covered this month
• Read Ceresko, pp. 181-238;  or  Smith-Christopher, pp. 147-168
• Write Reflection Paper (due Jan. 17): focusing on Isa 5 or Jer 7 or Micah 4–5
• HANDOUTS: Schedule & Prayers; Handouts by DSC; Handouts by FJ
• AUDIO Recordings: Morning Session 1 | Session 2 | Afternoon Session 3A | Session 3B | Session 4

February 7, 2015 – Exile & Rebuilding

• READ: Isaiah 40–42, 49–53;  Ezekiel 1–20;  Lamentations (all);  Ezra 1–7;  Jonah (all);  2 Chron 17–20;
  SKIM: Nehemiah, Obadiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Joel, and the rest of Isaiah & 1&2 Chronicles
• Read Ceresko, pp. 241-282;  or  Smith-Christopher, pp. 169-193
• Write Reflection Paper (due on Feb. 21): focusing on Isaiah 49 or Ezra 7 or 2 Chronicles 20
• HANDOUTS: Schedule & Prayers; Biblical Handout 1: Isaiah; Biblical Handout 2: Zechariah
• AUDIO Recordings: Morning Session 1 | Session 2A | Session 2B | Afternoon Session 3A | Session 3B | Session 4

March 7, 2015 – Diaspora, Wisdom & Apocalyptic Writings

• READ: Daniel (all);  Esther (all);  Job 1–7, 38–42;  Proverbs 1–10;  Ecclesiastes 1–5;  Song of Songs (all);
  SKIM: other chapters of Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes
• Read Ceresko, pp. 304-340;  or  Smith-Christopher, pp. 195-216
• Write Reflection Paper (due on March 21): focusing on Daniel 8 or Job 38–39 or Proverbs 3
• HANDOUTS: Schedule & Prayers; Biblical Handouts
• AUDIO Recordings: Morning Session 1 | Session 2A | Session 2B | Afternoon Session 3 | Session 4

Instructions for Year 2 Project/Paper - due March 21, 2015

MARCH 28, 2015 – Psalms & Deutero–canonical Literature

• READ: Psalms 1–34;  Tobit (all);  Judith (all);
  SKIM: the rest of the Book of Psalms;  also 1 & 2 Maccabees;  Baruch;  Sirach/Ecclesiasticus
• Read Ceresko, pp. 285-303;  or  Smith-Christopher, re-read pp. 203-206 and preview 217-231
• Write Reflection Paper (due on April 11): focusing on Psalm 31 or Tobit 3 or Judith 8–9
• HANDOUTS: Schedule & Prayers; Biblical Handouts
• AUDIO Recordings: Morning Session 1 | Session 2A | Session 2B | Afternoon Session 3 | Session 4

May 2, 2015 – Wrap-up: Hebrew Theology for Christians

• READ: Samples of Inter-testamental and Non-Canonical Literature (which will be provided by March 28)
• Read Ceresko, pp. 341-350;  or  Smith-Christopher, pp. 217-241
• HANDOUTS: Schedule & Prayers; DSC Article on OT Theology; PBC Document on Jewish Scriptures & Christian Bible
• AUDIO Recordings: Morning Session 1 | Session 2A | Session 2B | Afternoon Session 3 | Session 4

Schedule for YEAR THREE: PRACTICUM - Click the link for a preview

Required Textbooks for Year Two:

• Certificate Students:  Anthony R. Ceresko. Introduction to the Old Testament: A Liberation Perspective. Revised ed. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2001.
• Enrichment Students:  Daniel Smith-Christopher. The Old Testament: Our Call to Faith and Justice. Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 2013.
• Everyone: A good "Study Bible" containing lots of introductions, notes, maps, and other study aides.

Main Instructor for Year Two:

Dr. Daniel Smith-Christopher is professor of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount University and is the author of several books, including Jonah, Jesus, and Other Good Coyotes: Speaking Peace to Power in the Bible, A Biblical Theology of Exile (Overtures to Biblical Theology) and Introduction to the Old Testament: Our Invitation to Faith and Justice, a text for secondary school courses in Old Testament. He is also the author of “The Books of Ezra-Nehemiah” in The Oxford Bible Commentary, and “Daniel” in the New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary. He is the editor of and a contributor to the text of Subverting Hatred: The Challenge of Religious Nonviolence.  Dr. Smith-Christopher has earned academic degrees from George Fox University (B.A.), Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries (M.Div.), and Oxford University (D.Phil.). He has taught and spoken on topics in scripture, particularly of the Exilic and Persian periods, and on issues of peace, justice and non-violence.  He recently began teaching on the role of Scripture in African-American Gospel and Blues musical and lyrical traditions.  He has also consulted on many television and multimedia projects in these areas.

Go to: CBI-Orange Homepage | Year 1 Syllabus | Year 3 Syllabus

For more information, please contact:

Randy Lopez, CBI Coordinator, cbi@loyolainstitute.org
or
Fr. Felix Just, S.J., Executive Director, Loyola Institute for Spirituality, 714-997-9587, http://loyolainstitute.org