OLD TESTAMENT 2 (OT 5102) Second Semester Online Class T. Van McClain, Ph. D.

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1 1 OLD TESTAMENT 2 (OT 5102) Second Semester Online Class T. Van McClain, Ph. D. Dr. T. Van McClain 2810 Curry Road Schenectady, NY (518) ext. 17 (Office) vmcclain@mabtsne.edu COURSE DESCRIPTION AND RATIONALE Old Testament Survey 2 is a study of the Old Testament Poetical and Prophetic books, Job through Malachi. Characteristics of the poetic genre and wisdom literature will be presented, as well as a general introduction to Hebrew prophecy. Matters such as authorship, date, and historical background will be discussed for the biblical books, and their contents will be surveyed. Key theological themes of the prophets will be emphasized: holiness, salvation, Messiah, and eschatology. COURSE OBJECTIVES 1. To be able to summarize the authorship, recipients, place, date, purposes, and theme of each book of the Old Testament from Job to Malachi. 2. To understand and explain the theological setting of each book of the Old Testament from Job to Malachi. 3. To analyze the theological outline, conclusions, and contemporary teachings of the Old Testament from Job to Malachi. REQUIRED TEXTS Arnold, Bill T. and Bryan E. Beyer. Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian Survey. (EOT) Second Edition. Grand Rapids: Baker ISBN-10: Rydelnik, Michael. The Messianic Hope: Is the Hebrew Bible Really Messianic?

2 2 Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, ISBN-10: Sandy, D. Brent. Plowshares and Pruning Hooks. Downer s Grove, Ill.: Intervarsity Press, ISBN-10: X COURSE REQUIREMENTS 1. Exams [Four Major Tests: 50% of the Grade]: First Quarterly Exam; Mid-Semester Exam; Third Quarterly Exam; Final Exam. 2. Reading Assignments and Quizzes [Daily: 20% of the Grade]: Students are responsible to maintain and follow the reading checklist distributed in class. Completion of the daily reading assignment is necessary before each class. At the end of the class the student will need to indicate that Job through Malachi have been read during the semester. The student will also need to post on the forum each week and respond to another student's post. 3. Write A Term Paper on a Topic Approved by the Professor (At Least Pages 10% of the Grade) 4. Book Reviews of the Two of the Required Texts [20% of the Grade] The course grade will be adversely affected if the student does not complete homework assignments or is unprepared to participate in class. Reading and Written assignments. All assignments must be turned in when they are due. All late assignments will generally be penalized at the professor s discretion. Textbook. Reading assignments from the textbooks are due on the day assigned. Quizzes may be given over the daily reading. The student is also required to read in the Old Testament from Job to Malachi during the course, each book during the week it is studied. The student will need to fill out a reading report each week to indicate that they have finished the reading for that week. Weekly Forum. Each student is required to participate in a weekly forum. First, the student will need to submit their own post. Second, the student will need to respond to at least one other student each week. Term Paper. A term paper is required for successful completion of this course. The paper topic must be related to the areas of the Old Testament covered during the course of this semester. The student may choose his own topic, but all topics must receive prior approval from the professor. The paper must not be a paper submitted to any other class it must be original to this course. The paper must be 8-10 full pages of text plus title page, contents, and bibliography. It must be written in compliance with Turabian 8 th edition and the MABTS Turabian Guide. The MABTS Turabian Guide provides almost all of the information you will need to produce a paper in acceptable form and style. A minimum of 10 sources must be cited in the paper, two of which must be journals. The paper is due on the day indicated in the syllabus. Scheduled Examinations: Scheduled major examinations are to be taken on the day(s) indicated. The exam will be sent to your proctor, and it may then be given to you. Please send the professor the address of your proctor by the second week of class. BOOK REVIEW WORKSHEET

3 3 I. Identification/Theological Bio. List the title, author, and facts of publication. In addition, please give a brief bio that focuses on the books written by the author, the achievements of the author and the theological persuasion of the author. II. III. IV. Thesis. In one paragraph, please give a brief statement of the main idea and conclusion. Summary. Give a one-page summary of the contents of the book. Keep in mind the author s purpose in writing. Evaluation. About two pages, include the following: A. How successful was the author in achieving his purpose? B. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the book? 1. Literary Form 2. Persuasiveness 3. Comprehensibility 4. Treatment of Scripture 5. Biases C. What is your opinion of the book? D. Write additional comments you wish to make in evaluating the book that add to your report. GRADING SCALE Grade point averages are determined on a 12-point grading system. The grade point value of each letter grade is: A quality points per semester hour A quality points per semester hour B quality points per semester hour B quality points per semester hour B quality points per semester hour C quality points per semester hour C quality points per semester hour C quality points per semester hour D quality points per semester hour D quality points per semester hour D quality points per semester hour F 69 and below 0.0 quality points per semester hour The 12-point grading scale allows a student to graduate possibly with a perfect 4.0 average. A grade point average of 2.0, however, will constitute the lowest passing average to graduate. Anything below 2.0 will be the basis for probation/suspension purposes. For more detailed information, see the MABTS Catalog. CLASS ATTENDANCE

4 4 Students are expected to attend class. Refer to the MABTS Catalog for policies concerning class attendance. Students have a maximum of nine absences during the course term. LATE WORK Unless students have a catalog excuse (illness, medical emergency, family emergency, etc.), their grades will be penalized severely for late work (papers, tests, etc.). Arrangements must be made as soon as possible to make up late work. The student is responsible to get late work to his or her instructor. CONTACT WITH THE PROFESSOR If you need to contact your professor, it is usually fastest to do so by sending him an at vmcclain@mabtsne.edu. Encountering the Old Testament EOT CLASS SCHEDULE Week Date Class Content Assignment 01 Jan Introduction and the Book of Job EOT 19 & Jan Psalms, Proverbs EOT 21 & 22 Submit proctor's name and address 03 Feb. 3-5 Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs EOT 23 & Feb First Exam, Isaiah 05 Feb Isaiah EOT 25 & Feb Jeremiah, Lamentations EOT 27 & Mar. 3-5 Ezekiel EOT 29 & 30 Mar Spring Break 08 Mar Daniel EOT 31 book review on Plowshares and Pruning Hooks 09 Mar Apr. 2 Second Exam, Hosea 10 Apr. 7-9 Joel, Amos EOT Apr Obadiah, term paper due 12 Apr Jonah, Micah EOT Apr Third Exam, Nahum, Habakkuk

5 5 14 May. 5-7 Zephaniah, Haggai EOT 34 book review on Messianic Hope EOT Epilogue 15 May Zechariah, Malachi May Finals Week The professor reserves the right to adjust this syllabus and /or schedule as he sees fit.

6 6 SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY For a bibliography of individual biblical books, see the textbook. Introductions and Surveys Anderson, Bernhard W. Understanding the Old Testament. Third Edition. Englewood Clifts, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, Anderson, Bernhard W. Understanding the Old Testament. Abridged Fourth Edition. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, Anderson, George W. A Critical Introduction to the Old Testament. London: G. Duckworth, Archer, Gleason L., Jr. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction. Revised Edition. Chicago: Moody Press, 1994.* 1 Arnold, B. and B. Beyer, Encountering the Old Testament. 2d ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2008.* Bandstra, Barry L. Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. New York: Wadsworth Publishing Company, Bentzen, Aage. Introduction to the Old Testament. 2 Vols. Copenhagen: G. E. C. Gads Forlag, 1948, Berry, Donald K. An Introduction to Wisdom and Poetry of the Old Testament. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1994.* Bewer, Julius August. The Literature of the Old Testament. Revised Edition. New York: Columbia University Press, Bullock, C. Hassell. An Introduction to the Old Testament Poetic Books. Chicago: Moody Press, 1986.* Cate, Robert L. An Introduction to the Historical Books of the Old Testament. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, Childs, Brevard S. Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, Cornill, C. H. Introduction to the Canonical Books of the Old Testament. Trans. G. H. Box. London: Williams and Norgate, Craigie, Peter C. The Old Testament: Its Background, Growth, and Content. Nashville: Abingdon Press, Dillard, Raymond B. and Tremper Longman III. An Introduction to the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994.* Drane, John. Introducing the Old Testament. San Francisco: Harper and Row, Publishers, Driver, S.R. An Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament. Revised edition; New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, Eissfeldt, Otto. The Old Testament: An Introduction. Trans. Peter R. Ackroyd. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, Flanders, H., Jr., R. Crapps, D. Smith. People of the Covenant: An Introduction to the Old Testament. 3d Ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Fohrer, Georg. Introduction to the Old Testament. Translated by D. Green. Nashville: Abingdon, Francisco, Clyde T. Introducing the Old Testament. Revised edition. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1977.* Geisler, Norman L. A Popular Survey of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1977.* Gottwald, Norman Karol. A Light to the Nations: An Introduction to the Old Testament. New York: Harper and Row, Publishers, Gray, George Buchanan. A Critical Introduction to the Old Testament. London: G. Duckworth, Harrelson, Walter. Interpreting the Old Testament. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., Harrison, R. K. Introduction to the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1969.* Hayes, John H. An Introduction to Old Testament Study. Nashville: Abingdon, Hill, Andrew E. and John H. Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1991.* Hummel, Horace D. The Word Becoming Flesh: An Introduction to the Origin, Purpose, and Meaning of 1 An asterisk indicates a conservative work. Not all conservative works are marked with an asterisk.

7 7 the Old Testament. St. Louis: Concordia, 1979.* Humphreys, W. Lee. Crisis and Story: An Introduction to the Old Testament. 2d ed. Mountain View, Ca.: Mayfield, Jensen, Irving L. Jensen's Survey of the Old Testament. Chicago: Moody Press, 1978.* Kaiser, O. Introduction to the Old Testament. Trans. J. Sturdy. Minneapolis: Augsburg, Keil, C. F. Introduction to the Old Testament. 2 Vols. Trans. G. Douglas. Reprint. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 1988.* LaSor, W. S., D. Hubbard, F. Bush. Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form, and Background of the Old Testament. 2d ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995 (?). Merrill, E., M. Rooker, and M. Grisanti. The World and the Word: An Introduction to the Old Testament, Nashville: B&H, Oesterley, W. O. E. and T.H. Robinson. An Introduction to the Books of the Old Testament. New York: MacMillan, Pfeiffer, Robert H. Introduction to the Old Testament. Reprint. London: A and C Black, The Books of the Old Testament. New York: Harper, Raven, J. H. Old Testament Introduction: General and Special. New York: F. H. Revell, 1906, 1910.* Rowley, H. H. The Growth of the Old Testament. New York: Harper and Row, Schmidt, W. H. Old Testament Introduction. 2d. Trans. M. O Connell with D. Reimer. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, Schultz, S. J. The Old Testament Speaks. 3d Edition. San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1980.* Sellin, Ernst. Introduction to the Old Testament. Trans. W. Montgomery. London: Hodder and Stoughton Limited, Smith, Gary V. The Prophets as Preachers: An Introduction to the Hebrew Prophets. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1994.* Soggin, J. A. Introduction to the Old Testament. Old Testament Library. Rev. Edition. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, Unger, Merrill F. Introductory Guide to the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1951.* Watts, J. Wash. Old Testament Teaching. Nashville: Broadman, 1967.* Weiser, Artur. Introduction to the Old Testament. Trans. Dorothea M. Barton. 4th Edition. London: Darton, Longman and Todd, Westermann, Claus. Handbook to the Old Testament. Trans. Robert H. Boyd. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, Willmington, Harold L. Willmington's Survey of the Old Testament. Wheaton, Illinois: Scripture Press Publications Inc., 1987.* Young, Edward J. An Introduction to the Old Testament. Revised Edition. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1964.* Old Testament Histories Bright, John. A History of Israel. Third edition. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, Cate, Robert L. These Sought A Country. Nashville: Broadman Press, Free, Joseph P. Archaeology and Bible History. Revised by Howard Vos. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992.* Harrison, R.K. Old Testament Times. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1970.* Kaiser, W. A History of Israel. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1998.* Merrill, Eugene H. Kingdom of Priests: A History of Old Testament Israel. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1987.* Miller, J. Maxwell and John H. Hayes. A History of Ancient Israel and Judah. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, Pfeiffer, Charles F. Old Testament History. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1973.* Price, Randall. The Stones Cry Out. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest, 1997.* Soggin, J. Alberto. A History of Ancient Israel. Trans. John Bowden. Philadelphia: Westminster, Wood, Leon. A Survey of Israel's History. Revised by David O'Brien. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1986.* Other Helpful Works

8 Archer, Gleason L. Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1982.* Archer, Gleason L. and G. Chirichigno. Old Testament Quotations in the New Testament: A Complete Survey. Chicago: Moody, 1983.* Armerding, Carl E. The Old Testament and Criticism. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983.* Bratcher, R., ed. Old Testament Quotations in the New Testament. 3d Revised Edition. London: United Bible Societies, Brotzman, Ellis R. Old Testament Textual Criticism. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994.* Corley, B., S. Lemke and G. Lovejoy, eds. Biblical Hermeneutics. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1996.* Dockery, D., K. Mathews, and R. Sloan, eds. Foundations for Biblical Interpretation. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1994.* Farris, T. V. Mighty to Save. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1993.* Gaebelein, Frank E., ed. The Expositor's Bible Commentary. Introductory Articles. Vol. 1. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1979.* Kaiser, Walter C. Toward Rediscovering The Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1987.*. Hard Sayings of the Old Testament. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1988.* Kaiser, Walter C. More Hard Sayings of the Old Testament. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1992.*. The Messiah in the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995.* Kitchen, K. A. Ancient Orient and Old Testament. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1966.*. The Bible in Its World: The Bible and Archaeology Today. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity, 1978.* Sandy, D. and R. Giese, eds. Cracking Old Testament Codes: A Guide to Interpreting the Literary Forms of the Old Testament. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1995.* Smith, Marsha A. Ellis. Holman Book of Biblical Charts, Maps, and Reconstructions. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1993.* Thompson, Alden. Who's Afraid of the Old Testament God? Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1989.* VanGemeren, W., ed. New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis. 5 Vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997.* Walton, J., V. Matthews, M. Chavalas, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, Walton, John H. Chronological and Background Charts of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994.* Wood, Leon J. The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1976.* 8