OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY WC16 Fall 2016

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1 INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY WC16 Fall 2016 Instructor: Dr. Steve Andrews Dates: August 29 - October 3 MWI Office Phone: (816) MWI mwi@mbts.edu Class Meetings: Mondays 6:45pm-8:15pm Location: CL 152 COURSE DESCRIPTION An overview of the Old Testament introducing the student to content and use of the Old Testament. COURSE OBJECTIVES Objectives: By the end of the survey students will be able: 1. To discuss why Christians study the Old Testament. 2. To understand how major Old Testament figures and events relate to one another in time and importance. 3. To demonstrate increased ability to read and interpret Old Testament scripture. Indicators: Students will show they have achieved the objectives by: Objective 1 scoring at least 70% on test questions asking why contemporary Christians do or should study the OT and by completing the Application portion of an exegesis summary. Objective 2 developing a Time Line of the period 1500 B.C.-400 B.C. showing major figures and events discussed in the course. Objective 3 preparing a brief written exegesis of an assigned text. COURSE TEXT The following books are required: 1

2 A modern translation of the Old Testament, e.g., NIV, NASB, NKJV, ESV, HCSB. Dana Gould. The Old Testament. Shepherd s Notes. Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers, ISBN $5.95. Gordon E. Fee and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. 4th edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Press, ISBN $ Melton Short, The Old Testament Made Simple, Rev. ed. Clanton, AL: World Impact Ministries, ISBN A copy of this book will be given to each student free of charge. (The course texts are available through the LifeWay campus bookstore.) RECOMMENDED READING The following book is on reserve for this course for in-library use only: John H. Walton and Andrew E. Hill, Old Testament Today: A Journey from Original Meaning to Contemporary Significance, Grand Rapids: Zondervan Press, COURSE SCHEDULE This course meets on six Monday evenings as indicated below. Lectures are used to present the Old Testament as a Christian book and to present biblical material in a historical framework. Typically, the lectures will: 1. Introduce the historical, physical, and cultural setting of the biblical people and writings. 2. Present the Story Line (historical events and persons) and the Plot Line (divine purposes and strategies) of the Old Testament. 3. Briefly consider the contents of and purposes of specific Old Testament books. 4. Consider problems and difficulties encountered by the thoughtful reader of scripture Course Progress (see key below) Date/Session Material/Subject Reading* Aug. 29 Course Requirements Why Study the Old Testament? Old Testament Origins. The World of the Old Testament MS

3 Sep. 6 *Class will meet Tuesday due to Labor Day Sep. 12 Sep. 19 Sep. 26 Oct. 3 Pentateuch/Torah: Beginnings to Moses Death Historical Literature: Acquisition to Exile EXEGESIS DUE Prophets: Pre-Classical, Classical 8 th Century Prophets: Classical 7 th 5 th Century TIME LINE DUE FINAL EXAM DISTRIBUTED Wisdom, Psalms FINAL EXAM DUE OT Gen. 12, 15, 22; Exod ; Lev. 19; Deut. 6 S 1-23 F & S 21-31, , 180 MS OT 1 Sam. 4, 8, 15-16; 2 Sam. 7; 1 Kgs. 2-3, 10-12, 17-19, 21; 2 Kgs S 24-34, 66-68, F & S 90-93, 106 MS OT Amos 1-2, 5; Hosea 1-2, 10; Isa. 1, 40, S 37-42, 61-15, F & S MS OT Hab. 1; Jer. 7, 18, 29; Ezek. 1, 3, 36; Dan. 1; Zech. 8; Mal. 3 S 43, 50-53, MS OT Prov. 1, 3, 15; Pss. 1, 32, 73, 103, 130; Eccles. 1-3, 12; Job 1-2 S 44-50, 54 F & S , , MS OT=Biblical readings S=Shepherd s Notes F & S=Fee and Stuart MS = Short * Prescribed readings are to be completed before the session in which the material is presented. COURSE ASSIGNMENTS 1. As noted in the Indicators, students are to prepare an exegesis of an assigned Old Testament text. The text for the exegesis is Isa. 55:6-13. The professor will provide instructions on the form and content required and on the criteria for evaluation. The Exegesis is due September 12, Each student is to prepare a Time Line for the period indicated above. Pages three and four of this syllabus provide guidelines for developing the Time Line and list the figures and events to be included on the Time Line. The Time Line is due September 26, The final evaluation for the course will be a take-home final examination to be completed outside of class and submitted no later than October 3, Course grades will be computed on the basis of the following balance: 3

4 Class Participation 15% Time Line 20% Exegesis 30% Final Examination 35% A grade of Incomplete for the course is not an option except in rare situations beyond the student s control. Assignments will not be accepted later than one week after their due dates. Time Line Information. Relatively few Old Testament dates can be determined with precision, but relatively few are significant. What is important is the relative chronology or historical relationship of events and persons. This shows how events and persons interact. Thus, the purpose of the Time Line assignment is for the student to visualize and to grasp the chronological relationship of significant events and persons referred to in the Old Testament. The student may prepare the Time Line either by hand (drawing and filling in names, dates, etc.) or by using a computer program. The Time Line should be of sufficient length or size as to be legible and comprehensible (using multiple pages if necessary). Works consulted in completing this assignment should be listed on a separate page ( Sources Used ) using good bibliographic form. Please include on the Time Line the persons and events listed below. Ahab/Jezebel Fall of Judah (Southern Joshua Kingdom) Amos Exodus from Egypt Josiah Building of the First Temple Ezekiel Malachi Building of Second Temple Ezra Micah Daniel Giving of Ten Commandments Moses David Habakkuk Nehemiah Division of the Kingdom Haggai Samuel Elijah Hosea Saul End of Assyrian Empire Isaiah Solomon End of Babylonian Empire Jehoiakim Entry into Promised Land Jeremiah Exile Jeroboam I Fall of Israel (Northern Kingdom) Jeroboam II 4

5 GRADING SCALE GENERAL INFORMATION Grading Scale A 90 and up B C D F 59 or below 1. Midwestern is committed to facilitating students with disabilities. Students seeking effective auxiliary aids for a current documented disability need to conform to college policies and procedures as listed in the Midwestern Students with Disabilities Information Brochure available on the website at Students are responsible for contacting the Student Development Office at (816) for verification and recommendations for any disability case. The Student Development Committee will then recommend to the professor any necessary effective auxiliary aids. 2. Since MWI only meets for six classes, attendance is crucial. Each student is allowed one unexcused absence. If the need should arise to miss two classes, she should contact the professor for permission in advance. The student will not receive course credit if more than two absences occur. 5