Logos Evangelical Seminary OTS559 Prophetic Literature Tuesdays 8/21-11/13, 2018 Instructor: Chloe Sun, PhD Chloesun@les.edu http://www.chloesunphd.com OTS559 Prophetic Literature (3 units, 35 instructional hours; 84 hours for student assignments) COURSE DESCRIPTION An introduction to the Prophetic Books in the Old Testament which include from Isaiah to Malachi, with special emphasis on historical context, literary composition, and theological messages, in addition to introducing current research and issues on these books. COURSE LEARNING OUTCOME Upon successful completion of the course requirements, students should be able: 1. To describe the major events (historical background) of the prophetic books. 2. To grasp the contents, literary features, and theological message of each book; 3. To interpret selected texts from the seventeen books by using critical method(s); 4. To integrate and apply the messages of the seventeen books in ways that foster Christian practice. COURSE FORMAT This course meets once a week for a total of 35 instructional hours. Students will need 84 hours of course work per semester. TEXTBOOKS Boda, Mark J. and J. Gordon McConville, Dictionary of the Old Testament Prophets. InterVarsity, 2012. Longman III, Tremper and R. B. Dillard, An Introduction to the Old Testament. Second Edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006. VanGemeren, Willem. Interpreting the Prophetic Word: An Introduction to the Prophetic Literature of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996. RECOMMENDED READING Bullock, C. Hassell. An Introduction to the Old Testament Prophetic Books. New Edition. Chicago: Moody, 2007. 1
Gowan, Donald E. Theology of the Prophetic Books: The Death and Resurrection of Israel. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998. Heschel, Abraham J. The Prophets. Harper Perennial, 1962. McConville, J. Gordon. Exploring the Old Testament: A Guide to the Prophets. Downers Grove: IVP, 2008. ASSIGNMENT 1. Required reading 900 pages (34 hours) 30% 2. An interpretation paper (10 pages, 20 hours) 30% 3. Exam (20 hours) 20% 4. Online discussion (10 hours) 20% ASSIGNMENT AND ACCESSMENT Required Reading: Students are to read 900 pages of books or articles on Prophets. These readings do not include Scriptural reading. At the end of the course, students will submit a reading log, indicating date, title, and number of pages read. This assignment meets learning outcomes #1, #2, and #3. Interpretation Paper: Each student will select a passage from the prophetic books and write an interpretation paper. The paper will have 4500-5000 words, consult 8-10 resources from the 900 pages reading list (limit online resources to 2), and apply one critical method to the paper. 1 A descriptive paper or a theme paper is not recommended. Students will choose a selected text and provide an application in the contemporary context. This assignment meets learning outcomes #3 and #4. Paper rubrics will be provided in class. Exam: There will be an exam on the Major Prophets and Lamentations. It will be a short question and answer type of exam. It will take approximately one hour. The contents include lectures and Scripture reading. This assignment meets learning outcome #1 and #2. Online Discussion: To foster effective learning, each week, I will post one or two questions for students to respond. There is no need to consult any reference or books for this assignment. The questions involve reflective and application type of questions. This assignment meets learning outcome #2 and #4. PREREQUISITE: None 1 Details of the critical methods will be presented in class. 2
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM Meets the requirement of MACS, MAICS, MAFM, and MDiv programs. Meets program goal #2 of MDiv program (Competence in biblical knowledge, interpretation, and theological integration) and program goal #1 of MACS program (Broad knowledge and understanding of both the content of Scripture, and of Christian theology) LATE POLICY I strongly dislike late assignments. For any assignment turns in late, one day late will receive one grade reduction. CHEATING & PLAGIARISM Any form of cheating during the exam will receive 0 point for the exam. Any form of copying or citing resources without acknowledging the source is considered plagiarism. Any plagiarized assignment will receive 0 point for that assignment and may possibly fail the course. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY Allen, Leslie C. A Liturgy of Grief: A Pastoral Commentary on Lamentations. Grand Rapids, Mich. Baker, 2011. Blenkinsopp, Joseph. A History of Prophecy in Israel (2 nd ed). Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 1996. Brueggemann, Walter. The Theology of the Book of Jeremiah. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Clements, Ronald E. Old Testament Prophesy: From Oracle to Canon. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 1996. Goldingay, John. The Theology of the Book of Isaiah. Downers Grove, Ill. IVP Academic, 2014. Hauser, Alan J. ed. Recent Research on the Major Prophets. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2008. Kratz, Reinhard G. The Prophets of Israel. Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns, 2015. Mandolfo, Carleen R. Daughter Zion Talks Back to the Prophets. Atlanta: SBL, 2007. Matthews, Victor H. Social World of the Hebrew Prophets. Peabody, Mass: Hendrickson, 2001. McEntire, Mark. A Chorus of Prophetic Voices: Introducing the Prophetic Literature of Ancient Israel. Louisville, Kent. Westminster John Knox Press, 2015. 3
Nogalski, James D. Interpreting Prophetic Literature: Historical and Exegetical Tools for Reading the Prophets. Louisville, Kent. Westminster John Knox Press, 2015. Seitz, Christopher R. Prophesy and Hermeneutics: Toward a New Introduction to the Prophets. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academics, 2007. Stulman, Louis and Hyun Chul Paul Kim. You are My People: An Introduction to Prophetic Literature. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2010. Sweeney, Marvin A. Reading Prophetic Books: Form, Intertextuality, and Reception in Prophetic and Post-Biblical Literature. Tubingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2014.. Foundations for a Jewish Theology of the Hebrew Bible: Prophets in Dialogue. Pages 161-186 in Jewish Bible Theology: Perspectives and Case Studies (Edited by Isaac Kalimi; Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns, 2012). Walton, John H. Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament: Introducing the Conceptual World of the Hebrew Bible. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2006. Weems, Renita J. Battered Love: Marriage, Sex, and Violence in the Hebrew Prophets. OBT, Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1995. 華爾頓 舊約背景與年代表 台北, 華神,1998 麥康維爾 先知書 紀榮神譯 香港 : 天道,2008 黃嘉樑等著, 舊約先知書要領 香港 : 基道, 2007 高銘謙, 耶利米哀歌 : 從哀傷到盼望 香港 : 明道社,2018 曾思瀚, 以西結書 : 海角天涯創新機 香港 : 明道社,2009 COURSE CALENDAR Date Course Contents Due Date 8/21 Introduction to the Course Introduction to Prophetic Literature Methods for Studying Prophetic Literature 8/28 Isaiah 1-39 9/4 Isaiah 40-66 9/11 Jeremiah 4
9/18 Jeremiah 9/25 Lamentations 10/2 Ezekiel 10/9 Ezekiel 10/16 Daniel 10/23 Exam on Major Prophets Minor Prophets Exam Due (20%) 10/30 Minor Prophets 11/6 Minor Prophets Discussion Due (20%) 11/13 Final Paper Presentations 11/30 Final Paper Due (30%) 12/14 Reading Log Due (30%) 5