Religious Studies 525                              R Kraft [9/92]
Varieties of Judaism in the Hellenistic Era (300 bce - 200 ce)
  
OUTLINE of Class Discussion Topics (13 weeks) 
  
General Orientation (4 weeks) 
  
  assignments:
    articles by RAK on Judaism on World Scene, Multiform Jewish 
       Heritage of Early Christianity
    article by Treu on Jewish Greek Relationships
    at least one general book of your own choosing (please 
      provide a short note listing the book and its focus) 
    RAK and M.E.Stone reviews of Charlesworth and Sparks

  The Period and its Relevant History 
  
    Main Time Span: Alexander through Hadrian (323 bce - 135 ce)
    Geography and Languages: mostly Eastern Mediterranean 
      mostly Greek (and offspring from Greek) or Semitic (Heb, Aram)
    Judaism(s) under Persia-Greece-Rome: "Homeland" and Diaspora
    Seleukids, Ptolemies and the Maccabean Revolt 
    Palestinian Judaism's Independent Hasmonean Dynasty 
    Under Roman and Parthian Rule 

  The Surviving Sources and how they Survived 
  
    Literature produced by Jews 
      Biblical -- preserved by Jews and Christians
      "Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha" -- preserved by Christians 
      Rabbinic -- preserved by Jews 
      Modern Discoveries, especially Qumran -- "lost" literatures 
    Other Sources 
      Documents and Inscriptions
      Art, Architecture, Artifacts
      Contemporary Reports by Outsiders 
  
Focusing on the Past: Narrative Materials & Themes (2 wks)  

  assignments
    history in apocalyptic form: Enochic Dreams ("1 Enoch" 83-90) 
      -- see Daniel, Revelation, 4 Ezra on similar matters
    sample each of the following groupings, and especially from
      Josephus Antiq 12-20, Philo Embassy to Gaius, ParJeremiah
    
  Selfconscious History and Historical Survey 
    1-2 Maccabees, Josephus War/Antiquities, LAB (ps-Philo) 
  Stories, Folklore and Legend
    Judith, Tobit, Adds to Daniel & Esther, Adam/Eve, ParJeremiah 
  Poetic and Philosophical Representations
    Ezekiel the Tragedian, Philo on Moses (etc) 
  Commentary on "Scriptures" (esp Philo, Qumran)
  


Focusing on Revealed Realities: Testaments & Apocalypses (4 wks)  

  assignments
    for backgrounding, read Genesis 48-50, Deuteronomy 33; 
      Genesis 5.1-6.8, Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 1, Daniel 11-12
    sample each of the following groupings, but especially the 
      Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs and "1 Enoch" 1-36 
  
  Testaments -- holding past, present and future in tension 
    Jubilees, T12Patriarchs, TIsaac, TJob, etc
  Apocalypses -- learning from heaven's secrets 
    Enoch Cycle, 2-3 Baruch, ApclMoses
  
Focusing on the Present: Inside and Outside the Communities (2 wk)
  
  assignments
    sample each of the following groupings, and especially from 
      the Qumran "Manual" and "Hymns," Sirach, Wisdom, and 
      Philo's Contemplative Life

  Community Selfconsciousness, Rules, Standards, and Worship  
    Baruch, Sirach, Damascus Doc, Manual of Discipline, Hodayot, etc
  Philosophical and Political Enlightenment: Addressing the World 
    Philo, WisdSol, 4 Macc, etc 
  
Synthesis: Early Judaism in Perspective (final week)

  general assignments due at the end of the course
    research paper (approx. 15 pages) on approved topic
    summary of selected IOUDAIOS discussion theme
    oral overview session

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