OT 302 & 502 Old Testament Prphets & Writings Semester 2, 2015 Brisbane Schl f Thelgy ffers high quality, Bible-centred thelgical training in a diverse and supprtive cmmunity, shaping the whle persn fr Gd s purpse. Aiming fr mre than simply grwing students knwledge f thelgy, BST is develping passinate, capable disciples wh use what they knw abut Gd s wrd t serve him in the church and the wrld. Brisbane Schl f Thelgy is an perating name f Bible Cllege f Queensland. We are an affiliated cllege f the Australian Cllege f Thelgy, ur ABN n. is 55009670160 and the ACT CRICOS n. is 02650E.
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS UNIT Descriptin This is the secnd f tw units (OT 301/501 and OT 302/502) which cver the basic cntents f the Old Testament. OT 302/502 cvers the literature f the prphets, wisdm, and Psalms. The aim is t prvide an verview f the gegraphy, culture, histry, literature, and thelgy f the Old Testament prphets and writings. The unit will intrduce students t critical issues in the interpretatin f the Old Testament. It als cnsiders the significance f the Old Testament fr cntemprary Christian life and ministry. Teaching staff Lecturer Dr. Jasn Atkinsn BAppSc, MA (Sc.), MDiv, PhD Phne Ph: (07) 3870 8355 Email jatkinsn@bst.qld.edu.au Additinal infrmatin Credit pints 4 C/pre-requisites N/A N. f teaching weeks 13 Assessment Summary EQUIP 1) Reflectin Paper, due n 11 th Nv. OT 302 Item % f Final Grade 1) Article Review (750 wds) 10% 19 th Aug. 2) Majr Essay (2,250wds) 50% 16 th Sept. 3) Exam (80 mins) 40% 11 th Nv. OT 502 Item % f Final Grade 1) Bk Review (1,000 wds) 10% 19 th Aug. 2) Majr Essay (3,000 wds) 50% 16 th Sept. 3) Exam (80 mins) 40% 11 th Nv. 2
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES AND UNIT CONTENT On cmpletin f this unit, students will: Learning Outcmes T assist candidates acquire an verall acquaintance with the text f the Old Testament, as ne f the tw primary dcuments f biblical studies and Christian ministry. T prvide candidates with an verview f the cntents f literature in the Old Testament, taking int accunt the nature f that literature. T give candidates an verall histrical framewrk within which t interpret the bks f the Old Testament. T ensure that candidates have an appreciatin f the apprpriate Ancient Near Eastern backgrund (cultural, religius and archaelgical) and its significance fr understanding the Old Testament. T prvide candidates with an understanding f majr thelgical themes f the Old Testament and their significance fr Christian thelgy. T enable candidates t begin a mre detailed explratin f sme aspects f Old Testament studies. T cnsider the implicatins f the Old Testament fr Christian life and thught. Unit Cntent Sectin A: Prphetic Bks/Latter Prphets. The Bk f Isaiah The Bk f Jeremiah The Bk f Ezekiel The Bk f Daniel The Twelve. Sectin B: The Writings. Chrnicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah The Bk f Psalms Wisdm Literature 3
UNIT TIMETABLE (M) = Item available n Mdle. Wk Date Lecture Cntent Pre-Reading 1. July 22 Intrductin t unit, prphecy, and the ancient histrical cntext. Intrductin t Unit Hebrew prphecy in its ancient Near Eastern (ANE) cntext. Overview f ANE histry during 8 th 5 th centuries. 2. July 29 Assyrian Perid: Nrthern Prphecy Assyria and its expansin: A lessn in effective state-terrrism. Prphecy in Samarian Kingdm: Jnah; Ams; Hsea. End f the Samarian Kingdm. 3. Aug 5 Assyrian Perid: Suthern Prphecy Part I Prphecy in the Judean Kingdm: Jel; Obadiah; Micah. 4. Aug 12 Assyrian Perid: Suthern Prphecy Part II Prphecy in the Judean Kingdm: Isaiah 1 39; Nahum. End f the Assyrian threat (replaced by the Babylnian threat). 5. Aug 19 Babylnian Perid: Prphecy Part I Babylnia and its empire: A lessn in bureaucratic cntinuity, with a twist. Prphecy in the Judean Kingdm: Habakkuk; Zephaniah; Jeremiah. End f Judean Kingdm. Article/Bk Review Due (see assessment details belw). 6. Aug 26 Babylnian Perid: Prphecy Part II Prphecy in Exile: Ezekiel. 7. Sept 2 Babylnian Perid: Prphecy Part III Prphecy in Exile: Isaiah 40 66; Daniel. End f Babyln and the Judean exile. 8. Sept 9 Persian Perid: Prphecy Med-Persian Empire: A lessn in liberatin. Prphecy after Exile: Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. 9. Sept 16 Persian Perid: Histrical Writings Part I Chrnicles. Essay Due (see assessment details belw). 10. Oct 7 Persian Perid: Histrical Writings Part II Ezra; Nehemiah, Esther. Mid-Semester Break: Sept 21 st Oct 2 nd. H&W 20 (pp. 383 89), 27. Bright: 253 66. F&S 10 (M). 2Kgs 14 17; Jnah; Ams; Hsea. H&W 37, 35, 33. Bright: 269 78. Mic, Jel. H&W 34, 36, 38. 2Kgs 18 21; Isa 1 12, 36 39; Nahum. H&W 28, 39. Bright: 278 98, 310 24. Hab; Jer 1 10, 26 44. H&W 40, 29. Bright: 324 36. Eze 1 11, 33 37; Lam; Psa 74, 79, 137. H&W 30, 31. Bright: 336 54. LaSr 51 (M). Isa 40 55; Dan. H&W (28) 32. Bright: 354 61. Wright 14 (M). *Apcalyptic Literature. Hag; Zec; Mal. H&W 42, 43, 44. Bright: 361 72. 2Kgs 18 20 vs 2Chr. 29 32. H&W 16. Ezra 1 6; Neh; Esth. H&W 17, 18. Bright: 373 402. 11. Oct 14 Writings: Bk f Psalms Psa 1, 2, 8, 13, 19, 23, 72, 73, 96, 118, 150. H&W 22. F&S 11. 12. Oct 21 Writings: Wisdm Literature Part I Prverbs. Prv 1 9. H&W 20, 23. 13. Oct 28 Writings: Wisdm Literature Part II Jb; Ecclesiastes. End f Semester Exam: Nv 11 th @6:30pm Jb 1 14, 28 42; Ecc. H&W 21, 24. F&S 12. 4
ASSESSMENT OUTLINE FOR OT302 This applies t students wh are enrlled at Bachelr level. See supplementary dcument fr detailed assignment instructins. Assessment 1 Item Article review, 750 wrds Write a review f J. Daniel Hays, The Prphets: Sin, Exile and Restratin, in The Stry f Israel: A Biblical Thelgy, C. Marvin Pate et al. Dwners Grve: Intervarsity Press, 2004, 88 103. Due: Wednesday, 19 th August, 5.00pm. Weighting 10% Assessment 2 Item Essay, 2,250 wrds Write an essay n ONE f the fllwing: Define and discuss the prblem f idlatry and idls in Isaiah. Define and discuss the prblem f false prphecy in Jeremiah. Discuss hw the bk f Deuternmy relates t the prphetic message. Due: Wednesday, 16 th September, 5.00 pm Weighting 50% Assessment 3 Item Exam, 80 minutes The exam will cver Sectin B f the unit. There will be five essay questins, frm which yu will chse TWO and write yur answers. Wednesday, 11 th Nvember, 6.30 pm Weighting 40% 5
ASSESSMENT OUTLINE FOR OT502 This applies t students wh are enrlled at Masters level. See supplementary dcument fr detailed assignment instructins. Assessment 1 Item Bk review, 1,000 wrds Write a bk review f Marvin A. Sweeney, The Prphetic Literature, Interpreting Biblical Texts. Nashville: Abingtn Press, 2005. Due: Wednesday, 19 th August, 5.00 pm Weighting 10% Assessment 2 Item Essay, 3,000 wrds Write an essay n ONE f the fllwing: Outline and discuss the key similarities and differences between the Hebrew prphets and their cunterparts in the Ancient Near East. Evaluate the claim that fr the Hebrew Prphets idlatry challenged the very fundatin f YHWH s relatinship with his peple. Citing a specific example frm the Hebrew Prphets, discuss hw the message f the prphets relates t the bk f Deuternmy. Is false prphecy a cncept applicable nly t prphets f pagan deities? Discuss. Due: Wednesday, 16 th September, 5.00 pm Weighting 50% Assessment 3 Item Exam, 80 minutes The exam will cver Sectin B f the unit. There will be five essay questins, frm which yu will chse TWO and write yur answers. Wednesday, 11 th Nvember, 6.30 pm Weighting 40% 6
LECTURE ATTENDANCE Please nte the ACT plicy (see als BST Student Handbk) n lecture attendance in the Undergraduate Handbk and the Graduate and Pstgraduate Handbk. Yu are required t attend at least 80% f lectures. This means yu can miss a maximum f tw lectures. If yu knw that yu will nt be at a lecture, please phne r email the lecturer befrehand. If yu miss mre than tw lectures, yur enrlment fr this unit may be ended. HOW TO STUDY THIS UNIT Yu shuld allcate apprximately 7 hurs utside f class each week t this unit. PASSING THIS UNIT In rder t pass this unit students must cmplete the Jnah Wrkbk, eight Quizzes, a Class Test, a Final Exam, and gain 50% r mre verall. LATE SUBMISSION OF WORK Please nte the ACT Late Penalties Plicy (including extensins; see als BST Student Handbk). Failure t submit any individual assignment n time may result in either a late penalty r a zer mark fr the assignment. PLAGIARISM Please nte the ACT Academic Miscnduct Plicy (see als BST student handbk) n plagiarism. This is a serius issue and it is yur respnsibility bth t understand what plagiarism includes and t avid it cmpletely. If yu are fund t have plagiarised, there will be serius cnsequences as specified in the BST student handbk. Penalties fr plagiarism are as fllws (frm ACT Academic Miscnduct Plicy). First ffence: Students will be subject t academic cunselling, with the maximum penalty being t fail the item with n marks awarded. Where deemed apprpriate, the minimum penalty available will be that students may be granted an pprtunity t resubmit the assessment with a maximum f 50% fr the assessment. Secnd ffence: Fail unit, with n remedial pprtunity. Third r majr ffence: Exclusin frm any award f the ACT, r exclusin frm the award fr up t tw years, r ther utcme apprpriate t the case but with an impact less serius than exclusin. In the case f severe plagiarism and/r cheating, a student may be subject t a separate disciplinary prcess apprved by the ACT Academic Bard. Clleges are required t immediately reprt t the ACT Directr f Academic Services all ffences f wilful academic miscnduct, fr recrding n TAMS. 7
READING MATERIALS Prescribed texts H&W: Assigned readings Andrew E. Hill and Jhn H. Waltn, A Survey f the Old Testament. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Zndervan, 2009. Bright: F&S: LaSr: Wright: Jhn Bright, A Histry f Israel, 4th ed. Luisville: Westminster Jhn Knx, 2000. Grdn D. Fee and Duglas Stuart, The Prphets: Enfrcing the Cvenant in Israel, in Hw t Read the Bible fr All Its Wrth. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Zndervan, 2003. Chapters 10, 11, and 12. William S. Lasr, David A. Hubbard, and Frederic W. Bush, Old Testament Survey: The Message, Frm, and Bacgrund f the Old Testament, 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996. Chapter 51. Christpher J. H. Wright, The Missin f Gd: Unlcking the Bible s Grand Narrative. Dwners Grve: InterVarsity, 2006. Chapter 14. Recmmended texts Survey f Hebrew Prphecy: Rbert B. Chishlm Jr. Handbk n the Prphets. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2002. Grdn McCnville, The Prphets, Vl. 4 f Explring the Old Testament. Lndn: SPCK, 2002. Bible Dictinary: Bible Atlas: Mark J. Bda and J. Grdn McCnville eds., Dictinary f the Old Testament Prphets. Dwners Grve: IVP Academic, 2012. Barry J. Beitzel, The New Mdy Atlas f the Bible. Chicag: Mdy, 2009. Ansn F. Rainey and R. Steven Ntley, The Sacred Bridge. Jerusalem: Carta, 2006. 8
GRADUATE OUTCOMES Attribute Emphases f Unit Strng Mderate Light Cmment 1. Passinate discipleship The unit cnsiders the key themes f Christian teaching and life as they are fund in the Prphets and Writings. It als traces Gd s plan f redemptin which culminates in Jesus Christ. 2. Sund knwledge f the Bible The unit is fundatinal fr understanding the Scriptures crrectly. The majr themes f biblical thelgy will be studied. Students will gain an verall understanding f the theme f the Bible as well as a histrical framewrk in which t interpret the Bible. 3. Humility and faithfulness The study f the Scriptures shuld prmte humility and faithfulness. 4. Cmmunicating the Gspel An understanding f the biblical and histrical cntext f the gspel is essential fr effective cmmunicatin f the gspel. The unit prvides the histrical cntext fr the gspel message. 5. Cmmitment t Missin One f the key themes f the unit is missin, especially as the utwrking and purpse f Gd s cvenants. Students will appreciate that missin is nt a secndary theme f Scripture, but lies at its cre. 6. Cmmitment t Team ministry The unit des nt fcus n the develpment f team wrk. Hwever, class discussin will prvide pprtunity fr students t learn within a cmmunal setting. 7. Basic ministry skills This unit invlves the skills f listening, discussing, facilitating discussin, research and writing. Much time will be spent in interpreting and applying Scripture, which is a basic ministry skill. 8. Cmmitment t Lifelng learning The unit will highlight the immense scpe f the Scriptures and the need fr nging learning and grwth. Learning will whet the appetite t keep learning. 9
GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES 1) They will be passinate disciples f Jesus Christ. Graduates will maintain a vibrant relatinship with Gd, be passinate abut fllwing Jesus and walk by the Spirit in every area f life. They will seek t lve Gd abve all else and thers as themselves in attitudes, wrds and deeds. They will be imitatrs f Jesus, bey His Wrd, deny themselves, take up their crss and fllw Jesus wherever He may lead. 2) They will have a sund knwledge f the Bible. Graduates will have an in-depth and cmprehensive knwledge f the Bible. They will be cmmitted t the infallibility and authrity f the Bible as Gd s Wrd in everything pertaining t salvatin and the Christian life. They will d their best t be gd teachers f the Bible wh crrectly explain the wrd f truth. 3) They will have genuine humility and demnstrate faithfulness in life and ministry. Graduates will live lives f hliness, humility and faithfulness. They will be willing t acknwledge their shrtcmings and mistakes, and be pen t receive cnstructive criticism and advice. They will d nthing ut f selfish ambitin, but in humility will cnsider thers better than themselves. They will be prepared t suffer fr the sake f Christ, knwing that we must g thrugh many hardships t enter the kingdm f Gd. 4) They will be effective cmmunicatrs f the Gspel. Graduates will knw the Gspel and will be eager and able t cmmunicate the Gspel, especially in wrd, but als thrugh writing and ther media, in ways that are culturally sensitive and intelligible t thers. They will have cmpassinate hearts, listening empathetically t peple in their particular cntexts. They will be ready t preach the Wrd at any time with patience and care, trying t persuade peple t believe the Gspel and t becme fllwers f Jesus. 5) They will have a great cmmitment t Gd s missin. Graduates will be aware f the needs and pprtunities f lcal and glbal missin. They will endeavur t see the cming f Gd s kingdm in every sphere f life, strive fr justice fr the pr and wrk twards cmmunity transfrmatin. They will be passinately cmmitted t and will be active in wrking twards the fulfilment f the Great Cmmissin, t make disciples f all natins. 6) They will be cmmitted t team ministry and servant leadership. Graduates will be cmmitted t the lcal church as the family f Gd and as their cntext fr ministry and base fr missin. They will wrk enthusiastically and cperatively with thers in ministry teams. They will be pen t Christians acrss varius evangelical denminatins and churches. As leaders they will be disciple-makers, fllwing the Lrd Jesus in serving, leading by example, and training and mentring ther leaders. 7) They will be cmpetent in basic ministry skills. Graduates will be cmpetent in basic ministry skills, including preaching, teaching, leading and caring fr peple. They will use their gifts t implement cnstructive change in the church and cmmunity. They will be culturally attuned and flexible in dealing with a range f issues. They will embrace accuntability and maintain prfessinal standards in varius cntexts. They will be salt and light in the wrld and be able t prepare Gd s peple fr wrks f service, s that the bdy f Christ may be built up. 8) They will be cmmitted t lifelng learning and persnal grwth. Graduates will be practive in expanding their knwledge and abilities. They will be pen t new challenges, be willing t face unfamiliar prblems and accept wider respnsibilities. They will cntinue t grw in faith, knwledge and maturity, frgetting what is behind and pressing tward the gal fr the prize f the upward call f Gd in Christ Jesus. 10