LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OBST 520 OLD TESTAMENT ORIENTATION 2 GARY E. YATES, PH.D. PHONE NUMBER (434) 592-4149 E-MAIL GYATES@LIBERTY.EDU OFFICE LOCATION LBTS CARTER BUILDING # 229 Please note that this syllabus may change if the instructor deems it necessary. I. COURSE DESCRIPTION An examination of the current status of research in studies relative to the poetic and prophetic books. Special attention will be given to biblical introduction, hermeneutics, and the acquiring of a strategic grasp of the historical setting, literary genres, and structure of each book, as well as areas of particular critical concern. II. RATIONALE This course provides an introduction to the literature and message of the Old Testament that is foundational to graduate-level study of the Old Testament in the seminary program. III. PREREQUISITES There are no prerequisites for this course. IV. MATERIALS LIST Merrill, Eugene, Mark F. Rooker, and Michael A. Grisanti, The World and the Word: An Introduction to the Old Testament. Nashville: B&H Academic, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-8054-4031-7. V. MEASURABLE LEARNING OUTCOMES The student will be able to: A. Identify the major themes and general contents of the Prophetic and Poetical Books. B. Analyze the literary features of Hebrew poetry and their significance for interpreting Old Testament texts.
OBST 520 C. Identify major critical issues related to the authorship and historicity of the Prophetic and Poetical Books and defend an evangelical view of Scripture in the context of these issues. D. Apply the teachings of the Old Testament to issues related to key theological and ethical issues related to the practice of the Christian life. VI. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS A. Reading: The student is required to complete the assigned readings from the Bible and the course textbook(s) for each lesson. One question on each of the exams will deal with assigned readings/and or the percentage of reading completed for that portion of the course. Supports Learning Objectives A, B, C, and D. B. Exams: There will be three exams covering the course materials. The exams are not cumulative. Supports Learning Objectives A, B, C, and D. C. Research Paper: The student is to complete a 12-14 page (paper itself should be this length, not including title page, bibliography, etc.) graduate-level research paper on one of the topics listed below. You should use a minimum of 8-10 good reference sources (not study Bibles and other popular works and commentaries). Note also the special instructions below concerning this assignment. Supports Learning Objectives A, B, C, and D. Paper topics: The student will select one of the following topics to write on: The Dating of Daniel: Traditional date vs. the 2 nd century B.C. date? The Significance of Antiochus Epiphanes in the Book of Daniel The Meaning of the Seventy Weeks of Daniel The Identity of the Son of Man in Daniel 7 Are the Books of the Apocrypha Canonical Scripture? The Identity of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 37-38 The Temple in Ezekiel 40-48: Literal or Figurative? Do the OT Prophets Promise a Future for National Israel? Leviathan in the Prophets, Psalms, and Job God s Conflict with the Sea in the OT: The Background and Significance of the Motif Page 2 of 12
The Role of the Elihu Speeches (Job 32-37) in the Book of Job OBST 520 The Theology of Job s Friends Versus the Theology of Job Life After Death in the Prophets, Psalms, and Wisdom Literature Psalm 22: A Messianic Psalm? The Davidic King in the Psalms: role of the king and Israel's theology of kingship The Portrayal of Wisdom as a Woman in the Book of Proverbs Reward and Retribution in the Book of Proverbs: How does God reward the righteous and punish the wicked? The Identity and Mission of the Servant of the Lord in Isaiah 40-55 Should Christians Pray the Imprecatory Psalms? The Day of the Lord in the Old Testament Prophets The Eschatological Battle between God and the Nations in the OT Prophets Messianic Prophecies in Zechariah 9-14 What Makes the New Covenant New the Old Covenant in the OT Prophets Jeremiah's Confessions in Jeremiah 11-20: Right or Wrong Responses to God The paper should conform to Turabian standards, use footnotes, and also conform to the following standards: 1 margins, top, bottom, and sides. Page numbers must be included. 12-point standard font Indent paragraphs 5 spaces or 0.6 inch No extra-line feed between paragraphs Section headings in italics Staple all papers no paperclips, folders, or fanfold VII. COURSE GRADING AND POLICIES A. Weight or Points Exam 1 Exam 2 Exam 3 Research Paper Total: 250 points 250 points 250 points 250 points 1000 points Page 3 of 12
B. Scale (in points): OBST 520 C. Assignment Policies 940-1000 A 920-939 A- 900-919 B+ 860-899 B 840-859 B- 820-819 C+ 780-809 C 760-779 C- 740-759 D+ 700-739 D 680-699 D- 0-679 F The following situations are the only legitimate excuses to grant an extension for any assignment. 1. Medical emergency 2. Military Deployment 3. Death in the family It is the student s responsibility to provide documentation to substantiate the medical emergency and military deployment. Concerning other extenuating issues, the professor can make exceptions if he/she determines that the circumstances warrant an extension or acceptance of a late assignment. However, if the criteria for a legitimate excuse are not met as stated above, the assignments will be deducted 5% of total points each day it is tardy. Instructor Availability and Feedback: The instructor will answer most emails within 24 48 hours. In addition, the instructor will reply to some but not all Discussion Board posts. D. Attendance Policies The student is obliged to follow the attendance policies identified in the graduate catalog. E. Academic Misconduct Policies Academic misconduct is strictly prohibited. See the graduate catalog for specific definitions, penalties, and processes for reporting. F. Drop/Add Policies The student is obliged to follow the drop/add policies identified in the graduate catalog. G. Dress Code Page 4 of 12
OBST 520 The student is expected to maintain a neat, professional appearance while in class. The code is described in the graduate catalog and may be amended with guidelines by the school of study. H. Classroom Policies The use of cell phones will not be permitted. The use of computers is provisional. The student will only be allowed to use a computer if he/she is taking notes during class. Surfing of the web, social networking, or any other activity on a computer that distracts the student from the lecture (in the opinion of the professor) will result in the forfeiture of the privilege of the use of the computer in class. Should one student s behavior result in the forfeiture of the use of a computer for that student, the entire class may lose the privilege of the use of computers. I. Disability Assistance Students with a documented disability may contact the Office of Disability Academic Support (ODAS) in Green Hall 2668 to make arrangements for academic accommodations. For all disability testing accommodation requests (i.e. quieter environment, extended time, oral testing, etc.) the Testing Center (Green Hall 2700) is the officially designated place for all tests administered outside of the regular classroom. VIII. CALENDAR Spring 2014: January 16: Course Introduction January 18: Introduction to the Prophets January 23: Isaiah (Part 1) January 25: Isaiah (Part 2) January 30: Isaiah (Part 3) February 1: Jeremiah (Part 1) February 6: Jeremiah (Part 2) February 8: Ezekiel (Part 1) February 13: Flex-Review Day February 15: EXAM # 1 February 20: Daniel (Part 1) February 22: Daniel (Part 2) Page 5 of 12
February 27: Amos OBST 520 March 1: Hosea and Micah March 6: Jonah, Nahum, and Obadiah March 8: Zephaniah and Habakkuk March 11-15: Spring Break (No classes) March 20: Haggai and Zechariah March 22: Joel and Malachi March 27: Exam # 2 March 29: Psalms (Part 1) April 3: Psalms (Part 2) April 5: Psalms (Part 3) Research Paper is due today April 10: Assessment Day: No Class April 12: Wisdom Literature and Proverbs (Part 1) April 17: Proverbs (Part 2) April 19: Job April 24: Ecclesiastes and Lamentations April 26: Song of Songs May 1 Reading Day (No Class) May 2-7: Final Exams (exam must be taken according to university exam schedule) IX. STUDENTS WITH A DOCUMENTED DISABILITY may contact the Office of Disability Academic Support (ODAS) in DH 2016 to make arrangements for academic accommodations. For all disability testing accommodation requests (i.e. quieter environment, extended time, oral testing, etc.) the Tutoring/Testing Center is the officially designated place for all tests administered outside of the regular classroom. X. SELECTED COURSE BIBLIOGRAPHY Page 6 of 12
OBST 520 Archer, Jr. G. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction. Rev. ed. Moody, 1994. Arnold, B. T. and B. E. Beyer. Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian Survey. Baker, 1998. Baker, D. W. and B. T. Arnold, eds. The Face of Old Testament Studies: A Survey of Contemporary Approaches. Baker, 1999. Broyles, C. C., ed. Interpreting the Old Testament: A Guide for Exegesis. Baker, 2001. Childs, B. S. Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture. Fortress, 1979. Dillard, R. and T. Longman III. An Introduction to the Old Testament. 2 nd ed. Zondervan, 2006. Harrison, R. K. An Old Testament Introduction. Eerdmans, 1979. Hill, A. E. and J. H. Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament. Zondervan, 1991. LaSor, W. S., D. A. Hubbard, and F. W. Bush. Old Testament Survey. Eerdmans, 1982. Second edition, 1996. Soggin, J. A. Introduction to the Old Testament. OTL. Westminster, 1989. Series Baker: Handbook on the Pentateuch, 2 nd ed. (Hamilton), the Psalms and Wisdom Literature (Estes), and the Prophets (Chisholm) IVP: Dictionary of the Old Testament volumes on the Pentateuch, Historical Books, and Wisdom, Poetry, and Writing (the volume on the Prophets is forthcoming). IVP: Exploring the Old Testament (4 vols) by Wenham (Pentateuch), Sattherwaite and McConville (Historical Books), Lucas (Psalms and Wisdom Literature), and McConville (Prophets) Kregel: Handbooks on Old Testament Exegesis by Vogt (Pentateuch), Chisholm (Historical Books), and Futato (Psalms). Other volumes are to follow. Moody Press: 4 Introduction volumes by H. Wolf (Pentateuch), D. Howard (Historical Books), and C. H. Bullock (Poetic Books and Prophetic Books) Zondervan: Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, edited by J. H. Walton. 5 vols. (2009) Old Testament Theology Page 7 of 12
Brueggemann, W. Theology of the Old Testament: Testimony, Dispute, Advocacy. Fortress, 1997. OBST 520 Eichrodt, W. Old Testament Theology. 2 vols. OTL. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1961-67. Goldingay, John. Old Testament Theology. 3 vols. IVP, 2003-2009. Hasel, G. Old Testament Theology: Basic Issues in the Current Debate. Eerdmans, 1995. House, P. R. Old Testament Theology. IVP, 1998. Kaiser, W. C., Jr. Toward an Old Testament Theology. Zondervan, 1978. Merrill, Eugene H. Everlasting Dominion: A Theology of the Old Testament. B&H, 2006. Routledge, Old Testament Theology: A Thematic Approach. IVP, 2008. Vanhoozer, Kevin J., ed. Theological Interpretation of the Old Testament: A Book-by- Book Survey. Baker, 2008. Von Rad, G. Old Testament Theology, 2 vols. Harper and Row, 1962-65. Waltke, Bruce K. An Old Testament Theology: An Exegetical, Canonical, and Thematic Approach. Zondervan, 2007. Zuck, Roy B., ed. A Biblical Theology of the Old Testament. Moody, 1991. Old Testament History/ Histories of Israel/Archaeology Block, Daniel I., Bryan H. Cribb, and Gregory S. Smith, eds. Israel: Ancient Kingdom or Late Invention. B&H Academic, 2008. Bright, J. A History of Israel. Westminster, 1981. Hoerth, A. J. Archaeology and the Old Testament. Baker, 1998. Howard, David M., Jr. and Michael A. Grisanti, eds. Giving the Sense: Understanding and Using Old Testament Historical Texts. Kregel, 2003. Kaiser, W. C. A History of Israel: From the Bronze Age through the Jewish Wars. Broadman & Holman, 1998. King, P. J., and L. E. Stager. Life in Biblical Israel. Westminster John Knox, 2001. Page 8 of 12
Merrill, E. Kingdom of Priests: A History of Old Testament Israel. Baker, 1987. OBST 520 Provan, I., V. P. Long, and T. Longman III. A Biblical History of Israel. Westminster John Knox, 2003. Shanks, H., ed. Ancient Israel. From Abraham to the Roman Destruction of the Temple. Rev. ed. Biblical Archaeology Society, 1999. Wood, L. A Survey of Israel's History. Rev. ed. Zondervan, 1986. Atlases Aharoni, Y, M. Avi-Yonah, A. F. Rainey, and Z. Safrai, eds. The Carta Bible Atlas. Macmillan, 2002. Beitzel, B. The Moody Atlas of Bible Lands. Moody, 1985. Bimson, J. and J. Kane. New Bible Atlas. IVP, 1985. Lawrence, Paul. The IVP Atlas of Bible History. IVP, 2006. Rasmussen, C. G. Zondervan NIV Atlas of the Bible. Zondervan, 1989. Ancient Near Eastern History and Religions Hallo, W. W. and W. K. Simpson. The Ancient Near East: A History. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1971. Hoerth, A., G. Mattingly, and E. Yamauchi, eds. Peoples of the Old Testament World. Baker, 1994. Kemp, B. J. Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a Civilization. 2nd ed. Routledge, 1991. Oppenheim, A. L. Ancient Mesopotamia. University of Chicago, 1977. Walton, John H. Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament: Introducing the Conceptual World of the Hebrew Bible. Baker, 2006. Wiseman, D. J., ed. Peoples of Old Testament Times. Oxford, 1973. Ancient Near Eastern Texts (Collections and Translations) Arnold, B. T. and B. E. Beyer. Readings from the Ancient Near East. Baker, 2002. Beyerlin, W., ed. Near Eastern Religious Text Relating to the Old Testament. Old Testament Library. Westminster, 1978. Page 9 of 12
OBST 520 Hallo, W. W. and K. L. Younger, Jr, eds. The Context of Scripture. Vol. 1. Canonical Compositions from the Biblical World. Brill, 1997. Vol. 2. Monumental Inscriptions from the Biblical World. Brill, 2000. Commentary Series Would recommend the following commentary series as generally representing quality OT scholarship. These are the types of sources that you should be using for your papers in Old Testament studies in your graduate-level studies Anchor Bible Forms of Old Testament Literature Hermeneia The International Critical Commentary Interpretation New American Commentary New International Biblical Commentary New International Commentary on the Old Testament New International Version Application Commentary The Old Testament Library Westminster Bible Companion Word Biblical Commentary series Wycliffe Exegetical Commentaries Other OT Commentary Series (one or multi-volume) Bible Knowledge Commentary Expositor's Bible Commentary IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament Biblical-Theological Dictionaries Page 10 of 12
OBST 520 Alexander, T. D. and D. W. Baker. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch. IVP, 2002. Alexander, T. D., B. S. Rosner, D. A. Carson, G. Goldsworthy. New Dictionary of Biblical Theology. IVP, 2000. Botterweck, G. J., H. Ringgren, H. -J. Fabry, eds. Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, 1977. 11 vols. in English translation. VanGemeren, W. A., ed. New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis. 5 vols. Zondervan, 1997. Theological Journals Bible Review (BRev) Biblical Archaeologist (BA) Biblica (Bib) Biblical Archaeology Review (BAR) Bibliotheca Sacra (BibSac) Bulletin for Biblical Research (BBR) Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research (BASOR) Catholic Biblical Quarterly (CBQ) Evangelical Quarterly (EvQ) Grace Theological Journal (GTJ) Hebrew Annual Review (HAR) Harvard Theological Review (HTR) Hebrew Union College Annual (HUCA) Interpretation (Int) Israel Exploration Journal (IEJ) Journal of the Ancient Near Eastern Society (JANES) Journal of the American Oriental Society (JAOS) Page 11 of 12
OBST 520 Journal of Biblical Literature (JBL) Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (JETS) Journal for the Study of the New Testament (JSNT) Journal for the Study of the Old Testament (JSOT) Palestine Exploration Quarterly (PEQ) Review and Expositor (RevExp) Reformed Theological Review (RTR) Trinity Journal (TJ) Tyndale Bulletin (TB) Vetus Testamentum (VT) Westminster Theological Journal (WTJ) Zeitschrift fur die alltestamentliche Wissenschaft (ZAW) Page 12 of 12