1 OT/NT 901 SEMINAR IN BIBLICAL THEOLOGY Fall, 2017 J. J. Niehaus - jniehaus@gordonconwell.edu I Course Description A seminar focusing on the theological message of the Bible with a survey of critical issues in contemporary scholarship and instruction on research methods and writing. Required of all Th.M. students with a concentration in the Biblical Studies Division (NT, OT, Biblical Theology). This course seeks to prepare the Th.M. student for advanced work in biblical exegesis and theology. II Class schedule Sep 15 COVENANT MATTERS: GOD AS ARCHETYPE OF COVENANT BIBLICAL COVENANTS COMMON GRACE, SPECIAL GRACE, ESCHATOLOGICAL TRAJECTORY, CONDITIONALITY AND UNCONDITIONALITY, COVENANT CUTTING Sep 22 GOD AS SEINSGRUND: GOD AS CREATOR AND SUSTAINER, AUTHORITY AND WORK, SABBATH REST, WORK NOT A CURSE, WORK, THE IMAGO DEI, AND THE BREATH OF LIFE/SPIRIT Student Presentation: Williamson Ch 2 Student presentation: Niehaus, BT Ch 1 Sep 29 GOD TRUMPS ALL POWERS: GOD AS KING, GOD S KINGDOM FORMATION AND ADVANCE, WARFARE, CONQUEST AND PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERFERENCE, ORDINATION AND JUDGMENT OF NATIONS IN A FALLEN WORLD Student Presentation: Kline Ch 1-5 Student Presentation: Niehaus, BT, Ch 2 4 Oct 6 TEMPLE MATTERS: TEMPLE FROM EDEN TO ESCHATON Student Presentation: Williamson Ch 3 Student presentation: Kline, Ch 9 Oct 13 READING WEEK Hafemann, The Covenant Relationship
2 Oct 20 GOD, FAITH, SIN: FAITH AND SIN FAITH FROM THE BEGINNING, NOT JUST GEN. 15:6, HUMAN SEXUALITY Student Presentation: Williamson Ch 5 Student Presentation: Hafemann, Covenant Relationship Oct 27 KNOWLEDGE OF GOD: THE NAMES AND CHARACTER OF GOD Student Presentation: Williamson Ch 4 Student Presentation: Niehaus: BT, Ch 5 6 Nov 3 GOD S KNOWLEDGE: FOREKNOWLEDGE, ELECTION AND CREATION Student Presentation: Thielman Ch 2 Student Presentation: Ladd Ch. 1-3 Nov 10 Nov 17 READING WEEK Dean, Covenant, Conditionality, etc. THE ENEMY: SATAN AND ANTICHRIST; DEMONS AND IDOLATRY Student Presentation: Student Presentation: Ladd, Ch Nov 24 Dec 1 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY GOD AS JUDGE OF THE COSMOS: COVENANT LAWSUIT, JUDGEMENT OF THE NATIONS AND THE WORLD Student Presentation: Williamson Ch 6 Student Prresentation: Hahn, Ch 7 Dec 8 GOD S JUDGMENTS AND RENEWAL: UNCREATION / DECREATION / RECREATION Dec 15 Student Presentation: Hahn, Ch 8 9 Student Presentation: Ladd Ch 4-5 PROFESSOR AWAY
3 III Course requirements 1. Student presentation. Each student will give a half hour presentation on the topics indicated in the schedule above. The presentation may involve the use of visual media. Handouts are recommended. The presentation counts 20% of the course grade. 2. Reading Weeks. Please note that there are assigned readings for each reading week. The student must submit in writing a statement that he/she has completed the reading assigned for each reading week. Submission due at the first class following each reading week, respectively: one hard copy page, no electronic submissions. 3. Final paper. The final paper must offer a comprehensive understanding of the divine- human biblical covenants (i.e., the covenants discussed during the course sessions). It must be 20 pages long. Footnotes or endnotes are acceptable. The final paper counts 70% of the course grade. Due 4 p.m. 19 Dec. (Graduating seniors, 8 Dec., 4 p.m.). 4. Reading Report. Each student must read the assigned texts. Please enter the amount you have read on the reading report at the end of this syllabus, and submit it with your final paper. Reading reports submitted late will receive fractional credit (including the possibility of no credit) at the professor s discretion. The reading report counts 10% of the course grade IV Required Readings Dean, David Andrew, Covenant, Conditionality, and Consequence: New Terminology and a case Study in the Abrahamic Covenant, JETS 57/2 (June, 2014), 281 308. CAMS Kline, Meredith, God, Heaven and Har Magedon (Eugene: Wipf and Stock, 2006) ISBN- 10: 1597524786 Hafemann, Scott, & House, Paul, eds., Central Themes in Biblical Theology: Mapping Unity in Diversity (Grand Rapids: Baker; Leicester: InterVarsity, 2007) ISBN- 10: 080103423X Hahn, Scott, Kinship by Covenant (New Haven: Yale, 2009) ISBN- 10: 0300140975 Ladd, George E., A Theology of the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993) ISBN- 10: 0802806805 Niehaus, Jeffrey J., Ancient Near Eastern Themes in Biblical Theology (Kregel, 2008) ISBN- 10: 0825433606 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -, Biblical Theology: Volume 1 (Wooster: Weaver, 2014) ISBN- 10: 0989167151 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -, Biblical Theology: Volume 2 (Wooster: Weaver, 2017) ISBN- 10: 1941337775 Williamson, Paul R. Sealed with an Oath: Covenant in God'ʹs Unfolding Purpose. New Studies in Biblical Theology (Downers Grove: Apollos/InterVarsity, 2007) ISBN- 10: 0830826246
4 VI Recommended Resources Alexander, Patrick H., John F. Kutsko, James D. Ernest, Shirley A. Decker- Lucke, and the Society of Biblical Literature. The SBL Handbook of Style (Peabody.: Hendrickson; 1999). Hafemann, Scott, and Paul House, eds. Central Themes in Biblical Theology: Mapping Unity in Diversity (Grand Rapids: Baker; Leicester: InterVarsity, 2007). Scobie, Charles H. H. The Ways of Our God: An Approach to Biblical Theology (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003). Hoekema, Anthony A., The Bible and the Future (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -, Created in God s Image (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986). Kline, Meredith G., Images of the Spirit (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1980). Stuhlmacher, Peter. How To Do Biblical Theology. Princeton Theological Monograph Series, 38 (Allison Park: Pickwick, 1995).
5 READING REPORT NT/OT 901 Student Name Assigned Read Dean, Covenant, Conditionality, etc. 281 308... Hafemann, The Covenant Relationship 20 65... Hahn, Kinship by Covenant 1 338... Kline, God, Heaven and Har Magedon 3 293... Ladd, A Theology of the New Testament 13 632... Niehaus, Ancient Near Eastern Themes 8 181... - - - - - - - - - - -, Biblical Theology, Volume 1 1 264... - - - - - - - - - - -, Biblical Theology, Volume 2 1 458... Thielman, The Law and the New Testament 1 184... Williamson, Sealed with an Oath 1 210... GRAND TOTAL 2320...