Claremont School of Theology 8.3.18

Claremont School of Theology

Dr. Thomas E. Phillips

11 Day Biblical Survey with Contemporary Studies including Israel, the West Bank and Jordan

8—18 March 2018

Syllabus

Objectives:

·  To provide an overview of the geographical, social, historical,

archaeological and cultural settings of the Bible

·  To gain an overview of modern biblical scholarship, including the rudiments of archaeology, and its importance for clergy and lay people

·  To become acquainted with the key issues in biblical studies

and the study of Christian origins

·  To become familiar with the nature of Christianity in the Holy Land and the role of the church today

·  To gain understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, its impact on neighboring countries, possibilities for peacemaking

Texts: (There is no required reading for the journey. However, all participants would find reading one or more of the following books to be beneficial.)

1)  Ateek, Naim. Justice and Only Justice. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1989.

2)  Braverman, Mark. Fatal Embrace: Christians, Jews and the Search for Peace in the Holy Land. Austin, TX: Synergy Books, 2010

3)  Burg, Avraham. The Holocaust is Over, We Must Rise from Its Ashes. New York: Palgrave MacMillan, 2008.

4)  Carter, Jimmy. Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 2006.

5)  Chacour, Elias. Blood Brothers. Tarrytown, NY: Chosen books, 1984.

6)  Herxl, Theodor. Der Judenstaat English. Hamburg: Tredition Classics, 2012.

7)  Owen, Roger. State, Power and Politics in the Making of the Modern Middle East.

London: Routledge, 1992.

8)  Pappe, Ilan. A History of Modern Palestine: One Land, Two Peoples. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006.

9)  Prior, Michael. The Bible and Colonialism: A Moral Critique. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997.

10) Rousseau, John J. and Arav, Rami. Jesus and His World. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1995.

11) Shlaim, Avi. The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2001

Itinerary:

Day 1 Depart USA

8.3, Th

Day 2 Arrive Amman, overnight in Amman

9.3, F

Day 3 Theme: The Decapolis & the Greco-Roman Context of Jesus Ministry

10.3, Sa Field trip: Jerash (Mark 7:31, Gal. 1:17), Citadel, view

Roman theatre, Souk al Balad, driving tour of Amman

Overnight in Amman

Day 4 Theme: Moab, Edom and the Nabateans

11.3, Su Field trip: The King’s Highway (Nm. 20:17; 21:22), Madaba, Mt. Nebo, the Desert Highway, Shoback overview, Ein Musa, Siq al Barid, al Beidha (Little Petra)

Overnight Wadi Musa

Day 5 Theme: Petra, the Rose Red City

12.3, M Field trip: full day experience in Petra, including the Siq, the Treasury, the theatre, the Cardo, plus hiking and exploring as you are able

Overnight in Wadi Musa

Day 6 Theme: The Jordan Valley

13.3, Tu Field trip: Desert Highway to Allenby Bridge, cross Jordan River, Qasr al Yehud (baptismal site, Mk 1:1-11, Mt 3:1-17, Lk 3:1-22), Jericho (Joshua 5-7, Mk 1: 12-13, Mt 4:1-11, Lk 4:1-13, 19:1-10)

Overnight in Galilee

Day 7 Theme: Jesus’ Ministry and Resurrection Around the Sea of Galilee

14.3, W Field trip: ride on the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Tabgha, (John 21), Mt. of the Beatitudes; Valley of Doves (Luke 13: 10-21, Matt 5- 7, 11: 20- 24, Mark 4- 6, John 21), Sepphoris, Nazareth, Basilica of the Annunciation

Overnight in Galilee

Day 8 Theme: The Judean Wilderness

15.3, Th Field trip: the Jordan Valley, Masada, The Dead Sea, Qumran

Overnight in Bethlehem

Day 9 Theme: Jerusalem & its Environs at the Time of Jesus

16.3, F Field trip: Temple Mount/Harem esh Sharif (arrive at 6:45am, if possible), Old

City walking tour, St. Ann’s Church, Western Wall, Lithostratos, Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Mt. 27-28; John 20), the Mt. of Olives

PM forum: TBD (Israeli speaker)

Overnight Bethlehem

Day 10 Theme: Bethlehem & its Environs at the Time of Jesus

17.3, Sa Field trip: walking tour of the Old City of Bethlehem, Church of the Nativity,

Herodian, Shepherd’s Fields
Overnight in Bethlehem

Day 11 Departure and return to USA

18.3, Su

·  Meetings with indigenous people are subject to change. Appropriate substitutions will be made in the event a speaker is unavailable.

·  Daily itinerary is subject to local conditions, including weather, opening and closing hours, holidays, flight schedules, etc. Sometimes the order of the itinerary will change due to such circumstances and sometimes substitutions will be made.

·  Morning and evening fora on various topics will be arranged throughout the program.

Page 2 of 3