Course Requirements. OT500 Old Testament Panorama Leaders of Leaders. Provisional Course Outline May Amsterdam

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1 OT500 Old Testament Panorama Leaders of Leaders Provisional Course Outline May Amsterdam James R. Critchlow JCritchlow@Gordon- Conwell.edu Course Requirements I. Course Description: OT 500 Old Testament Panorama; Introduces the history, literature and thought of the Old Testament as reflected in its major divisions and individual books. Designed and recommended for those who have not had a systematic survey of the Old Testament, enabling them to proceed with seminary-level studies. II. Course Objectives: The primary objective of this course is to help students gain an understanding of the content of the entire Old Testament, giving attention to the flow of the biblical story and its major themes (Gordon-Conwell Mission Statement: Priority #1). While the basic content of each individual book will be given, emphasis will also be placed on how each book fits into the larger redemptive-historical narrative of the Old Testament. Resources beneficial for the study and application of the Old Testament for preaching and Bible study will be noted throughout the course. The Mid-Term will count 40% of your grade and the final will comprise 60%. You are required to read through the Old Testament before completing the final. The Mid-Term exam will consist of multiple choice questions (including questions on dates, key events and people in the Old Testament), and brief summaries of Old Testament books. The final exam will cover the entire Old Testament. You must know and will demonstrate your knowledge of the basic content and historical context of each Old Testament book (you will only be tested on a few of them). Additionally you will give summaries of several Old Testament books, highlighting dates, historical context, key people and themes of the book. The date for the final exam will be posted on the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Website. Selected readings: The required readings have been taken primarily from the biblical text. All Bible readings that are noted in the syllabus are required. You will be asked on the final exam to indicate what percentage of the readings you have completed. Failure to complete all readings may result in a grade penalty. III. Required resources: A. Kaminski, Carol. Casket Timeline, (available from Instructor) B. Fee, Gordon D. and Douglas Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, 3 rd ed., (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003). You must read this book entirely. C. Carson, D. A., et. al., New Bible Commentary: 21 st Century Edition, (Downer s Grove: InterVarsity, 1994). You must read the introduction to each OT book. IV. Recommended Books:

2 Kaminski, Carol. Casket Empty, God s Plan of Redemption through History: Old Testament Reader. (Salem, MA: Casket Empty Ministries, 2012). Available as e-book on Aharoni, Y. & M. Avi-Yonah, The Macmillan Bible Atlas (NY: Macmillan, 1977). Arnold, B. and B. Beyer, Encountering the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1999). Dumbrell, W.J., Covenant and Creation: A Theology of Old Testament Covenants (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1984). Dumbrell, W. J., The Faith of Israel: A Theological Survey of the Old Testament (2nd ed., Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2002). Eichrodt. W., Theology of the Old Testament (2 vols., Old Testament Library; Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1961). Fee, G.D., & Stuart, D., How to Read the Bible Book by Book (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002). Hoerth, A. J., Archaeology and the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998). Kaiser, W. C. Jr., A History of Israel From the Bronze Age Through the Jewish Wars (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1998). Kitchen, K.A., On the Reliability of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003). May, H. G., ed., The Oxford Bible Atlas (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1984). Pritchard, J. B., ed., Ancient Near Eastern Texts ed. J.B. Pritchard (3rd ed. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1969). Pritchard, J. B., ed., The Ancient Near East in Pictures ed. J. B. Pritchard (2nd ed. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1969). Monday, 7 May :30 Overview of the OT Casket, Expectations & requirements 11-12:30 Creation & Abraham Sinai 13:30-15:00 Kings, Southern & Northern; Prophets, Priests and Kings 15:30-17:00 Exile & Temple Poetic & Wisdom literature Casket timeline, Chart NBC, How to Read the Bible Genesis; Exodus; Leviticus Ruth, Samuel Chronicles, Isaiah - Malachi Lamentations; Hag/Zech Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Song, Ecclesiastes 18:30-20:00 (Optional) Study Abraham & The Seed Genesis & 22 2

3 Tuesday, 8 May :30 Review Casket; Covenants: Adam, Noah, Abraham, David 11-12:30 Creation Gen. 1-11, Abraham Genealogies 13:30-15:00 Sinai and Sacrificial System; laws; wanderings & Conquest 15:30-17:00 Exile & Temple Poetic & Wisdom literature Gen. 2-3, 6-9, 12-18; 2 Sam 7 Genesis; NBC, Leviticus Deuteronomy, Joshua & Judges; Ruth Ezra/Neh; Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Song, Ecclesiastes, 18:30-20:00 (Optional) Study Moses and the Rock Exodus 17 & Numbers 20 Wednesday, 9 May :30 Review Casket; Kings: Saul, David and Solomon 11-12:30 Kings of Divided Monarchy; Southern Kingdom 13:30-15:00 Northern Kings and Assyrian Exile 15:30-17:00 Southern Kings and Prophets; Babylonian Exile Casket timeline, 1-2 Sam; 1 Kings Kings 12-2 Kings 21 1 Kings 12-2 Kings 21 Hosea, Amos, Jonah Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Chronicles 18:30-20:00 (Optional) Study David in Ziklag 1 Samuel 27, 29, 30 Thursday, 10 May :30 Review Casket; Exile Israel-Assyria; Judah-Babylon 11-12:30 Isaiah, Hosea & Amos Jeremiah & Ezekiel 13:30-15:00 Group Present: Creation, Abraham and Sinai Casket timeline, NBC, Genesis; NBC, Leviticus Deuteronomy, Joshua & Judges; Ruth 15:30-17:00 Midterm Exam NBC, 3

4 18:30-20:00 (Optional) Study Jeremiah in the Cistern Jeremiah 38 & 39 Friday, 11 May :30 Review Casket; Group Present: Exile & Temple 11-12:30 Daniel & Chronicles; Haggai & Zechariah; Malachi & Ezra/Nehemiah Casket timeline, NBC, NBC, 13:30-15:00 Review Casket 15:30-17:00 Review Course 18:30-20:00 (Optional) Study The Signet s Exile Jeremiah, Haggai & Chronicles MID-TERM EXAM STUDY GUIDE: to get you started! You will need to know the following dates, events and Bible references: Abraham: BC Abrahamic promises (Gen. 12:1-3), Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 15) Covenant of circumcision: Gen. 17 Sinai: BC Exodus from Egypt c BC Ten Commandments: Exod. 20; Deut. 5 Mosaic Covenant: Exod. 24 Kings: BC United monarchy: BC Division of the kingdom: 930 BC Northern kingdom: BC End of the North by Assyrians, 722 BC Southern kingdom BC 1st deportation by Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar: 605 BC Nebuchadnezzar defeats Egypt: 605 BC Daniel goes to Babylon: 605 BC 2nd deportation by Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar: 597 BC Ezekiel goes to Babylon: 597 BC Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and temple: 586 BC End of southern kingdom and exile to Babylon: 586 BC 4

5 Exile: BC Temple: BC Cyrus defeats Babylon: 539 BC Decree of Cyrus allowing Jews to return to Jerusalem: 538 BC 1st return: 538 BC under Zerubbabel and Joshua Haggai and Zechariah: 520 BC Temple completed 516 BC 2nd return from exile under Ezra: 458 BC Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem to rebuild walls: 445 BC OT Book Summary: You will need to be able to identify the key themes of each Old Testament book and its historical context. Prophets: You will also need to know whether a prophet is northern, southern or post- exilic (all 16 prophets); and be able to provide the century for the following prophets only: Hosea (8th), Amos (8th), Isaiah (8th), Micah (8th), Jeremiah (7th), Ezekiel (6th), and Daniel (6th). Additional instructions and study preparation will be provided during the course on the Cams platform for OT500 Old Testament Panorama. 5