
The text from this biblical book is explored as the liturgical and personal prayer book of Jews and Christians for millennia, a book that embraces the entire spectrum of human emotion and experience, speaking as much to people of today as it did to those who first composed it. The overall structure of the book, types of Psalms, aspects of Hebrew poetry, and important themes arising in the text are analyzed.
Recommended Prerequisite: BI405EE Introduction to Sacred Scripture
BI810CE THE PSALMS
Developed by Rev. Paul CB Schenck, MA, MS, EdD.
Syllabus
This course will examine the Book of Psalms, known in the Hebrew canon as Sefer Tehillim, or simply Tehlim, “Book of Praises” and in the LXX (Greek) as Psalmos, represents the high-point of biblical poetry. The compositions included in the five volumes retained in the Hebrew, Greek, Ethiopic and Latin canons, play a key role in the various liturgical and devotional traditions. The course will proceed along the chumeshi format of the Masora (Hebrew canon), i.e., the five volume structure. The content as well as the historical, and linguistic context will be surveyed, with attention to the distinctive interpretations of the Jewish, Eastern and Western Christian, and contemporary, schools. The usage of the Psalms in liturgies and other services will be reviewed. Course participants will be expected to read the Psalms, references, and class lectures, fulfill all the written assignments and participate in classroom discussions and virtual conferences.
Required Texts: The Book of Psalms: A translation and commentary. Robert Alter. New York: W.W. Norton & Co. 2007.
The Revised Grail Psalms: A liturgical psalter. Singing version. Benedictine Monks of Conception Abbey. Chicago: GIA Publications. 2010.
Week 1 – Module I. Module I is an introduction to the course and the Book of Psalms. An introductory survey of the Book of Psalms, the history and various versions of the Psalms, and the distinctions between the various usages of Psalms in Jewish, Christian, and other religious traditions will be presented.
Class objectives:
Week 2 – Module II. Canons and organization of the Psalms.
Module II examines the development of the Psalms, as individual compositions with their origins and context. The literary structures and styles will be surveyed. The organization of the book will be reviewed.
Class objectives:
Week 3 – Module III. Interpretations of Psalms.
Module III looks at the ancient purpose and use of the Psalms. The ancient Temple cultus, synagogue and Jewish devotional practices, and early Christian, including Patristic usage, will be reviewed.
Class objectives:
Week 4 – Module IV. History & timeline of the psalms.
Module Four will examine the history and timeline of the psalms and organize the psalms along the timeline.
Class objectives:
Week 5 – Module V. Psalm 119
Module V is a study of Psalm 119. Psalm 119 incorporates many of the characteristics, styles, and elements of the psalms. Psalm 119 is an acrostic and was used liturgically and catechistically.
Classroom objectives:
Demonstrates a clear knowledge of the theological content and interpretation of the Psalms.
• Shows an understanding of the literary and historical context of the Psalms.
Week 6 – Module VI. Psalms in the Temple.
Module VI will examine the usage of Psalms in the liturgy of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The Temple liturgy will be explored as foundational to the use of the Psalms in Christian liturgy.
Class objectives:
Week 7 – Module VII. Psalms as lyrics.
Module VII will examine the mizmor, the psalms as the libretto, or as lyrics, to songs and as poems.
Week 8 – Module VIII. Psalms as prayers.
The Psalms entail a spectrum of expressions of prayer. The psalms are designed to ascribe praises to God and to implore God for aid. Module VIII will look at the Psalms as compositions of prayer and the use of psalms as prayer in Judaism and Christianity.
Class objectives:
Week 9 – Module IX. Psalms as catechesis. The Psalms contain dogmatic, didactic, theological and anthropological content. This module will explore that content, as well as the way the Psalms have been used in catechesis in different traditions.
Class objectives:
Week 10 – Module X. The Psalms in the Church.
Module X will look at the different arrangements and numeration of the Psalms in the various canons: Ancient, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and English, and the Jewish, Orthodox, Oriental, Catholic, and Protestant Bibles.
Class objectives:
Reading: Review the comparative list of Psalms from the various canons.
Compare the numbering & list in the LXX: https://oca.org/liturgics/outlines/septuagint-numbering-psalms , the Vulgate & the Masora:
Hebrew numbering(Masoretic) |
Greek numbering(Septuagint &Â Vulgate) |
1–8 | 1–8 |
9–10 | 9 |
11–113 | 10–112 |
114–115 | 113 |
116 | 114–115 |
117–146 | 116–145 |
147 | 146–147 |
148–150 | 148–150 |
Post: In 150-300 words explain in what ways are the Psalters in the various canons similar, and in what ways do they differ?
Week 11 – Module XI. The Psalms in the Hours
Module XI will examine the place the Psalter holds in the Liturgy of the Hours, the Liturgy of the Word, and in other liturgies and services.
Reading: General Instruction of the Roman Missal, General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours. Introduction to the Revised Grail Psalms.
Week 12 – Module XII. Final review. Final exam (2 Essays, 250-300 words each).
Module XII will be a comprehensive review of the material presented in the course.
5. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Two Essays are required. The first essay of approximately 500 words is due in week 5. The paper must be in Turabian (or Chicago) style, with a bibliography of at least 3 sources (not including the Bible).
Discussion Posts: Discussion posts consist of 150-300 words (unless otherwise stated) responses to the prompts or topics. Ordinarily the one posting replies to two others.
Final Exam (2 Essays): The final exam will consist of two essays on topics selected from a list of 10 from the field of pastoral theology.
COURSE DEVELOPER:
Father Paul Chaim Benedicta Schenck is a priest in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg (central Pennsylvania). Father Schenck is a former Anglican priest who was admitted to Catholic priesthood through the Pastoral Provision begun by Pope St. John Paul II. He has served as a youth minister, pastor, rector, upper school headmaster, college and seminary professor, public interest legal advocate and diocesan official. He is currently Director of Formation for the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Harrisburg and parochial vicar in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish in Mechanicsburg, PA. Raised Jewish, Fr. Schenck attended Hebrew school as a youth, the Institute of Jewish Studies in the State University of New York, and Baltimore Hebrew University. In Christian formation, he graduated the Elim Bible College, Luther Rice University, The Institute for the Psychological Sciences (now Divine Mercy University), Holy Apostles College and Seminary, the Graduate Theological Foundation, and obtained the doctorate in educational leadership from St. Thomas University. He holds degrees in biblical studies, religious studies, theology, bioethics, psychology, pastoral counseling, and education.