Course Catalogue 2026-2027

In the early centuries of the church, it was rare to find a theologian who wasn't also a preacher. Jn the estimation of most early Christian writers, theology was to be ordered towards proclamation-it was for the whole church, from the humblest parishioner, to the most erudite. Whereas homilies have historically taken a back seat to dogmatic treatises in patristic scholarship, there is a growing awareness that homiletical literature was of central importance for the early and medieval church, East and West alike. In addition to their importance for the propagation of the gospel and the cure of souls in the patristic era, these homilies continued for centuries to be used as resources for pastors and preachers. In this course, students will engage with these sermons in accordance with rigorous historical methods, and, at the same time, join in this tradition of turning to the sources themselves (ad fontes) to consider how early Christian sermons can be fruitfully employed in the church today. Students will thus reflect, in historical perspective, on the intersection of theology, exegesis, and pastoral care. The primary tasks of the course will be to read (in translation) and discuss the sermons of Greek and Latin preachers, from the first century to the fifth. We will focus especially on the great preachers of the fourth and fifth centuries, Augustine of Hippo and John Chrysostom, both of whom were used as exemplars of preaching in their respective traditions for centuries.

In the ancient church, as now, preaching was the primary means of the propagation of the gospel, theological instruction, and moral formation of the laity. This course offers students an opportunity to delve more deeply into ancient Christian sources, beyond scripture, to inform modern practices of preaching. There are thus two major components to the course: first, a deep and broad reading of patristic homilies, along with appropriate secondary literature; and, second, an opportunity for students to reflect critically upon preaching in their own traditions in the light of the ancient tradition. The course is thus academically and historically rigorous, while also being aimed at forming ministers.

The course is an introduction to some of the social, literary, and theological dimensions of prophecy in ancient Israel and its evolution in the exilic and post-exilic eras. The books of Amos, Isaiah, and Daniel are the chief means of illustrating this evolution, though other prophetic literature will also be addressed in lectures. In examining literature from various points during the centuries in which it took shape, we will see its evolution from a largely oral and embodied medium to one that increasingly relies on interpretation of its own written legacy. In addition to Israelite prophecy's independent value as theological expression, this transformation in turn sheds light on the appropriation of prophetic writings in the New Testament for understanding the meaning of Jesus? Life, teaching, death, and resurrection.

Who was a prophet in ancient Israel? What motivated her or him to speech and action? What role did prophecy play in Israelite society? How was prophecy transformed in light of Israel’s experience in the Babylonian Exile? What role do prophetic scriptures play in the Church? How can we identify prophetic voices in contemporary culture? Finding answers to these questions will lead us through some of the main social, literary, and theological dimensions of prophecy in ancient Israel and its evolution in the exilic and post-exilic eras. The books of Amos, Isaiah, and Daniel are the chief means of illustrating this complex phenomenon and its evolution, though other prophetic literature will also be addressed in lectures. In examining literature from various points during the centuries in which it took shape, we will see its evolution from a largely oral and embodied medium to one that increasingly relies on interpretation of its own textual legacy. In addition to Israelite prophecy’s independent value as theological expression, this transformation in turn sheds light on the interpretation of prophetic writings in the New Testament for understanding the meaning of Jesus’ life, teaching, death, and resurrection.

The course is an introduction to some of the social, literary, and theological dimensions of prophecy in ancient Israel and its evolution in the exilic and post-exilic eras. The books of Amos, Isaiah, and Daniel are the chief means of illustrating this evolution, though other prophetic literature will also be addressed in lectures. In examining literature from various points during the centuries in which it took shape, we will see its evolution from a largely oral and embodied medium to one that increasingly relies on interpretation of its own written legacy. In addition to Israelite prophecy's independent value as theological expression, this transformation in turn sheds light on the appropriation of prophetic writings in the New Testament for understanding the meaning of Jesus? Life, teaching, death, and resurrection.

The course is an introduction to some of the social, literary, and theological dimensions of prophecy in ancient Israel and its evolution in the exilic and post-exilic eras. The books of Amos, Isaiah, and Daniel are the chief means of illustrating this evolution, though other prophetic literature will also be addressed in lectures. In examining literature from various points during the centuries in which it took shape, we will see its evolution from a largely oral and embodied medium to one that increasingly relies on interpretation of its own written legacy. In addition to Israelite prophecy?s independent value as theological expression, this transformation in turn sheds light on the appropriation of prophetic writings in the New Testament for understanding the meaning of Jesus? life, teaching, death, and resurrection.

The course is an introduction to some of the social, literary, and theological dimensions of prophecy in ancient Israel and its evolution in the exilic and post-exilic eras. The books of Amos, Isaiah, and Daniel are the chief means of illustrating this evolution, though other prophetic literature will also be addressed in lectures. In examining literature from various points during the centuries in which it took shape, we will see its evolution from a largely oral and embodied medium to one that increasingly relies on interpretation of its own written legacy. In addition to Israelite prophecy's independent value as theological expression, this transformation in turn sheds light on the appropriation of prophetic writings in the New Testament for understanding the meaning of Jesus? Life, teaching, death, and resurrection.

Who was a prophet in ancient Israel? What motivated her or him to speech and action? What role did prophecy play in Israelite society? How was prophecy transformed in light of Israel's experience in the Babylonian Exile? What role do prophetic scriptures play in the Church? How can we identify prophetic voices in contemporary culture? Finding answers to these questions will lead us through some of the main social, literary, and theological dimensions of prophecy in ancient Israel and its evolution in the exilic and post-exilic eras. The books of Amos, Isaiah, and Daniel are the chief means of illustrating this complex phenomenon and its evolution, though other prophetic literature will also be addressed in lectures. In examining literature from various points during the centuries in which it took shape, we will see its evolution from a largely oral and embodied medium to one that increasingly relies on interpretation of its own textual legacy. In addition to Israelite prophecy's independent value as theological expression, this transformation in turn sheds light on the interpretation of prophetic writings in the New Testament for understanding the meaning of Jesus' life, teaching, death, and resurrection.

The course is an introduction to some of the social, literary, and theological dimensions of prophecy in ancient Israel and its evolution in the exilic and post-exilic eras. The books of Amos, Isaiah, and Daniel are the chief means of illustrating this evolution, though other prophetic literature will also be addressed in lectures. In examining literature from various points during the centuries in which it took shape, we will see its evolution from a largely oral and embodied medium to one that increasingly relies on interpretation of its own written legacy. In addition to Israelite prophecy's independent value as theological expression, this transformation in turn sheds light on the appropriation of prophetic writings in the New Testament for understanding the meaning of Jesus? Life, teaching, death, and resurrection.

The course is an introduction to some of the social, literary, and theological dimensions of prophecy in ancient Israel and its evolution in the exilic and post-exilic eras. The books of Amos, Isaiah, and Daniel are the chief means of illustrating this evolution, though other prophetic literature will also be addressed in lectures. In examining literature from various points during the centuries in which it took shape, we will see its evolution from a largely oral and embodied medium to one that increasingly relies on interpretation of its own written legacy. In addition to Israelite prophecy's independent value as theological expression, this transformation in turn sheds light on the appropriation of prophetic writings in the New Testament for understanding the meaning of Jesus? Life, teaching, death, and resurrection.

What role did the psalms play in ancient Israel? Why are the Psalsm the most frequently quoted book in the New Testament (along with Isaiah and Genesis)? How have people interpreted and used them through the centuries? How mighty they give us life today, whether in individual use or corporate worship, in providing comfort to the distressed or afflicting the comfortable? In this course, we will pursue answers to these question about the Book of Psalms along with other psalm-like compositions in and outside the Bible.
Finding answers to these questions will lead us through some of the main social, literary, and theological dimensions of psalms in
ancient Israel and its evolution in the exilic and post-exilic eras and beyond. Just as the Bible does not speak with one voice, so too, the book of Psalms reflects a host of voices, sharing joys, crying out laments, and giving thanks.

What role did the psalms play in ancient Israel? Why are the Psalsm the most frequently quoted book in the New Testament (along with Isaiah and Genesis)? How have people interpreted and used them through the centuries? How mighty they give us life today, whether in individual use or corporate worship, in providing comfort to the distressed or afflicting the comfortable? In this course, we will pursue answers to these question about the Book of Psalms along with other psalm-like compositions in and outside the Bible.
Finding answers to these questions will lead us through some of the main social, literary, and theological dimensions of psalms in
ancient Israel and its evolution in the exilic and post-exilic eras and beyond. Just as the Bible does not speak with one voice, so too, the book of Psalms reflects a host of voices, sharing joys, crying out laments, and giving thanks.