Divine Presence in the Old Testament (Seminar)

Course Description

This course explores the variety of ways that the Old Testament portrays God’s manifest presence. The course will organize its exploration of the subject in terms of (1) God’s “bodily” presence, (2) God’s spirit (ruach), (3) God’s glory (kabod), and (4) God’s mediated presence in messengers/angels and humans. What is the nature and significance of divine presence according to the Old Testament? What are the forms and means by which God is said to be present in the Old Testament? Additional questions include: How do Old Testament texts wrestle with the paradox of divine presence and absence, and the twin realities of transcendence and immanence? What problems are created by divine presence, and how do writers attend to those potential problems? What happens to the “self” in confrontation with divine presence? How might a study of divine presence in the OT contribute to a Christian Christology and Pneumatology?

NOTE: This course has a maximum enrollment of 12 students.

To get into a priority enrollment course, you must register by the early registration deadline (see Important Dates) and must submit a Priority Enrollment Course Request (available through the "Additional Registration Requests" section of the Registration menu in REGIS) after completing your registration. Class lists will be determined within a week after the early registration deadline, and you will be notified by email shortly thereafter. First priority will be given to students who need a course for the program to which they have been admitted, and who have registered by the early registration deadline.