Mw:Old Testament Theology Online/Syllabi/OT Theology Online Course Winter 2014 July 22, 2013 DRAFT Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary Canada Canadian Mennonite University The Old Testament for Today Old Testament Theology BTS 5080 3 credit hours Graduate Syllabus Winter 2014 January 6 April 19, 2014 Pierre Gilbert, Ph.D. (Université de Montréal) February 17-21: Reading Week Tel.: 204-487-3300, ext. 350 E-mail: pgilbert@cmu.ca PREAMBLE Thank you for enrolling in this Old Testament Theology online course. Please do not hesitate to contact me for any questions you may have. A few instructions are in order. 1. Please go to http://moodle.cmu.ca/my/ to gain access to the course. Use the login information that was assigned to you. 2. Go to the page entitled The Old Testament for Today. *Download the syllabus and familiarize yourself with the broad parameters of the course. *Familiarize yourself with the material listed under Course Description. 3. Go to Topic 1: Introduction *Familiarize yourself with the two narrated PowerPoint presentations under Learning Resources. *Complete the assignments. 4. Go to Topic 2: Creation. Follow the instructions for completing this section. 5. Follow the same pattern for the rest of the sessions. I. COURSE DESCRIPTION In this course, we will examine the Old Testament from a theological perspective. The primary objective of the course is to articulate the notion of a theological centre in the Old Testament and to verify how it is expressed in its various parts. This centre will be used as a principle of integration for the diversity of phenomena attested in the Hebrew Bible, as well as to facilitate the discussion of its theological and pastoral relevance. In addition, we will examine some of the Old Testament s most critical issues: creation, covenant, law, worship, war, leadership, stewardship, ethics, theodicy, judgment & salvation, exclusivism, mission & eschatology. Students will be challenged to develop hermeneutical skills in interpreting the various sections of the Old Testament (Law, Prophets and Writings) in order to enable the contemporary church to integrate the Old Testament in its life and ministry.
2 II. LEARNING OUTCOMES A. Understand the necessity of developing a theology of the Old Testament. B. Become familiar with 1) the major stages that led to the development of the theology of the Old Testament as a discipline and 2) the present state of research. C. Become familiar with Elmer Martens thesis in regards to the theological center of the Old Testament. D. Explore how the notion of a theological center can facilitate the interpretation of the various aspects of the Old Testament and will reflect on preliminary elements of resolution for some of the more problematic Old Testament issues. E. Analyze, synthesize, and engage contemporary church and world issues from a biblical theological perspective F. Exegete biblical texts within a design that includes the descriptive, synthetic, hermeneutical, and pragmatic analytical tasks G. Describe the church as a body of people called to represent God s reign as its community, servant, and messenger in the world III. TEXTS FOR THE COURSE Birch, Bruce, Walter Brueggemann, Terrence E. Fretheim, and David L. Petersen. A Theological Introduction to the OT. 2 nd Edition. Abingdon, 1999. 978-0-687-06676-6. Martens, Elmer A. God s Design. A Focus on Old Testament Theology. Third Ed. N. Richland Hills, Texas: Bibal Press, 1998 [1981, 1994] (418 pp.). 0-941037-51-7 Suggested Texts: Anderson, Bernhard. From Creation to New Creation. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 1994.. Contours of Old Testament Theology. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 1999. Brueggemann, Walter. Theology of the Old Testament. Minneapolis,MN: Fortress, 1997. Martens, Elmer A. Old Testament Theology. IBR Bibliographies. Vol. 13. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1997. Waltke, Bruce K. An Old Testament Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2007. IV. COURSE ASSIGNMENTS All assignments are to be uploaded onto Moodle. A. Readings and Postings Students are invited to consult each topic section on Moodle for more details regarding assigned readings and postings.
3 B. Book Reviews 1. God s Design Students are expected to read Elmer Martens God s Design (418 pp.) and to produce an extensive report. The report should be 5-7 pages (double space, Times New Roman-12; about 1500 words) and contain the following elements. 1. Summary of thesis 2. Critique (strengths, weaknesses) 3. Contemporary relevance (church, preaching, ethics, society, etc.) Please devote the greater part of the paper to the third section. Here are some suggestions in regards to the kind of things that can be included in this section: *Highlight how the book contributes to a greater understanding of Old Testament theology; *Focus specifically on one or two elements that you found particularly helpful in terms of facilitating the process of theologizing and contextualizing the Old Testament. Due Date: February 14 2. A Theological Introduction to the OT Students are required to submit a 2-3 (500-750) page report in which they reflect on some of the questions this book raises and/or how it can contribute to both a better understanding of the Old Testament and how it can be used in the context of the church and our society. Due Date: March 14, 2014 C. Research Paper Students are required to write a research paper on a specific problem or issue related to the field of Old Testament theology. Topic must be approved by the instructor. Students are required to submit a research proposal including a description of the topic and a preliminary bibliography. Proposal Due Date: January 24, 2014 Parameters: *Length: 10-12 pages (2500-3000 words; Times New Roman-12). *Must show evidence of research. The paper should include the following elements: *Introduction -Thesis statement -Method (how will the paper unfold) -Sources *Conclusion *Table of contents *Titles and subtitles *Evidence of research -Review of the literature
4 -Scholarly sources -Journal-length scholarly articles -Dependable internet sources *In addition to a solid academic dimension, the paper should reflect a strong theological/pastoral/reflection component. *The paper should be thoroughly proofread. *The student is encouraged to consult with the instructor in the choice of the topic. -Definition of problem/issue -Review of literature/research -Thesis -Theological relevance/implications Topic suggestions: *The problem of war in the Old Testament *The Relevance of the Law (ceremonial laws, moral laws, 10 commandments) *The task of Old Testament theology? *The theology of a book (eg. Joshua, Ecclesiastes, a prophet, etc.) *The theology of Genesis 1-3/Creation theology *Sin in the Old Testament *The curse and the blessing *The sacrificial system *The purity laws *The Spirit of God in the Old Testament *The theological relevance of the Exodus narrative Etc. Due Date: April 14, 2014 V. COURSE OUTLINE Jan 6-10 Topic 1: Introduction Forum Posting/Reply 1 Text: Exodus 5:22-6:8 Jan 13-17 Topic 2: Creation Forum Posting/Reply 2 Text: Gen 1-11 Jan 20-24 Topic 3: Covenant Forum Posting/Reply 3 Texts: Gen 2, 12, 15, 17, 26; Exod 6, 19, 24; Deut 27-28; 2 Sam 7; Ps 89; Jer 31:31-34 Jan 27-31 Topic 4: Law Forum Posting/Reply 4 Texts: Ex 20; Lev. 19 Feb 3-7 Topic 5: Worship Forum Posting/Reply 5 Texts: Gen 4:1-4; 22; 32; Exod 15:1-18; 25 27; 32; 40; Lev. 1 7; 16; Deut. 6; 32; 1 Sam 15:1-31; I Kings 8; 1 Chron 29; Psalms 8, 103; 30; 13, 51; Ezra 7:1-10; Neh 9:1-38; Amos 5; Isa 6:1-8; Isa 40:1-31; 58:1-12; Jer 7:1-15; 10:1-16; Zech 3:1-10; Malachi
5 Feb 10-14 Topic 6: War Forum Posting/Reply 6 Texts: Deuteronomy; Joshua Feb 17-21 NO CLASS READING WEEK Feb 24-28 Topic 7: Leadership Forum Posting/Reply 7 Texts: Deut 17:14-20; 1 Sam 1-16; 1 Kgs 1-11 March 3-7 Topic 8: Physical World & Stewardship Forum Posting/Reply 8 Texts: Gen 1-3 and Psalm 8 March 10-14 Topic 9: Ethics, Sexuality, & Relationships Forum Posting/Reply 9 Texts: Proverbs; Song of Solomon March 17-21 Topic 10: Theodicy Forum Posting/Reply 10 Texts: Job 1-2, 28-31, 38-42; Pss 3-7, 22, 73, 88, 109; Ecclesiastes March 24-28 Topic 11: Judgment & Salvation Forum Posting/Reply 11 Texts: Isaiah 1, 5, 6:6-8, 13-23; Jeremiah 2-3; 5:7-19; 9:4-9; 11:9-13; 23:11-15 44:7-14; Ezek 6; 7; 8; 16; 18:1-24; ; 22; : Amos 4:1-3; :Micah 3:1-4; Hosea 2:5-7; Is 12; 40; 41:14-20; 43:1-7; 61:1-11; Jer 30-31; Ezek 34:20-31; 36:22-38; Amos 9:11-15; Joel 2:23-32 Mar 31-Apr 4 Topic 12: Exclusivism Texts: Ruth; Jonah; Ezra-Nehemiah Exegetical Research/Discovery Bible Study April 7-11 Topic 13: Mission and Eschatology Forum Posting/Reply 12 Texts: Obadiah, Nahum, Habakkuk 3; Isa 2:2-4; 13-23; Jer 46-51; Ezek 25-32; Isaiah 65-66; Ezek 38-39; Zechariah 9-14; Daniel 2, 7, 11-12 April 14-18 Topic 14: Conclusion Forum Posting/Reply 13 VI. COURSE GRADING A. Forum postings and replies 30 B. Research Paper 40 C. Martens Book Report 15 D. Reading Report on A Theol.Intro. the OT 10 E. General Reading Report 5 Total: 100 VII. BIBLIOGRAPHY For a basic list of books on Old Testament theology, see God s Design, pp. 397ff.
Students are strongly recommended to consult the excellent bibliography published by Elmer Martens in 1997: Old Testament Theology. IBR Bibliographies. Vol. 13. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker, 1997. Martens bibliography covers, among others, the following topics: -history/state of the discipline -issues (task of OT theology, method, wisdom, center, unity, etc.) -perspectives (Jewish, sociological, Christian preaching) -Old Testament theologies -corpora (Pentateuch, former prophets, latter prophets, wisdom, etc.) -individual books -themes (anger, anthropology, apocalyptic, blessing, covenant, land, law, sacrifice, worship, etc.) 6