Wisdom Literature
- Arts
- 400 level
- 2 credit units
- 131 pages
- 14 units
This course introduces students to the multifaceted world of Wisdom Literature within the Old Testament, exploring its theological ideas and historical context. It examines themes such as God, creation, redemption, and theodicy, drawing from major Wisdom books like Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Psalms, and Songs of Solomon. The course emphasizes exegetical methodologies, canonical order, and the relevance of these themes to contemporary African communities, equipping students to articulate and apply Christian faith in diverse contexts.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 208 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of CRS413, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
- Unit 1: Theology and Moral Discourse in ProverbsPage 43
- Unit 2: Theodicy and the Sovereignty of God in the book of Job.Page 52
- Unit 3: Cosmology and Anthropology in the Testament of Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes).Page 61
- Unit 4: Theology of Praise and Prayers in the book of Psalms.Page 70
- Unit 5: Relationship and Redemption in Canticles (Songs of Solomon).Page 79
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
CRS413 · Unit 1: Issues in Wisdom Literature
The main body of the unit guide you through the required reading from other sources. This will usually be either from your set books or from a Reading section.
What you should be able to do
- Define key concepts in Wisdom Literature
- Analyze theological themes in Wisdom books
- Apply exegetical methodologies
- Relate Old Testament themes to the New Testament
- Understand the role of wisdom in African contexts
What it prepares you for
- Theologian
- Religious educator
- Pastor
- Counselor
- Chaplain
- Religious organizations
- Educational institutions
- Non-profit sector
- Social services
- Community development
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- MODULE 2: THE THEOLOGY OF WISDOM LITERATURE
Unit 2: Theodicy and the Sovereignty of God in Job
The unit requires understanding of complex theological arguments related to divine justice and human suffering, demanding critical thinking and analytical skills.
- MODULE 3: FORM, RHETORIC AND CONTENT OF WISDOM LITERATURE
Unit 4: The Rhetoric of Sapiential Language
Requires understanding of advanced literary techniques and their application to interpret complex biblical texts.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 104 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1MODULE 1: WISDOM AND OLD TESTAMENT THEOLOGY: ISSUES AND APPROACHES
Unit 1: Issues in Wisdom Literature · 8 hours
Understand the concept of Wisdom Literature. Identify the sources of Wisdom Literature. Discuss the Theology of Wisdom Literature. Examine hermeneutical considerations.
- Week 2MODULE 1: WISDOM AND OLD TESTAMENT THEOLOGY: ISSUES AND APPROACHES
Unit 2: The Place of Wisdom in Old Testament Theology · 8 hours
Understand the biblical concepts of wisdom. Explore Christ as Wisdom and Power of God. Analyze the paradigm of history. Discuss the dialectic of history and creation.
- Week 3MODULE 1: WISDOM AND OLD TESTAMENT THEOLOGY: ISSUES AND APPROACHES
Unit 3: Approaches to Wisdom Theology · 8 hours
Recognize the genre of Wisdom Literature. Understand approaches in Wisdom Literature. Discuss theodicy. Examine hermeneutical considerations.
- Week 4MODULE 1: WISDOM AND OLD TESTAMENT THEOLOGY: ISSUES AND APPROACHES
Unit 4: Rhetoric and Social Location in Wisdom Literature · 8 hours
Understand rhetoric in Wisdom Literature. Explore social location in Wisdom Literature. Examine hermeneutical considerations.
- Week 5MODULE 1: WISDOM AND OLD TESTAMENT THEOLOGY: ISSUES AND APPROACHES
Unit 5: Social Location and Moral Discipline · 8 hours
Understand the application of knowledge. Discover features of Wisdom. Appreciate home schools in sapiential evolution. Know the heart of Wisdom literature in moral discourse.
- Week 6MODULE 2: THE THEOLOGY OF WISDOM LITERATURE
Unit 1: Theology and Moral Discourse in Proverbs · 8 hours
Understand why wisdom is linked to Yahweh. Identify figurative language in Proverbs. Appreciate the worth of wisdom. Understand the scientific approach of Proverbs to life.
- Week 7MODULE 2: THE THEOLOGY OF WISDOM LITERATURE
Unit 2: Theodicy and the Sovereignty of God in Job · 8 hours
Discuss human freedom in the presence of evil. Understand the Old Testament perspective to human suffering. Understand how God views the prosperity of the wicked. Describe consequences of adversity when properly handled.
- Week 8MODULE 2: THE THEOLOGY OF WISDOM LITERATURE
Unit 3: Cosmology and Anthropology in the Testament of Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes) · 8 hours
Discuss Cosmology and Anthropology. Describe the good life. Know what is meant by testament in Qoheleth. Appreciate the benefits of knowledge.
- Week 9MODULE 2: THE THEOLOGY OF WISDOM LITERATURE
Unit 4: Theology of Praise and Prayers in the book of Psalms · 8 hours
Understand the significance of Praise. Describe Hebraic traditions of Praise. Realize why Parallelism is crucial. Be informed of strophic arrangements.
- Week 10MODULE 2: THE THEOLOGY OF WISDOM LITERATURE
Unit 5: Relationship and Redemption in Canticles (Songs of Solomon) · 8 hours
Understand the liturgical significance of Canticles. Describe the allegorical interpretation of Canticles. Show how erotic language impacts on a literal interpretation. Explain the significance of flora and fauna.
- Week 11MODULE 3: FORM, RHETORIC AND CONTENT OF WISDOM LITERATURE
Unit 1: Wisdom in The language of narratives and poems · 8 hours
Narrate the life experiences of sages. Appreciate spiritual understanding. Understand the role of fasting. Describe how the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.
- Week 12MODULE 3: FORM, RHETORIC AND CONTENT OF WISDOM LITERATURE
Unit 2: The Metaphors of the Sages in Systematic Form · 8 hours
Understand the meaning of fructifying power. Discover the artistic value of human physiology. Recognize metaphors. Recognize the reason the battle for human minds goes on.
- Week 13MODULE 3: FORM, RHETORIC AND CONTENT OF WISDOM LITERATURE
Unit 3: Sapiential Imagination in Theological Terms · 8 hours
Appreciate the human imagination. See the danger of perverted imagination. Describe the benefits of common and creative imagination. Evaluate the paucity of creative imagination in Africa.
Preparing for the exam
- Create a timeline of key events and figures discussed in each unit
- Develop flashcards for theological terms and concepts
- Practice essay questions on theodicy and creation
- Form study groups to discuss challenging units
- Review all self-assessment exercises and tutor feedback
Questions students ask about this course
What is CRS413 about?
This course introduces students to the multifaceted world of Wisdom Literature within the Old Testament, exploring its theological ideas and historical context. It examines themes such as God, creation, redemption, and theodicy, drawing from major Wisdom books like Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Psalms, and Songs of Solomon. The course emphasizes exegetical methodologies, canonical order, and the relevance of these themes to contemporary African communities, equipping students to articulate and apply Christian faith in diverse contexts.
How many units does CRS413 have?
CRS413, Wisdom Literature, has 14 units across 3 modules, over 131 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is CRS413?
CRS413 carries 2 credit units, at 400 level in Arts.
Is CRS413 hard?
CRS413 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does CRS413 take to study?
About 208 hours of study, spread across its 14 units.
How is CRS413 assessed?
CRS413 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with CRS413?
Theologian, Religious educator, Pastor, Counselor and Chaplain.