Week 1: November 5, 2018: Background; Monolatry (pdf)
We have some heavy lifting to do in our first week so that everyone has a chronological framework within which to place the events we'll be discussing. If nothing else, please be certain that you can recite the begin and end dates for the Persian Period and the Hellenistic Period!
Slides from class (arrow keys to advance, return)
Week 2: November 12, 2018: Monotheism and Theodicy (pdf)
We now want to know about monotheism and how it differs from polytheism. What is evil?
Week 3: November 19, 2018: The Book of Job (pdf)
The Book of Job famously asks why bad things happen to good (devout) people. Given the unsatisfactory answers, it's no wonder some Jews looked for alternatives.
Week 4: November 26, 2018: Divine Justice; Jewish Apocalypticism (pdf)
After a review of the texts for divine justice, we look at the transition from prophecy to apocalyptic.
Week 5: December 3, 2018: The Historical Jesus (pdf)
Did Jesus preach a message based on Jewish Apocalypticism?
Week 6: December 10, 2018: The Gospel of Mark; Secret Mark (pdf)
How does the Gospel of Mark portray Jesus? How did the Church and the Rabbis treat apocalypticism?