Tasks:
- Identify different contributions related to suffering found within biblical texts
- Study at least three texts (two in the OT and one in the NT) to understand the contribution each makes to understanding suffering in relationship to God
- Discuss similarities and differences between the perspectives offered in the three passages.
- Reflect on how all the texts together provide a fuller, three-dimensional perspective on suffering.
- Write it up in clear, error-free English.
Criteria:Your paper will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- How well informed and thoughtful was your explanation of the perspective on human suffering found in each of the three passages?
- To what extent was your discussion informed by academic literature (commentaries, articles, and other writings) on each of the passages (including, where relevant, information about the historical context, literary genre, specific contribution of each passage or book) and not the use of websites?
- How clearly did you explain similarities and differences between the perspectives?
- How insightful was your reflection on how all the texts together might provide a fuller, three-dimensional perspective on the theme?
- Did you use correct English grammar, syntax, spelling, and punctuation, and did your paper have a clear and coherent structure?
Microsoft Word - PDF for 11.22.22.docx Biblical Perspectives on Suffering: Students will write a (1.5 spaced) 2000-2500 words long paper discussing two OT texts and one NT text that deal with suffering in some way. The paper should discuss each of the three passages separately, in terms of what it contributes in terms of understanding and/or dealing with suffering, and then compare the three passages to tease out how our thinking about suffering might be expanded by engaging with the contributions of all three texts rather than with just one or two of them. How do all the texts together provide a fuller, three-dimensional perspective on the theme of suffering? Where relevant and possible, the paper should very briefly mention the historical context of the passage, its literary genre, and its contribution to the developing story of the people’s relationship with God in the Bible. Each paper should cite at least eight different sources, including at least two different commentaries on each passage (a commentary is a distinct genre of an academic book that includes the word “Commentary” in the title or subtitle) and at least two books, commentaries or articles from a diverse perspective (these are minimum requirements; the best papers will interact with more sources). You may want to get a general orientation to the issue of suffering in Scripture. One such very brief introduction is posted in Canvas as: “Simundson Suffering in HBD.” The entry on “Suffering” by Barry D. Smith in Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology may be found HERE Links to an external site.. Another way to gain an introductory overview might be to scan parts of Brian Han Gregg, What Does the Bible Say About Suffering? Links to an external site.(Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP Academic. 2016). Note: No websites are to be cited in the paper. No more than one of your sources should be more than 40 years old (check not only the current copyright, but the publication history as centuries-old commentaries often get republished with recent copyrights (e.g., Matthew Henry died in 1714 but his commentary can be found with a copyright of 2008).Submit a Word document on Canvas by the end of the day it is due. Purpose: This assignment is designed to help you see how multiple biblical texts, taken together, can provide a fuller, three-dimensional perspective on an important life issue and how our understanding of God informs that issue. Skills: This assignment should help you develop the ability to: recognize diverse biblical approaches to an important issue in human experience; analyze the potential contribution of each author or perspective; compare and contrast viewpoints in written form; and take steps towards the development of a more wholistic or nuanced understanding of an issue that might helpful inform faith and life today. Tasks: • Identify different contributions related to suffering found within biblical texts • Study at least three texts (two in the OT and one in the NT) to understand the contribution each makes to understanding suffering in relationship to God • Discuss similarities and differences between the perspectives offered in the three passages. • Reflect on how all the texts together provide a fuller, three-dimensional perspective on suffering. • Write it up in clear, error-free English. Criteria: Your paper will be evaluated based on the following criteria: • How well informed and thoughtful was your explanation of the perspective on human suffering found in each of the three passages? • To what extent was your discussion informed by academic literature (commentaries, articles, and other writings) on each of the passages (including, where relevant, information about the historical context, literary genre, specific contribution of each passage or book) and not the use of websites? • How clearly did you explain similarities and differences between the perspectives? • How insightful was your reflection on how all the texts together might provide a fuller, three-dimensional perspective on the theme? • Did you use correct English grammar, syntax, spelling, and punctuation, and did your paper have a clear and coherent structure? Biblical references (when not part of the main text of the paper) should be given in parentheses following standard biblical reference format (e.g., Rom 8:12; NRSV). References to secondary literature should be made using either footnotes or in-text citations in following any of the standard citation styles (those unfamiliar with any may follow the Turabian/Chicago Style Links to an external site.). Additionally, a works cited page (bibliography of cited works) should be included at the end. Failure to cite sources properly is tantamount to plagiarism and may be treated as such. For more about plagiarism and how to avoid it, see this helpful page: https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/plagiarism.html Links to an external site.. • For an updated bibliography of commentaries books of the Old Testament, see https://denverseminary.edu/the-denver-journal-article/annotated-old-testament- bibliography-2020/Links to an external site. • For an updated bibliography of commentaries books of the New Testament, see https://denverseminary.edu/the-denver-journal-article/new-testament-exegesis- bibliography-2020/Links to an external site. Besides other bibliography, your paper should also engage with at least two sources that represent viewpoints of authors besides white males (e.g., commentaries such as, Blount, True to Our Native Land; Patte, Global Bible Commentary Links to an external site., Adeyemo, Africa Bible Commentary Links to an external site.; Page, The Africana Bible; Wintle, South Asia Bible Commentary Links to an external site.; Newsom, Women’s Bible Commentary Links to an external site.; Evans, The IVP Women’s Bible Commentary, or other commentaries and essays by women, minorities or majority world scholars). See also the list found HERE Links to an external site.as well as this “Bibliography of Black Old Testament Scholars Links to an external site..” Online resources (web pages) should not be used as sources, with the exception of e- resources (journal articles and other academic resources) that are part of the Samford library holdings.