Dr. David M. Howard, Jr. Campus P.O. Box 7016

Bethel Seminary Telephone: 651-638-6197

OT502DE - InMinistry E-mail:

Winter 2010 Web site: www.bethel.edu/~dhoward

T.A.:

Jenni McSwain ()

OT502DE 1 Samuel - Song of Songs

Catalogue Description

“An examination of the books of 1 Samuel through Song of Songs, including the contents, major themes, and theological messages of each. Special emphasis is placed on the human and divine dimensions of the Kingdom of God, as well as continuity of themes with earlier Scriptures. Special attention also is given to legitimate ways of reading the Bible. This involves understanding the particular qualities of Hebrew poetic and wisdom texts, and developing a valid hermeneutic for interpreting them. Exposure to proper methods of interpreting Old Testament narrative texts is presupposed.”

Course Objectives

Cognitive Goals: Upon successful completion of this course, the student shall be able to demonstrate

  1. A thorough knowledge of the contents of 1 Samuel through Song of Songs.
  2. A grasp of the major themes of these books, and how these fit the larger themes of the Old and New Testaments.
  3. The basic skills of Biblical exegesis, including the special nature of Hebrew poetic texts.
  4. A knowledge of relevant extra-Biblical materials, including a knowledge of their roles in exegesis and apologetics.

Affective Goals: Beyond the cognitive (measurable) goals above, several affective goals are integral to this course:

1.  That each student will hear God speaking today through the study of this portion of the Old Testament and be transformed in significant ways.

2.  That each student will develop a love and appreciation for these Old Testament books and gain confidence for using them in Christian ministry.

Required Textbooks

  1. The Bible. Any modern version is acceptable.
  2. David M. Howard, Jr., An Introduction to the Old Testament Historical Books. Chicago: Moody, 2007. ISBN: 0802441556
  3. C. Hassell Bullock, An Introduction to the Old Testament Poetic Books. Rev ed. Chicago: Moody, 2007. ISBN: 0802441572
  4. Complete set of course lectures and devotionals (online, under Blackboard).

Recommended Textbooks

  1. Robert B. Chisholm, Jr. Interpreting the Historical Books: An Exegetical Handbook. Kregel, 2006. ISBN: 0-8254-2764-9

2.  Mark D. Futato, Interpreting the Psalms: An Exegetical Handbook. Kregel, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-8254-2765-7

Course Handouts (found under “Course Documents”)

·  J. Pritchard, "A Man and His God" (ANET, 589-91); "The Babylonian Theodicy" (ANET, 601-04).

·  S. Carney, "God Damn God: A Reflection on Expressing Anger in Prayer," Biblical Theology Bulletin (Oct 1983), 116-20.

·  G. Wilson, "The Shape of the Book of Psalms," Interpretation 46 (1992), 129-42.

Course Requirements

NOTE: Weekly submissions are due by midnight (Central Time) on Fridays of the given week, unless otherwise specified.

1. Reading (20%)

A. You will read all of 1 Samuel to Song of Songs, in any version you like. International students: you may read the Bible in your own language. You must read each book at one sitting. This is an essential part of the course experience and may not be waived.

B. You should read the chapters in each textbook before you watch the corresponding lectures on those biblical books.

Note: You will account for your reading by submitting reading reports each week, under Blackboard. All readings must be done by the week indicated below Please use the links under the Assignment page in Blackboard to submit your reading reports. Questions? Contact the course T.A., Jenni McSwain ().

2. Forums (5%)

Several discussion forums are scheduled throughout the term. These are an integral part of the class experience, and you will be graded on the degree of your participation as well as the incisiveness of your comments. The intent of these forums is to encourage class interaction, so please be creative, stimulating, trenchant, and wise in your comments!

3. Worksheets (35%)

Eight worksheets are to be completed and submitted on the dates indicated. These usually will be on important passages, and most will cover a different aspect of the exegetical task (grammatical, literary, theological, practical, etc.). You should complete your work on the worksheets before watching the lectures for that week, since the in-class discussions of the worksheets that you will see in the online lectures are based on the assumption that you have completed the work before the discussion. Late submissions of worksheets are penalized four points per day (excluding Sundays), except for such circumstances that a congregation would accept for a pastor’s missing a Sunday sermon. The lowest worksheet (or one missed) will be dropped.

4. Exams (40%)

Two unit exams (non-cumulative) will be given, according to the schedule below. Procedures will be announced later for taking them. They will cover the Bible reading, textbook readings, worksheets, and class lectures and discussions. Study guides for these exams are posted under Course Documents in Blackboard.

Grading Summary

Reading / 20%
Forums / 5%
Worksheets (7) / 35%
Exam I / 20%
Exam II / 20%
Total / 100%

Grading Scale

96-100 / A
94-95 / A-
91-93 / B+
88-90 / B
86-87 / B-
83-85 / C+
80-82 / C
78-79 / C-
75-77 / D+
72-74 / D
70-71 / D-
0-69 / F

Academic Course Policies: Please familiarize yourself with the catalog requirements as specified in Academic Course Policies document found on the Syllabus page in Blackboard. You are responsible for this information, and any academic violations, such as plagiarism, will not be tolerated.


COURSE SCHEDULE (OT 502)

NOTE 1: Weekly submissions are due by midnight Central Time on Fridays of the given week (i.e., at the end of Friday), unless otherwise specified.

NOTE 2: The course format depends heavily on your doing most of the work ahead of time. Please work at getting into a rhythm whereby you complete one week’s work by Friday, and begin the next week’s work by the next day (Saturday) or Monday, at the latest. Every effort has been made to even out the work load week by week, but some weeks’ work loads will of necessity be heavier than those of other weeks. You are encouraged to work ahead during weeks that the load is especially light.

NOTE 3: The work is listed below each week in roughly the order in which it should be done. Normally, you should read the Bible and textbook readings before watching the corresponding lectures. The worksheets must be done before watching the audio-video discussions on these.

Week 1 (Jan 11-15):

Topic: Introduction to Old Testament Historical Literature

A-V (1): Watch the introductory video clip, which introduces the course.

A-V (2): Watch the introductory devotional for this week.

Forum: By Tuesday, post an introduction to yourself, including

·  where you live (and where you are from originally, if this is different)

·  something about your family

·  what type of ministry you are in

·  how far along in Bethel’s program you are

·  an interesting “factoid” about yourself that would not come out in most everyday conversations.

Read: Howard, chap. 1

A-V (3): Watch introductory lecture on OT historical literature

Submit: Reading Report 1: Howard, chap. 1.

Week 2 (Jan 19-22):

NOTE: This week’s deadline is one day later, due to Martin Luther King Day on Jan. 18.

Topic: 1-2 Samuel

Read: 1-2 Samuel

Howard, chap. 5

“The Student, the Fish, & Agassiz” (on the class Web site)

Do: Worksheet 1

Forum:

(1)  By Wednesday, post 100-150 words of your own reactions to your reading of 1-2 Samuel. This can be at either or both of two levels: (a) Your reaction to reading entire books like 1-2 Samuel at one sitting. What was the experience like? (b) Things that you noticed in 1-2 Samuel this time that you’d never seen (or appreciated) before.

(2)  By Thursday, post a 50-100 word reaction to the exercise of outlining 1-2 Samuel. Comment on any aspect of the task that you care to.

(3)  By Friday, post a 100-150 word reaction to “The Student, the Fish, and Agassiz.”

A-V: Watch the devotional for this week.

Watch all the lectures on 1-2 Samuel.

Submit: Reading Report 2: 1-2 Samuel; Howard, chap. 5.

Worksheet 1

Week 3 (Jan 25-29):

Topic: 1-2 Kings

Read: 1-2 Kings

Howard, chaps. 6-7

Do: Worksheet 2

Forum: ------

A-V: Watch the devotional for this week.

Watch all the lectures on 1-2 Kings.

Submit: Reading Report 3: 1-2 Kings; Howard, chaps. 6-7.

Worksheet 2

Week 4 (Feb 1-5):

Topic: 1-2 Chronicles

Read: 1-2 Chronicles

Howard, chap. 8

Do: Worksheet 3

Forum:

(1) By Wednesday, post any questions or comments that you like about 1-2 Kings and/or 1-2 Chronicles in 100-150 words. (You must post something.)

(2) By Friday, post responses to any two of your fellow students’ postings (50-100 words each).

A-V: Watch the devotional for this week.

Watch all the lectures on 1-2 Chronicles.

Submit: Reading Report 4: 1-2 Chronicles; Howard, chap. 8.

Worksheet 3

Week 5 (Feb 8-12):

Topic: Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther

Read: Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther

Howard, chaps. 9-10

Do: ------

Forum: ------

A-V: Watch the devotional for this week

Watch all the lectures on Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.

Take: Exam I

Submit: Reading Report 5: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther; Howard, chaps. 9-10.

Exam 1

EXAM I Due: Feb 15 by Midnight, Central Time

Week 6 (Feb 15-19):

Topic: Hebrew Poetry

A-V (1): Watch the lecture on Hebrew Poetry.

Do: Worksheet 4 (by Thursday)

A-V (2): Watch the lecture on Psalm 1. Watch this only after submitting Worksheet 4.

Forum: By Friday, post any reactions you have to your experience of studying Psalm 1.

Submit: Worksheet 4 (by Thursday)

Week 7 (Feb 22-26):

Topic: Introduction to the Psalter

Read: Psalms 1-72, 73-150 (two sittings)

G. Wilson, "The Shape of the Book of Psalms," Interpretation 46 (1992), 129-42. [See under “Course Documents”]

Do: Worksheet 5

Forum: By Thursday, post your answer to the first question on Worksheet 5. (You should also submit the entire Worksheet 5 in Blackboard as usual).

A-V: Watch the devotional for this week.

Watch the lectures on “Introduction to the Psalter – I & II.”

Submit: Reading Report 6: Psalms; Wilson article

Worksheet 5

Week 8 (Mar 1-5):

Topic: Psalm Types: Praises and Laments

Read (1): Bullock, chap. 4

A-V (1): Watch the all lectures/discussions on praise & thanksgiving psalms

Read (2): S. Carney, "God Damn God: A Reflection on Expressing Anger in Prayer," Biblical Theology Bulletin (Oct 1983), 116-20 [See under “Course Documents]

Do: Worksheet 6

Forum: (1) By Wednesday, post your work on Worksheet 6 (both questions). Please also submit worksheet 6 in Blackboard as usual.

(2) By Friday, post responses to any two of your fellow students’ postings (50-100 words each).

A-V (2): Watch the devotional for this week.

Watch all the lectures/discussions on lament psalms

Submit: Reading Report 7: Bullock, chap. 4.

Worksheet 6

Week 9 (Mar 8-12):

Topic: Introduction to Wisdom Literature, and Proverbs

Read: Proverbs

Bullock, chap. 5

Do: Worksheet 7

Forum: ------

A-V (1): Watch the devotional for this week

Watch the lecture on “Introduction to Wisdom Literature.”

A-V (2): Watch the lecture on Proverbs

Submit: Reading Report 8: Proverbs; Bullock, chap. 5.

Worksheet 7

Week 10 (Mar 15-19):

Topic: Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Job

Read: Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Job

Bullock, chaps 6, 7, 3

"A Man and His God" (ANET, 589-91); "The Babylonian Theodicy" (ANET, 601-4) [See under “Course Documents”]

Do: Worksheet 8

Forum: ------

A-V: Watch the devotional for this week.

Watch all the lectures on Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Job.

Take: Exam Two

Submit: Reading Report 9: Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Job.

Reading Report 10: Bullock chaps. 6, 7, 3.

Worksheet 8

Exam Two

EXAM II Due: March 22 by Midnight, Central Time

7