OT 5000 INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT

Transcription

1 OT 5000 INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT v3 Richard E. Averbeck 4 sem. hrs. I. Course Description An introduction to the literature of the Old Testament, the history of Israel, critical issues of Old Testament formation, method in Old Testament study, and the theology of the Old Testament. Designed for Master of Divinity students with inadequate background in the Old Testament and for students in the MA and MAR programs. Not for credit toward the Master of Arts concentrations in Old Testament and New Testament. A general comprehensive examination course. II. Course Goals 1. To become acquainted with the various kinds (i.e., genres) of literature in the Old Testament, be able to recognize their distinguishing features, and learn to read and interpret them well from a literary point of view. 2. To be able to identify and describe the major persons, places, and things to which the Old Testament refers. 3. To learn the basic content of the Old Testament books, how they relate to one another and the overall content of the Old Testament, and some of the ways ancient Near East literature can legitimately inform our reading of the biblical books. 4. To become familiar with the history that the Old Testament records, its relationship to the surrounding ancient Near Eastern world, and the importance this carries for understanding the historical progression of God's redemptive program. 5. To understand and appreciate the historical, cultural, and literary realities underlying the formation of the Old Testament, and develop a well-informed conservative evangelical posture toward the growth and shaping of the canon in the Old Testament period as well as its final compositional and canonical integrity. 6. To become acquainted with the various kinds of critical methodologies used in the field of Old Testament studies today, be able to recognize them when they appear in scholarly or popular literature about the Bible, and understand the major ways these methodologies are used in the study of particular books and sections of the Old Testament. 7. To learn to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate application of these methods to the study of the Old Testament, and develop a sense of how

2 conservative evangelicals can use them appropriately and with meaningful results in the serious study of God's Word. 8. To develop an understanding of the discipline of Old Testament theology in terms of the major issues that have been raised and the various approaches that have been taken in the study of the Old Testament from a theological point of view. 9. To gain a meaningful and profound hold on the theological content and shape of the Old Testament from Genesis to Malachi (book by book and section by section), and see some ways in which this significantly impacts the theology of the New Testament. 10. To understand and appreciate how all of the above can and should inform our ongoing study of the whole canon of scripture, including the New Testament as well as the way we live our Christian lives and pursue our ministries. III. Course Textbooks William Dyrness. Themes in Old Testament Theology (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1979). Abbrev. D (ISBN-10: ; ISBN-13: ) Andrew E. Hill and John H. Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament (Second edition; Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000). Abbrev. HW (ISBN-10: ; ISBN-13: ) John Rogerson, et al. Beginning Old Testament Study (Second edition; St. Louis: Chalice Press, 1998). Abbrev. R (ISBN-10: X; ISBN-13: D. Brent Sandy and Ronald L. Giese, Jr., Cracking Old Testament Codes: A Guide to Interpreting the Literary Genres of the Old Testament (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995). Abbrev. SG (ISBN-10: ; ISBN-13: ) John H. Walton. Chronological and Backgrounds Charts of the Old Testament (Revised and Expanded; Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994). (ISBN-10: ; ISBN-13: ) NOTE: You will not be responsible for reading this as part of your assignments for the course, but we will refer to it in lectures and, on occasion, examine certain parts of it carefully. Always have it with you as you listen to the lectures. IV. Course Requirements 1. Reading -- Each student will read through the entire Old Testament in a modern version (i.e., a translation, not a paraphrase; e.g., RSV, NASB, NKJV, NIV, NRSV, etc.) in coordination with the corresponding sections in the main course textbook (Hill and Walton see below, abbrev. HW), all according to the reading schedule below. The reading of the other course textbooks as

3 assigned on the course schedule is also part of this requirement. You must keep up with the reading schedule. To "read" in this case means that you should be able to isolate and write a summary of the main points of the material you have read. Do not get "bogged down"; keep moving but read for exposure and general comprehension. The amount of reading for the course has been calculated according to standard graduate level course expectations, assumptions, and calculations. PLEASE NOTE: The reading of the OT itself and the course textbooks has been spread out through the course, so it will not always coordinate with the lecture topic(s). You must read the OT books in coordination with the reading of HW and keep up with the assignment schedule. 2. Online Discussions-- The course schedule below calls for brief online discussions at certain points in the series of lectures. The topics will be taken from the Bible and textbook reading, and from the lectures since the previous discussion. Most discussions will be asynchronous so that you can post your comments to the discussion areas at any time. Look for specific details in the course area. PLEASE NOTE: Be sure to focus on the "Study Guide" questions that apply to the relevant material in preparation for these discussions (see below). 3. Thought paper -- Each student will write one 6-8 page (typed and doublespaced) "thought paper" for this course. This should be broken down into two main sections. The first section should reflect serious thought about the relevance of the OT for the Church and the Christian life. The second section should develop the significance of the OT for the ministry in which you personally are (or will be) engaged in your family, local church, or community. These papers are to reflect your own independent thinking and synthesis of the course reading, lecture, and discussion material. They are "thought" papers, not research papers per se, so footnotes and bibliography are not necessary unless you wish to include them for your own purposes. Please understand, this is an opportunity for you to think for yourself and record your thoughts about the OT in relation to the Christian life and ministry. Do not feel the need to follow the directions or conclusions taken in this class except, of course, where you are convinced in your own mind of its validity and usefulness. However, please do not "fly by the seat of your pants" when you do these papers. Always tie your thoughts to scripture (esp. the OT) and its application to the life and ministry. It is intended that this assignment take no longer than 10 hours to complete. 4. Midterm and Final examinations -- The final exam for this course will follow the format of the "Study Guide for OT 5000" (see below), and may include anything from the lecture notes as well. Course Grading Reading 25%

4 Online Discussions 15% Thought Paper 10% Midterm examination 25% Final examination 25% Course Schedule Session: Topic(s): Assignments: 1 God, People, and the Bible: Introduction None to the Study of the OT 2 Introduction to the Book of Genesis Bible reading: Genesis 1-11 Genesis 1 and Science Textbook reading: HW 18-26, The OT and Ancient Near Eastern Literature 47-62, D Genesis 1-2: God s Creative Design Bible reading: Genesis Textbook reading: HW Genesis 2-3: Paradise and Fall Bible reading: Exodus 1-24 Textbook reading: SG 69-88, D Genesis 3-4: Fall and Corruption Bible reading: Exodus Textbook reading: HW 81-99, D Genesis 5-11: Corruption and Society Bible reading: Leviticus 1-16 Textbook reading: HW Introduction to the Historical Critical Method Bible reading: Leviticus Higher Criticism of the OT Textbook reading: HW , SG 1-67, R Introduction to the OT Canon Bible reading: Numbers 1-14 Composition and Canonicity of the OT Textbook reading: HW , R Overview of OT and ANE Geography and Bible reading: Numbers History Textbook reading: HW 28-44, , ,

5 10 Periods of OT History Bible reading: Deut Textbook reading: HW , SG The Covenants: God s Redemptive Design Bible reading: Deut Textbook reading: D Genesis 12-50: The Patriarchs Bible reading: Joshua Textbook reading: HW Introduction to Exodus-Deuteronomy Bible reading: Judges & Ruth Exodus 1-18: The Call, Commission, Textbook reading: HW 192- and Mission of Moses The Sinai Narrative (Exod 18-Num 10:10) Bible reading: 1 Samuel Exodus 19-24: The Covenant and the Textbook reading: SG 113- Covenant Making Narrative The Ten Commandments Bible reading: 2 Samuel Textbook reading: HW The Book of the Covenant and the Law Bible reading: 1 Kings, (Exod 21-23) Textbook reading: D Exodus 25-40: The Tabernacle and God s Bible reading: 2 Kings, Presence Textbook reading: HW Leviticus 1-7: Altar, Offerings, and Bible reading: 1 Chronicles Sacrifices Textbook reading: HW Leviticus 8-27: Holiness and Purity Bible reading: 2 Chronicles Textbook reading: D MIDTERM EXAMINATION (study guide in Documents folder) 20 Numbers: Narrative and Law Bible reading: Ezra,Nehemiah, Esther Textbook reading: HW The Old Testament Law and the Christian I Bible reading: Jonah Textbook reading: HW ,

6 22 The Old Testament Law and the Christian II Bible reading: Amos Textbook reading: HW , R Deuteronomy 1-11, 27-34: Preaching Bible reading: Hosea the Law Textbook reading: HW Deuteronomy 12-26: Religious, Social, Bible reading: Isaiah 1-39 and Political Principles Textbook reading: HW Judge (Deut 16:18-17:13): Joshua, Bible reading: Isaiah Judges, Ruth Textbook reading: SG From Judge to King (Deut 17:14-20): Bible reading: Micah Samuel and Saul Textbook reading: HW David as King Bible reading: Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah Textbook reading: HW Solomon and the Divided Kingdom Bible reading: Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs Textbook reading: HW , , SG , D Wisdom Literature I: Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, Bible reading: Proverbs and Song of Solomon Textbook reading: HW , SG Wisdom Literature II: Job Bible reading: Job Textbook reading: HW Priest (Deut 18:1-8): History of OT Bible reading: Psalms 1-41 Priesthood Textbook reading: HW The Book of Psalms Bible reading: Psalms Textbook reading: SG

7 33 The Psalms and OT Worship Bible reading: Psalms Textbook reading: SG Prophet (Deut 18:9-22): The Nature and Bible reading: Jeremiah 1-29 History of the Prophetic Institution Textbook reading: HW , SG Eighth Century Prophetic Books Bible reading: Jeremiah 30-52, Lamentations Textbook reading: HW Seventh Century Prophetic Books Bible reading: Ezekiel Textbook reading: HW Exilic and Post-exilic History Bible reading: Daniel, Haggai, Zechariah, Joel, Malachi Textbook reading: HW , SG , HW , HW , , SG , D FINAL EXAMINATION (study guide in Documents folder)