Honors 209P: Philosophy and the Bible



Honors 208P: Philosophy and the Bible Charles Manekin

Honors Seminar Description: The course is an introduction to the philosophical exegesis of scripture, i.e., how philosophers have read the Bible from the time of Philo of Alexandria to the present. The class will read well-known passages from scripture and then discuss philosophical interpretation. Stories to be discussed include the Creation, the fall of Adam, the binding of Isaac, the suffering of Job, the resurrection of Jesus. Most, but not all, of the readings will be taken from the Jewish philosophical tradition. Methodological questions concering the adequacy (and the accuracy) of philosophical exegesis will be considered. The goal of the class, in addition to familiarizing students with the Bible, is to see how the Bible has been a source of philosophical reflection.

Written Requirements: Students will be expected to write a few short assignments (30% of final grade) on different topics of the course, and one longer research paper (40%) on an issue of interest to them. There will be a final examination (25%) that will include an unseen passage from scripture, with the student having to write his or her own philosophical exegesis, based on what has been learnt in the class.

Class participation and attendance count for 5% of the grade. You are allowed 2 unexcused absences.

Books to be obtained: D. Frank, O. Leaman, C. Manekin, The Jewish Philosophy Reader (=JPR) (Routledge), M. Maimonides, The Guide for the Perplexed, trans. Rabin (Hackett), S. Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling (Penguin), R. Martin, The Elusive Messiah.(Westview Press)

Books to be brought to class: The Bible (any translation), and whatever we are reading. My office hours: M and W 12-1 or by appointment. Email: cm8@umail.umd.edu

• Academic Accommodations:  If you have a documented disability, you should contact Disability Support Services 0126 Shoemaker Hall.  Each semester students with documented disabilities should apply to DSS for accommodation request forms which you can provide to your professors as proof of your eligibility for accommodations.  The rules for eligibility and the types of accommodations a student may request can be reviewed on the DSS web site at .

• Religious Observances:  The University System of Maryland policy provides that students should not be penalized because of observances of their religious beliefs, students shall be given an opportunity, whenever feasible, to make up within a reasonable time any academic assignment that is missed due to individual participation in religious observances.  It is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor of any intended absences for religious observances in advance.  Notice should be provided as soon as possible but no later than the end of the schedule adjustment period.  Faculty should further remind students that prior notification is especially important in connection with final exams, since failure to reschedule a final exam before the conclusion of the final examination period may result in loss of credits during the semester.  The problem is especially likely to arise when final exams are scheduled on Saturdays.

• Academic integrity: The University of Maryland has a nationally recognized

Code of Academic Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council. This Code sets standards for academic integrity at Maryland for all undergraduate and graduate students. As a student you are responsible for upholding these standards for this course. It is very important for you to be aware of the consequences of cheating, fabrication, facilitation, and plagiarism. For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit

The University of Maryland is one of a small number of universities with a student-administered Honors Code and an Honors Pledge, available on the web at .  The code prohibits students from cheating on exams, plagiarizing papers, submitting the same paper for credit in two courses without authorization, buying papers, submitting fraudulent documents, and forging signatures.  The University Senate encourages instructors to ask students to write the following signed statement on each examination or assignment:  "I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on this examination (or assignment).”

I/30 On the Philosophical Reading of the Bible

Readings: Maimonides, Introduction to the Guide of the Perplexed, pp. 41-49 ; Frank Talmage, "Apples of Gold: The Inner Meaning of Sacred Texts in Medieval Judaism," (PDF); Isaac Albalag, The Emendation of the "Opinions." (JPR pp. 247-250). Spinoza, A Theological-Political Treatise, (JPR, pp. 306-321, 331-339.)

2/9 Creation I. Is the Bible Teaching Science?

Genesis 1-3, JPR, pp. 7-10, Philo, On the Creation of the World (first century ce), JPR pp. 11-23; Maimonides, The Guide of the Perplexed 2:25 (1190), JPR, pp. 23-32 David Hartman, "Fundamentals of a Covenantal Anthropology, JPR, pp. 32--36

2/13 Creation II. The Fall of Man and Evolution

Maimonides, The Guide of the Perplexed 1:1-2, pp. 51-55; R. J. B. Soloveitchik: "Lonely Man of Faith" (handout); B. Alvin Plantinga: "When Faith and Reason Clash: Evolution in the Bible," Howard J. Van Till: "When Faith and Reason Clash: Evolution and the Bible.". Peter van Inwagen: "Genesis and Evolution." (Handout)

2/20 The Binding of Isaac I: Divine Commandment and Moral Duties

Genesis 22, JPR, pp. 39-40

S. Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling

B. Maimonides, The Guide of the Perplexed 3:24, JPR, pp. 40-41.

2/27 The Binding of Isaac II: Divine Foreknowledge

Maimonides, Guide of the Perplexed 3.17, 3.20-21, pp. 157-165. Oliver Leaman, Maimonides, JPR, pp. 120-121. Seymour Feldman. "The Binding of Isaac: A Test-Case of Divine Foreknowledge," JPIt, pp. 121-123. Levi Gersonides: The Wars of the Lord 5.3.3 and 3.4, III, JPR, pp. 258-261.

3/6 Hardening Pharoah's Heart: On Free Will and Repentance

Exodus 9, 10, 14, JPR, pp. 46-48. Joseph lbn Kaspi. A Refining Pot for Silver, JPR, pp. 251-252.

Maimonides, Commentary on the Mishnah, Eight Chapters (1 168), JPR, pp. 48-50. David Shatz, "Freedom, Repentance, and Hardening of the Hearts," JPR, pp. 51-59.

3/13 Samson and Self-Destroying Evil

Judges 14-16. Eleonore Stump, Samson and Self-Destroying Evil. Word File

3/27 Covenant and the Election of Israel

Exodus 20.

Judah Halevy, The Kuzari. (12th Century)

Gersonides, Commentary on the Bible (14th Cent.)

Spinoza, Theological-Political Treatise

4/3 Job and Divine Providence

Job 1-2, 42

Oliver Leaman, "Job" (1995) JRP 60-86

Kenneth Seeskin, "Job and the Problem of Evil" (1990) Maimonides, The Guide o f the Perplexed (1 190 ) Gersonides, The Wars of the Lord (1329)

Y. Leibowitz, "Fear of God in the Book of Job" (1974) JRP 505-509

4/10 The Rationality of the Law

Saadia Gaon, The Book of Beliefs and Opinions

Maimonides, The Guide of the Perplexed 3:31, 26-27

Nahmanides, Commentary on the Pentatuech

Joseph Albo, Book of Principles 1:7-8

Hilary Putnam, "Law and Reason," from the Jewish Political Tradition pdf

4/17 Jesus as Messiah

Raymond Martin, The Elusive Messiah, A Philosophical Overview of the Quest for the Historical Jesus

4/24 Miracles

David Hume, "Of Miracles"; Peter van Inwagen: Of "Of MIracles". John Stuart Mill: "Miracles and Undetected Natural Causes". David Johnson: "Mill's Challenge to Belief in Miracles". All from Faith and Philosophy, ed. David Shatz pdf

5/1 Christ's Resurrection and the Empty Tomb

Matthew 28:2, Mark 16:6, Luke 24:5, Jn 20:2

Stephen T. Davis, "Was the Tomb Empty?"

Cornelius Plantinga, Jr. "The Heart of the Gospel: Comments on the Paper of Stephen T. Davis,"

Adela Yarbro Collins, "The Empty Tomb in the Gospel According to Mark"

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