Welcome to

Introduction to Postcolonial Hermeneutics

Certificate in Postcolonial Preaching | Tuesdays, 6:00–9:00 p.m.

Instructor: L. Daniel Hawk, Ph.D. | Contact: [email protected]

Dear Students,

Welcome to Introduction to Postcolonial Hermeneutics! I am delighted to accompany you on this transformative journey through Scripture, interpretation, and Christian witness. This course offers a unique opportunity to engage the Old Testament through the lens of postcolonial interpretation, helping us uncover how biblical texts speak to — and often challenge — structures of power, empire, and exclusion.

Our goal is not only academic; it is deeply spiritual and communal. As we develop the practice of close reading, we will also reflect critically on how our own contexts shape the way we interpret Scripture. Through six sessions of presentations, Q&A, and guided discussions, we will examine how the Bible resists imperial narratives, advocates for justice, and points toward liberative hope.

Each week, you will be invited to reflect on key biblical texts, including Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah, and Ruth. These passages will prompt us to ask hard questions about identity, authority, marginality, and resistance. Journaling will be an essential discipline — cultivating a habit of theological reflection and preparing you to contribute meaningfully in class.

Participation is vital: your voice matters, and your insights will enrich our collective learning. We expect consistent attendance, thoughtful engagement, and mutual respect throughout the course. If emergencies arise, make-up work will help ensure that you stay on track.

This class will challenge you to see Scripture with new eyes — and to consider what it means to preach and live a gospel that liberates, heals, and confronts injustice.

Once again, welcome. I look forward to our journey together.

Grace and peace,

Dr. L. Daniel Hawk

Introduction to Postcolonial Hermeneutics

Certificate in Postcolonial Preaching

Tuesdays, 6:00-9:00 p.m.

L. Daniel Hawk, Ph.D. * Contact: [email protected]

Introduction

This course will introduce the elements of Postcolonial Interpretation through the application of basic exegetical practices. As a subsequent course will deal with the New Testament, this course will explore the fundamental aspects of interpretation as they are practiced in the Old Testament.

Outcomes

1. Develop the practice of close reading
2. Explain the aspects of Postcolonial interpretation
3. Explain the relevance of Postcolonial interpretation for understanding Christian witness and mission.

Format

The professor will model and explain principles of biblical exegesis and postcolonial interpretation in a presentation/Q&A format from 6:00-8:00 p.m. The class will resume from 8:10-9:00 with a discussion time led by course mentors

Successful Completion

Attending and participating in the six online sessions will fulfill the requirements for successful completion of the course. Participating signifies active, substantive contributions to the discussions during the class sessions (6:00-8:00 p.m.) and the follow-up discussions (8:10-9:00). Students are therefore expected to be present and active at all six classes.

If an emergency requires absence from a class, a 2-3 page paper must be written and submitted at a later date in response to the lecture notes and PowerPoint slides of the relevant class, following the requirements set by the instructor. Absence from two classes will result in the loss of credit for the course.

To prepare for the class discussions, students should keep a journal of their observations, thoughts, and questions in response to the passage and journal prompt for the week. The journal will provoke reflection that will enable the student to clarify his or her thoughts and to engage with the thoughts of others.

Schedule

First Session: September 9

Topic: The Three Worlds of Biblical Interpretation

Bible Passage(s): Matthew 2

Journal Prompt: How do you determine what a biblical passage means? What practices do you employ? How do you translate the passage into the life of your congregation?

Second session: September 16

Topic: Creation and Empire

Bible Passage(s): Genesis 1-11

Journal Prompt: What does this section tell us about: creation? the Creator? Human beings? Human relationship with creation and the Creator? Humans in relationships with each other?

Third Session: September 23

Topic: Two Emperors

Bible Passage(s): Exodus 1-24

Journal Prompt: What does Egypt reveal about the nature and operations of empire? What is the nature and the operations of the covenant that God establishes with Israel at Sinai? Compare the two rulers and the communities they rule.

Fourth Session: September 30

Topic: Prophets and Empire

Bible Passage(s): Isaiah 1-7, 11; Amos 1-7; Micah 1-3; Hosea 1-2, 8-10

Journal Prompt: Identify some of the economic and political practices that the prophets are speaking against. How do prophets speak God’s truth to Israel’s leaders?

Fifth Session: October 7

Topic: Narrative and Counternarrative

Bible Passage(s): Genesis 12-22

Journal Prompt: Compare the characters and actions of Abram/Abraham, Sarai/Sarah, and Hagar in this unit? What do their stories have to say about divisions of ethnicity, social class, and gender? What brings you to the conclusions you reach?

Sixth Session: October 14

Topic: The Postcolonial Lens

Bible Passage(s): Ezra 9-10; Nehemiah 13-14; Ruth 1-4

Journal Prompt: Ezra and Nehemiah are representatives of the Persian emperor and carry the emperor’s full authority. What concerns do they have in these texts, and how might these concerns reflect imperial perspectives? Ruth is an old story that counters the imperial view advanced by Ezra and Nehemiah. Take notes on how the narrator shapes Naomi and Ruth in material terms, and reflect on how the book pushes back at the ways that Ezra and Nehemiah want to reshape the community that has returned from exile.