Part A (25 points): Required question (600 words)
1. Discuss 4 theories prevalent within Jewish circles from ancient to modern times about how the Hebrew Bible came to be. What do each of these theories tell us about God and the ultimate authority of the biblical text?
Relevant readings:
• Dan Cohn-Sherbok, Judaism: History, Belief and Practice (Routledge 2003) 180-184 (Ch. 32 Maimonides) • Neil Gillman, The Jewish Approach to God: A Brief Introduction for Christians (Jewish Lights Publishing, 2003) 115-128 (Ch. 8 God Reveals) • Dan Cohn-Sherbok, Judaism: History, Belief and Practice (Routledge 2003) 391-396 (Ch. 62 Revelation) • Miri Freud-Kandel, “Modernist Movements,” in Modern Judaism: An Oxford Guide, Nicolas de Lange and Miri Freud-Kandel, eds. (Oxford University Press, 2005) 81-92 • Revelation in-class PDF
