Heartland Community College
Humanities & Fine Arts
Course Syllabus for Students
Course Prefix and Number: RELI 260* (Section -01)
Course Title: Literature of the Bible
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Laboratory Hours: 0
Days and times the course meets: 8:00 a.m. – 9:15 p.m. Mon/Wed in ICN 2304 from August
18 to December 12, 2014
Introduction: Christianity is one of the most literary religions in the world, and the Bible is not
only the repository of Hebraic-Christian belief but is also a book in which literary form is of
overriding importance. This course is to help you gain an appreciation of the literary dimension
of the Bible and fit it into your experience of literature in general. My name is Bob Smart. I am
married to Karen and have five children, of whom three are married; two are freshmen in
college, and six grandchildren. I have a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University, a Masters
of Divinity in theology from Covenant Theological Seminary, and a Ph. D. from the University
Wales in historical theology on Jonathan Edwards and the Great Awakening. I have been senior
pastor of Christ Church for over twenty years. I look forward to meeting each of you and
enjoying the literary aspects of the Bible with you.
Catalog Description:
Discussion and analysis of selected texts from the Old and New Testaments, with special
attention to the sources and styles of Biblical literary techniques.
Instructor Information:
Instructor name: Dr. Bob Smart
Phone number to contact instructor: 309-287-7297
Instructor e-mail address: bob@christchurchpca.org
Location of instructor’s office: HCC 2016
Hours and days of instructor’s office hours: By appointment
Textbook:
Recommended: How to Read the Bible as Literature, Leland Ryken (Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan, 1984)
Required: The Holy Bible, New English Standard Version [ESV]

Changes to this syllabus will be made only by instructor following class notification.
Relationship to Academic Development Programs and Transfer: (Indicate if course is
General Education/IAI)
RELI/ENGL 260 fulfills 3 of the 9 semester hours of credit in Humanities/Fine Arts required for
the A.A. or A.S. degree. It satisfies the Humanities component of this requirement.
ENGL/RELI 260 should transfer as part of the General Education Core Curriculum described in
the Illinois Articulation Initiative to other Illinois colleges and universities participating in the
IAI. However, students should consult an academic advisor for transfer information regarding
particular institutions. Refer to the IAI web page for information as well at www.itransfer.org
Course Objectives (Learning Outcomes):
Students who successfully complete RELI 260 should be able to:
1.
Identify the principal literary forms and strategies employed by the writers of the Bible.
2.
Identify such literary features as the main features of prose narrative, the structure of an
ancient lyrical poem, the form and constituent elements of an ancient letter and letter
essay, typical features of symbolic and visionary literature, the elements which comprise
a gospel, etc. (D2).
3.
Gain an understanding of the literary milieu of the Bible and its surrounding cultures
(Ancient Near Eastern, Egyptian, Greco/Roman) and how their interaction helped shape
Biblical literature (D1, D3).
4.
Understand the historical, social, cultural, and geographical background of the Bible, and
identify some of the key dates in Hebrew history (D4, D3).
5.
Articulate and communicate some of the major ideas that informed individual works of
the Bible, as well as specific periscopes (C7).
6.
Understand how the ancient Hebrew literature of the Bible contributed to the
development of the later literature of the Bible (D4).
7.
Recognize and define terms relevant to Biblical literature such as simile, metaphor,
synecdoche, allegory, archetype, type, torah, Pentateuch, Synoptic, parable, pericope,
hermeneutics, etc. (D3).
8.
Compose brief literary analyses of extended sections of scripture (C1, C2, C3).
9.
Identify appropriate topics for scholarly research in biblical literature, utilize standard
bibliographic and other research tools, select suitable sources and methodology, and write
papers presenting the results of their research while observing the conventions of
scholarly discourse (C6).
10.
Identify examples of the Bible's influence on English and other literatures, and become
aware of the relevance, interaction possibilities, and the dynamics for the communication
of Biblical literature to other nations and world cultures (D1, D2, D3).
Course/Lab Outlines:
I.
INTRODUCTION
Bible as Literature, Biblical Literature, Hermeneutics
World View and Religious Literature
II.
CREATION ACCOUNT AND THE FLOOD--PRIMEVAL SAGA, Story of Origins
(GEN 1-11)
III.
NARRATIVE LITERATURE--PATRIARCHAL (GEN 12-50)
Abraham and Isaac: Heroic Narrative (Gen 12-26)
Joseph in Egypt (Gen 37-50)
IV.
NARRATIVE AND LAW--TORAH (EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, &
DEUTERONOMY--Selected Passages)
The Epic of the Exodus, Moses and the Israelites (Exod)
Legal Forms and Codes (Exod, Lev, Numb, Deut-- Selected Passages), and Ancient
Treaty (Deut)
V.
NARRATIVE LITERATURE--HISTORICAL (Josh, Judges, Ruth, I and II
Samuel, I and II Kings, I and II Chron-- Selected Passages)
Judges--Deborah, Ancient Song
Ruth--Ancient Story
United Kingdom--Saul (Tragic Narrative), David (Heroic Narrative)
Divided Kingdom--Israel and Judah
VI.
PSALMS--POETIC LITERATURE, ANCIENT LYRIC
Cultic Poetry (Selected Psalms)
Personal/Expressive Poetry (Selected Psalms)
VII.
PROPHETIC LITERATURE
Introduction to Prophetic Literature and Literary Forms
Major Prophets--Isaiah, and Lamentations (Selected Passages)
Minor Prophets--Amos, Micah, and Nahum
VIII. WISDOM LITERATURE
Ecclesiastes (Chapters 1-12)
Proverbs (Selected Passages)
IX.
GOSPELS--ANCIENT BIOGRAPHY
Gospel as a Literary Genre--Ancient Biography
Synoptic (Matthew, and Selected Synoptic Parables)
X.
EPISTOLARY LITERATURE--ANCIENT LETTERS
Epistolary Genre--Ancient Letters
Occasional letters, General letters, and Pastoral letters (Selected Passages)
XI.
APOCALYPTIC, VISIONARY LITERATURE--REVELATION
XII.
INFLUENCE OF THE BIBLE ON ENGLISH LITERATURE, AND THE
RELEVANCE, INTERACTION, AND COMMUNICATION OF BIBLICAL
LITERATURE TO OTHER NATIONS AND WORLD CULTURES
Methods of Instruction:
1. Class session will cover materials following the course outline, and will encourage student
preparation and participation.
2. Assessment will come from oral reading, exams, paper, and participation in class.
Method of Evaluation (Tests/Exams, Grading System):
Total points accumulated during the semester will determine course grades. Points will be
assigned as follows:
3 Section Tests
1 Paper (5 pages)
Class Participation
=
=
=
300 points (60%) (20% each)
300 points (20%)
200 points (20%)
The grading scale used to determine the course grade will be:
92 to 100%
83 to 91%
74 to 82%
65 to 73%
Below 65%
=A
=B
=C
=D
=F
Class Participation: Short presentations of Bible reading in class, discussion, & attendance
Make-up of tests and assignments: Make up assignments or exams must be approved by
instructor and be completed within one week at testing center in library.
Required Writing and Reading Policy:
One 5-page paper is required for the class. It is to be either a literary analysis of a book or
extended section of the Bible, or a research paper on the influence of the Bible on English or
other world literature.
The student is to complete assigned readings from the Bible and from other texts. In addition,
the student may be required to read two assigned article readings in the area of Biblical literature
besides the general reading for the class.
Student Conduct: Respect must be shown to others in class-cell phones silenced; no working on
other material unrelated to class; tardiness marked down by instructor.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a fundamental principle of collegial life at Heartland Community College
and is essential to the credibility of the College’s educational programs. Moreover, because
grading may be competitive, students who misrepresent their academic work violate the right of
their fellow students. The College, therefore, views any act of academic dishonest as a serious
offense requiring disciplinary measures, including course failure, suspension, and even expulsion
from the College. In addition, an act of academic dishonesty may have unforeseen effects far
beyond any officially imposed penalties.
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to cheating, aiding or
suborning cheating or other acts of academic dishonesty, plagiarism, misrepresentation of data,
falsification of academic records or documents and unauthorized access to computerized
academic or administrative records or systems. Definitions of these violations may be found in
the college catalog.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presenting of others’ ideas as if they were your own. When you write a paper,
create a project, do a presentation or create anything original, it is assumed that all the work,
except for that which is attributed to another author or creator, is your own. Plagiarism is
considered a serious academic offense and may take the following forms:
1
Copying word-for-word from another source and not giving that source credit.
2
Paraphrasing the work of another and not giving that source credit.
3
Adopting a particularly apt phrase as your own.
4
Using an image or a copy of an image without crediting its source.
5
Paraphrasing someone else’s line of thinking in the development of a topic as if it
were your own.
6
Receiving excessive help from a friend or elsewhere, or using another project as
if it were your own.
Note that word-for-word copying is not the only form of plagiarism.
The penalties for plagiarism may be severe, ranging from failure on the particular piece
of work, failure in the course or expulsion from school in extreme cases.
[Adapted from the Modem Language Association’s MLA Handbook for Writers of
Research Papers. New York: MLA, 1995: 26]
Support Services:
Heartland Library Information
The Library, located in the Students Commons Buildings at the Raab Road campus, provides Heartland students
with a full range of resources including books, online journal databases, videos, newspapers, periodicals, reserves,
and interlibrary loan. Librarians are available to assist in locating information.
For more information please call the Library (309) 268-8200 or (309) 268-8292
Tutoring Center
Heartland Community College offers tutoring in various forms at no cost to
Heartland students at the Academic Support Center (ASC) in Normal and at the Pontiac
and Lincoln Centers. Tutors are available at convenient times throughout the week.
Study groups, group tutoring facilitated by a special-trained tutor, are also available by
request. For more information about services available at each location, please call the
ASC in Normal (309) 268-8231; the Pontiac Center (815) 842-6777; the Lincoln Center
(217) 735-1731.
Testing Center
The Testing Center provides a quiet environment for students to complete make-up exams, online exams, and exams
for students with special accommodations. Students may be able to complete exams in the Testing Center if
arrangements are made with their instructor. For more information, contact the Testing Center at (309) 268-8231.
Important Dates to remember:
Exam One ____September 10______
Exam Two ____October 27________
Exam Three ___December 3________
(no final exam)
5-page paper due December 1_______
Religion 260 Fall Calendar
Course Calendar:
August 17
18
Classes Begin
Overview
25
The Bible’s
Plot
Sept 1
Labor Day
19
20
Bible as Lit.
Intro
27
Biblical
Narrative
3
Genesis
Jacob
10
Exam One
21
22
23
28
29
30
4
5
6
7
8
Review
9
11
12
13
15
16
Epic-Narrative
17
18
Exodus
Heroic-Josh
24
RomanticComedy Ruth
Oct 1
Job - & The
Problem of Evil
8
Psalms
19
20
20
21
22
Tragedy-Judges
Esther
29
I-II Samuel
I-II Kings
6
Psalms
pp. 109-20 due
13
Song of
Solomon
23
25
26
28
2
3
4
9
10
Withdraw?
11
14
15
Proverbs
pp. 127-29 due
16
17
Midterm
Grades
18
19
20
Ecclesiastes
21
22
Review
23
24
25
26
27
Exam Two
28
29
Isaiah-Prophets
30
31
Nov 1
2
3
Jeremiah
4
5
Daniel
6
7
8
9
10
Minor Prophets
11
13
14
15
16
17
Matthew
18
20
21
22
23
24
John Acts
25
12
How Christ
taught
19
Mark & Luke
Parables
26
Epistles
Revelation
27
28
29
30
Dec 1
Review
Paper Due
8
Final Exams
2
3
Exam Three
4
5
6
9
10
11
12
13
24
31
28
5
12
7
26
2
Refund?
30
7