GOT 543 PROVERBS Fall 2017 COURSE DESCRIPTION Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. This course is designed to increase one s understanding of Old Testament wisdom literature, with a focus on the book of Proverbs, and improve one s ability to apply its truths to the lives of people through the ministry of preaching and teaching. The wisdom of God is found throughout the Scriptures, but it is revealed in concentrated form in the trilogy of wisdom literature: Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. Proverbs provides the general principles of wisdom needed to live life in a godly way, and, thus, the teaching and preaching of the book of Proverbs will be a great asset for our people. This course will expose the student to the wisdom of God, as found in Proverbs, so that the student can experience wise living for himself/herself, exhibit wisdom, and be able to assist others in knowing and living out God s wisdom. After introducing the book of Proverbs by considering various background matters (historical, literary, authorship, date, purposes, overall theology, structure and outline), the course will primarily be an analytical study of the key passages of Proverbs and the major topics/themes of the book. The student project will emphasize the application of Proverbs to specific, contemporary individual, family and relational issues, including sexual immorality, family relationships, financial planning, communication, friendship, parenting, employment issues, and others. COURSE GOALS To stimulate spiritual growth in each student s personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, as (s)he develops more biblical wisdom in their daily walk.
2 To increase the student s understanding of both the content and the argument of the wisdom literature of Scripture, in general, and the book of Proverbs in particular. To challenge and assist the student to employ a consistent, literal and dispensational hermeneutic so as to accurately interpret the book of Proverbs. To encourage and equip the student to appropriately apply the wisdom literature of the Bible to contemporary life issues encountered in his or her ministry. COURSE BOOKS Textbook: Peter Steveson. A Commentary on Proverbs. Greenville, SC: Bob Jones University, 2001. Required Reading: Derek Kidner, The Wisdom of Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes. Downers Grove, Ill.: Inter-Varsity Press, 1985. Read the section on Proverbs. Bruce Waltke, The Book of Proverbs, 2 vols. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004. This is expensive and lengthy, so you only need to read at least 100 pages in it; it would be a great add to your library, however. Waltke, Bruce. Fundamentals for Preaching the Book of Proverbs, Part 1. Bibliotheca Sacra 165 (Jan 2008): 3-12.. Fundamentals for Preaching the Book of Proverbs, Part 2. Bibliotheca Sacra 165 (April 2008): 131-44.. Fundamentals for Preaching the Book of Proverbs, Part 3. Bibliotheca Sacra 165 (July 2008): 259-67.. Fundamentals for Preaching the Book of Proverbs, Part 4. Bibliotheca Sacra 165 (Oct 2008): 387-96. There is no requirement to purchase these books. Ask your local library if they have these books. If not, ask them to do a search on their Inter-Library Loan network. If there is no library in your state that owns these books, then contact the Professor. The journal articles are available at Galaxie.com (there is a $50 a year charge for Galaxie, but if you are a thorough student of the Word, this is a worthwhile investment. Galaxie gives you access to thousands of
3 articles from some of the more conservative journals available, including Maranatha s own journal). READING ASSIGNMENTS A. Scripture Reading The student is required to read the book of Proverbs at least three times. It is suggested that he use a different translation each time. The recommended translations are the KJV, NKJV, NASB, and ESV. B. Required Reading The student will read a total of 1000 pages for this course, not counting the Scripture reading. C. Reading Summaries You will write a one-page or longer (double-spaced) report of Steveson, indicating the strengths and weaknesses of the book and how you profited from the reading. You will also write a one-page or longer (double-spaced) summary of each of the Waltke articles. Biblically evaluate the material, discussing how the Lord used those principles in your personal life and understanding of Scripture. Obviously, rather than deal with everything in the reading, the student will need to pick one or two main points that stood out to him/her. PROJECT Paper: Preaching/Teaching Course Project As the culmination of research accomplished during this course, you will complete a teaching or preaching homework project. Choose a major section from Proverbs 1-9. Section 1. The first section of the paper will contain: 1) A description of the background of the book of Proverbs in general and how the specific text or topic you have chosen from Proverbs fits into that broader context. This should be written in a manner that will help a Sunday School student or a church member in a church preaching or teaching service better understand the context of the passage. Make it concise and an easy read. 2) An explanation of the immediate text, its divisions, difficult words or phrases, and any helpful insights that would assist the reader/listener in his/her study of the Word.
4 Section 2. The second section of the paper will be composed of 8 worksheets containing comments and questions drawn from the text you chose from Proverbs 1-9, enabling the reader/listener to gain biblical insight into the truth of the text. You may use cross-references to other passages in Proverbs and the rest of the Bible to support your answers, but each worksheet should be primarily a study of your chosen passage. (Ron Allchin s Ripening Sonship provides a sample of the kind of worksheets the student should be creating, although you need to be careful not to copy his material. (Graphic illustrations may be used, but one s grade will not be affected if one chooses not to use any.) Section 3. The third section of the paper will be focused on a topic chosen from Proverbs 10-31. Pick a topic that relates in some way to the text you chose from chapters 1-9. Select the main passages that relate to that topic, organize them, and create a minimum one-page outline concerning what Proverbs says about the topic. The class notes and textbook contain samples. Section 4. Finally, the paper should include a bibliography of at least 10 sources, with at least 3 coming from journal articles or essays (books that include a number of articles by different authors). Use competent journals and scholarly books. The journal articles may be accessed through the Maranatha library or directly from Galaxie.com. Use the Paper Template in the Research Module for sections 1 and 4 of your paper. This must be a completely original paper. Do not turn in a reworked/revised paper from another course. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. DEVOTIONALS Each student will write two devotionals based on some truth found in the section of Proverbs you have chosen for your project. Follow the template in the Research Module. The first draft of these will be posted to MyMaranatha. Critique at least two of your fellow students devotionals, identifying their strength and weaknesses, and suggesting ways to improve the devotional. See the Class Chart for due dates. LATE WORK:
5 You are now studying at a graduate level; expectations are, therefore, high. The Seminary expects you to perform your academic work in a timely fashion. The development of time management skills while in Seminary will greatly benefit you in the future, both in your personal life and in your ministry. Ministry involves managing numerous activities at one time. You are preparing for a life ministry which will focus primarily on serving people. This demands a serious consideration of your own schedule and the schedules of those whom you serve. To encourage you in the development and strengthening of your time management skills, the Seminary has established a Late Academic Work Policy. This policy is the minimum penalty for work not turned in on time. The professor may impose a greater penalty, but not a lesser. Work not turned in on the day it is due will have its grade reduced 4% for each calendar day that it is late. The Seminary realizes that serious extenuating circumstances, such as a lengthy illness or a death in the family, may prevent some students from completing class projects on time. Requests for appropriate extensions for these types of serious circumstances may be made to the Seminary Academic Senate, via a written petition submitted to the Seminary Office. Extensions will only be given for valid excuses. Everyone is busy; therefore, being busy is not an excuse for an extension. Projects turned in under an allowed extension will not be graded higher than a B. ADA STATEMENT: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, the law requires that all students with disabilities be given a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Learning Assistance Program Director in the library in Room 216, phone 920/206-2340, or email learningassistance@mbu.edu. GRADING Semester Grade: 1000 pages of Reading 10% Reading Summaries 20% Proverbs Reading 20% Devotionals 10% Course Project 30% Discussions 10%
6 Grading Scale: A 94 C+ 79 A- 91 C 76 B+ 88 C- 73 B 85 D 65 B- 82 F Below 65 INSTRUCTOR: Preston Mayes Office: 920-206-2361 E-mail: Preston.Mayes@mbu.edu
7 BIBLIOGRAPHY Aitken, K. Proverbs. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1986. Blocher, Henri. The Fear Of The Lord As The Principle Of Wisdom. Tyndale Bulletin 28 (1977): 3-28. Cameron, Jocelyn E. Words to the Wise. Langley, B.C.: Credo, 1984. Camp, Claudia V. Wisdom and the Feminine in the Book of Proverbs. Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 1985. Clements, Ronald E. One Hundred Years of Old Testament Interpretation: Philadelphia: Westminster, 1976, 99-119 Crenshaw, James. In Search of Divine Presence: Some Remarks Preliminary to a Theology of Wisdom. Review and Expositor 74 (1977): 353-69.. Old Testament Wisdom: An Introduction. Atlanta: John Knox, 1981. Dillstone, F.W. 'Wisdom, Word and Spirit: Revelation in the Wisdom Literature. Interpretation 2. (1948): 275-87. Fohrer, G. Sophia. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament: VII, 477-496. Habel, N. The Symbolism of Wisdom in Proverbs 1-9. Interpretation 26 (1972): 131-156. Harrelson, W. 'Wisdom and Pastoral Theology. Andover Newton Quarterly (1966): 3-11. Hilber, John W. Old Testament Wisdom and the Integration Debate in Christian Counseling. Bibliotheca Sacra 155 (Oct 1998): 411-422. Jason, J. Proverbs in Society: The Problem of Meaning and Function. Proverbs, 17 (1971). Kidner, Derek. Proverbs: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale Old Testament Commentary 15. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1964.. The Wisdom of Proverbs, Job and Ecclesiastes: An Introduction to Wisdom Literature. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1985.. The Relationship Between God And Man In Proverbs. Tyndale Bulletin 7 (July 1961): 4-9. Kitchen, K.A. Proverbs and the Wisdom Books of the Ancient Near East. Tyndale Bulletin 28 (1977): 69-114. Knox, W.L. Divine Wisdom. Journal of Theological Studies 38 (1937): 230-237. Koptak, Paul E. Proverbs. NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.
8 Malchow, Bruce. A Manual for Future Monarchs, Catholic Biblical Quarterly 47 (1985): 238-245. Marcus, Ralph. On Biblical Hypostases of Wisdom. Hebrew Union College Annual 23 (1950-51): 157-171. Mouser, W. Walking in Wisdom: Studying the Proverbs of Solomon. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1983. Oesterley, W.O.E. The Book of Proverbs with Introduction and Notes. Westminster Commentaries. London: Methuen and Co., 1929. Parsons, Greg W. Guidelines for Understanding and Proclaiming the Book of Proverbs. Bibliotheca Sacra 150 (Apr 1993): 151-170. Pedersen, J. Wisdom and Immortality. Vestus Testamentum Supplement 3 (1960): 238-246. Rad, G. von. Old Testament Theology. Translation by D.M. Stalker. Vol. 1. New York: Harper and Row, 1962.. Some Aspects of the Old testament World View. In The Problem of the Hexateuch and Other Essays. Translated by E. W. Trueman Dicken, 144-165. New York: McGraw Hill, 1966.. Wisdom in Israel. Nashville: Abingdon, 1972. Rylaarsdam, J. Coert. Revelation in Jewish Wisdom Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1946. Thomas, D.W., ed. Wisdom in Israel and in the Ancient Near East. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1960. Thompson, J. M. The Form and Function of Proverbs in Ancient Israel. The Hague: Mouton, 1974. Trible, P. 'Wisdom Builds a Poem: The Architecture of Proverbs 1:20-33. Journal of Biblical Literature 94 (1975): 509-518. Unger, Merrill F. The Nature of Hebrew Poetry. Bibliotheca Sacra 108 (1951): 282-85. Waltke, Bruce. The Book of Proverbs: Chapters 1 15. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004.. The Book of Proverbs: Chapters 15 31. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2005.. The Book of Proverbs and Ancient Wisdom Literature. Bibliotheca Sacra 136 (1979): 221-238.. Fundamentals for Preaching the Book of Proverbs, Part 1. Bibliotheca Sacra 165 (Jan 2008): 3-12.. Fundamentals for Preaching the Book of Proverbs, Part 2. Bibliotheca Sacra 165 (April 2008): 131-44.
9. Fundamentals for Preaching the Book of Proverbs, Part 3. Bibliotheca Sacra 165 (July 2008): 259-67.. Fundamentals for Preaching the Book of Proverbs, Part 4. Bibliotheca Sacra 165 (Oct 2008): 387-96. Whybray, R. N. The Intellectual Tradition in the Old Testament. BZAW 135. Berlin: Wallter de Gruyter, 1974. Yahweh-sayings and their Contexts in Proverbs 10:1-22:16 In La Sagesse de l'ancien Testament. ed. M. Gilbert: 153-165. Gembloux:,1979. Zimmerli, W. Concerning the Structure of Old Testament Wisdom. In Studies in Ancient Israelite Wisdom. J. L. Crenshaw, ed. New York: KTAV, 1976.. The Place and Limit of the Wisdom in the Framework of the Old Testament Theology. In Studies in Ancient Israelite Wisdom, J. L. Crenshaw, ed. 14-28. New York: KTAV, 1976.