Major Themes of the Bible and the Qur’ān*

Through comparative reading of the Hebrew, Christian, and Islamic scriptures, students will acquire a vision of how the Abrahamic religions treat some of the most seminal theological issues of their communities, such as monotheism, creation, the love of God, God’s acts in history, revelation, mysticism, prophecy, covenant, repentance and mercy, sin and punishment, forgiveness, redemption, atonement, final judgment and salvation.
While there will be occasional in-class presentations by the professor, students will be expected to read, reflect upon, and discuss written materials that have been composed by members of the three Abrahamic faiths in their own examination of the themes of their respective scriptures. One student will be the “point-person” for each unit; accordingly, during “your” week you may wish to take copious notes for each unit in order to assist in leading the discussion. Those sessions labeled as “led by the Professor” will include a short lecture on the topic at hand.

Required Books (on Reserve):
The Scriptures: Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, the New Revised Standard Version of The New Testament, and an English interpretation (Asad, Fakhry, Yusuf `Ali, Picktall, inter alia) of the Qur’an.

Be sure to bring to each class a Bible and a Qur’an.

Scriptural Commentaries (in Reference and/or online): JPS Commentaries on Hebrew scripture; New Interpreter’s Bible; various Tafsir as found at www.altafsir.com, The Qur’an and Its Interpreters (Ayoub), The Qur’an and Its Exegesis (Gatje), etc.

Non-scriptural materials (on Reserve):

Ayoub, Mahmoud. A Muslim View of Christianity.
Ayoub, Mahmoud. Redemptive Suffering in Islam.
Cantwell Smith, Wilfred. What is Scripture? A Comparative Approach.
Cragg, Kenneth. The Privilege of Man: a Theme in Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.
Davis and Hays, eds. The Art of Reading Scripture.
Ernst, Carl. How to Read the Qur’an.
Etzioni & Carney, eds. Repentence.
Firestone, Reuven. “Merit, Mimesis, and Martyrdom,” JAAR 66,1 (Spr 1998) 93-116.
Gillman, Neil. Sacred Fragments: Recovering Theology for the Modern Jew.
Grose & Hubbard, eds. The Abraham Connection.
Gunton, Colin E. Cambridge Companion to Christian Doctrine.
Heschel, Abraham J. Between God and Man.
Hinze & Omar, eds. Heirs of Abraham.
Hubbard, Benjamin. The Abraham Connection.
Kaltner. Ishmael Instructs Abraham.
Kerr, David A. “He Walked in the Path of the Prophets,” in Haddad & Haddad, Christian Muslim Encounters.
McGrath, Alister E., ed. The Christian Theology Reader.
Reeves. Bible and Qur’an.
Rahman, Fazlur. Major Themes of the Qur’an.
Soulen, R. Kendall. “The Sign of Jonah,” Theology Today 65 (2008) 331-343.
Bin Talal, Ghazi. Love in the Holy Quran.
ter Borg, Marlies. Sharing Mary: Bible and Qur’an Side by Side.
Volf, Miroslav. “God is Love” in Christian Century (Nov 2 2010) 29-34.
Winter, Tim, ed. Cambridge Companion to Classical Islamic Theology.

There is a written assignment consisting of a term paper, 16-20 pages in length, on a topic chosen in consultation with the professor. This paper, which is due May 4, can be used as the basis of each student’s formal presentation in class at the end of the term.

Timely attendance at all classes is required. Absence over nine classroom hours or more may result in a Failing grade. There is no mid-term and no final exam. The final grade for the term will be weighted as follows:

* * *

While every attempt will be made to adhere to the following schedule, adjustments may have to be made during the course of the term.

WEEK I - 1/24 – 1/26: Reading Scripture (led by the Professor)
Cantwell Smith: 1-20, 65-91
Heschel: 241-250
Davis & Hays: 1-5, 27-37, 38-53

WEEK II  - 1/31 – 2/2: What is Scripture; Intertextuality
Ayoub (Qur’an / Interpreters): 7-40
Ernst: 1-15, 20-58, 62-75
Rahman: xi-xvi
Reeves: 23-42, 43-60
Exodus 24:3-7; II Timothy 3:13-17, II Peter 1:19-21; Qur’an 6:55-59, 27:1-6

WEEK III - 2/7 – 2/9: Monotheism
Gunton: 121-140
Heschel: 102-107
Hinze: 20-54
Deuteronomy 6:4, Romans 3:29-30, I Corinthians 8:5-6, Qur’an 2:133, 163; 112:1-4

WEEK IV - 2/14 – 2/16: Creation
Gunton: 141-157
McGrath: 181-184
Ter Borg: 59-82
Winter: 141-160
Genesis 1, Genesis 2, Psalm 8, Proverbs 8:22-31; John 1:1-5; Qur’an 2:29, 2:116-117, 23:12-13, 41:10-12, 76:37-39, 20:115-123

WEEK V - 2/21 – 2/23: Revelation, God’s Acts in History
Gillman: 1-34
Heschel: 72-79
Winter: 180-195
Exodus 19-20:1-21, 24:15-18; Qur’an 6:91-93

WEEK VI - 2/28 – 3/1: Mediation between God and Humanity (led by the Professor)
Zechariah 1:7- 20, John 3:13-21, I Timothy 2:3-6, Qur’an 4:64, 33:40

WEEK VII - 3/6 – 3/8: Prophecy and Prophethood
Kerr: 426-446
Heschel: 124-126
Rahman: 80-105
Soulen: 331-343
Deuteronomy 13:1-5, 18:15-22; John 4:5-19; Qur’an 4:163, 10:47, 57:25-26

WEEK VIII - 3/13 – 3/15: Ethics
Gunton: 180-188
Heschel: 79-87, 181-186
Rahman: 37-64
Amos 5:11-24; Matthew 5:21-48; Qur’an 23:1-11

WEEK IX - 3/20 – 3/22: Sin, Punishment
Heschel: 186-197
McGrath: 404-406, 411-419
Ter Borg: 231-237, 279-289
Leviticus 20:1-21; Romans 5:12-21, 6:20-23; Qur’an 7:8-25

WEEK X - 3/27 – 3/29: Repentance, Mercy, Forgiveness
Etzioni & Carney 21-30, 60-75, 96-121
Deuteronomy 4:29-31, Psalm 34:14-18; Luke 13:1-5, Acts 2:38, 1 John 1:9, Hebrews 10:17-18; Qur’an 2:286, 3:135-136, 147, 159, 193; 4:17-18; 5:9; 24:22; 25:68-70; 33:35; 53:32

4/3 – 4/5: No Classes at Hartford Seminary

WEEK XI - 4/10 – 4/12: Love of God for Humanity
bin Talal: 37-53
Volf: 29-34
Zephaniah 3:16-17; John 3:16-17, Romans 8:35-39, I John 4:7-21

WEEK XII - 4/17 – 4/19: Worship, Prayer
Gunton: 207-225
Heschel: 198-229
Winter: 218-236
Psalm 100, Psalm 150; Matthew 6:7-15, John 4:20-24; Qur’an 1:1-7

WEEK XIII - 4/24 – 4/26: Final Judgment
Rahman: 106-120
Ter Borg: 213-228
Winter: 308-324
Psalm 96, Joel 3:9-16; Matthew 25:31-46, Revelation 20; Qur’an 2:30-39, 39:75, 101:1-11

WEEK XIV - 5/1 – 5/3: Atonement and Salvation
Ayoub (Muslim View): 90-97
Gillman: 247-272
Gunton: 189-206, 226-244
Ter Borg: 239-246
Exodus 14:13-14, Psalm 21, Psalm 27, Micah 4:1-4; I Corinthians 15, Revelation 21:1-4, 22:1-5; Qur’an 7:7-25

WEEK XV - 5/8 – 5/10: Student Presentations
Topics may be selected from the following; however, other topics may be chosen with the approval of the Professor:

Suffering
Mysticism
Conflict (spiritual and worldly)
Gratitude / Belief and Disbelief
Vice-regency (khilafa) / Stewardship
Yusuf (great grandson of Ibrahim / Abraham)
Moses / Musa
Job / Ayyub
David / Dawud
Solomon / Suleiman
John the Baptist / Yahya
Jesus / `Isa
etc.