The Psalms and their Theology

Upon successful completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:

Undergraduate

1. Analyse the literary features of selected psalms.
2. Interpret the psalms within the historical and socio-cultural context of ancient Israel and other ANE settings.
3. Exegete selected psalms.
4. Critically evaluate the contribution of the Psalter to Christian theology and worship.
5. Illustrate the contribution of the psalms to personal and communal, contemporary Christian life.

Postgraduate

1. Analyse the literary features of selected psalms.
2. Assess the connections between the psalms located in the Psalter and psalms in other Old Testament materials.
3. Interpret the psalms within the historical and socio-cultural context of ancient Israel and other ANE settings.
4. Exegete selected psalms.
5. Critically evaluate the contribution of the Psalter to Christian theology and worship.
6. Illustrate the contribution of the psalms to personal and communal, contemporary Christian life.

Undergraduate

Level One:

• One exegetical paper (1,250 words) (25%)
• One essay (1,250 words) (25%)
• One essay (2,000 words) (50%)

Level Two:

• One exegetical paper (1,400 words) (25%)
• One essay (1,400 words) (25%)
• One essay (2,200 words) (50%)

Postgraduate

• One exegetical paper (2,000 words) (25%)
• One essay (2,000 words) (25%)
• One essay (3,500 words) (50%)

• Adamo, D.T. “Psalm 35 in Africa (Yoruba) Perspective.” Old Testament Essays 32.3 (2019): 639–955.
• Bosma, C.J. “Discerning the Voices in the Psalms: A Discussion of Two Problems in Psalmic Interpretation.” Calvin Theological Journal 43.2 (2008): 183–212.
• Bosma, C.J. “Discerning the Voices in the Psalms: A Discussion of Two Problems in Psalmic Interpretation Part 2.” Calvin Theological Journal 44.1 (2009): 127–170.
• Flint, P.W., and P.D. Miller. The Book Psalms: Composition and Reception. Vetus Testamentum Supplements 99. Leiden: Brill, 2005.
• Kroeger, C.C. and M.J. Evans (Eds). The IVP Women’s Bible Commentary. Downers Grove [Ill.]: InterVarsity Press, 2002.
• Talstra, E. “Singers and Syntax: On The Balance of Grammar and Poetry in Psalm 8.” In Give ear to my words: Psalms and other poetry in and around the Hebrew Bible: essays in honour of Professor N.A. van Uchelen. 11–22. Edited by J.W. Dyk. Amsterdam: Societas Hebraica Amstelodamensis, 1996.
• Vriezen, T.C., and A.S. Van Der Woude. Ancient Israelite and Early Jewish Literature. Edited by B. Doyle. Leiden: Brill, 2005.
• Lombaard, C. “The Psalms’ Ancient Musicality, Later Musical Reception and Bono’s Psalmic Spirituality.” Old Testament Essays 32.2 (2019): 764–780.
• Waltke, B.K., J.M. Houston, and E. Moore. The Psalms as Christian Worship: A Historical Commentary. Grand Rapids [Mich.]: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010.
• Watson, W.G.E. Classical Hebrew Poetry: A Guide to Its Techniques. Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series 26. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1984.