7
E A S T T E X A S B A P T I S T U N I V E R S I T Y
SYLLABUS FOR THE SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN STUDIES
DEPARTMENT OF RELIGION
BLAKE F. DOVER, MA.
RLGN 1320.03(SPRING 2015,SCRB 207,MWF, 1:00-1:50 pm)
INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT
I. COURSE DESCRIPTION: an introduction to the background, history, literature, and
religion of the Hebrew people as revealed in the Old Testament and related literature.
Special consideration will be given to the theological message of the Old Testament text.
II. COURSE TEXTBOOKS:
7
· Bible (translation of your choice)
· Tullock, John H. The Old Testament Story. 9th ed. Revised by Mark McEntire. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2012.
ISBN-10:0-205-09783-9
ISBN-13:978-0-205-09783-8
III. INTEGRATING FAITH AND LEARNING:
The text of the Bible is the foundational document of the Christian faith; therefore, knowledge of and commitment to genuine Christian faith require a thorough encounter with the biblical text. This encounter involves recognition of the roles of both faith commitments and of thoughtful reflection. The Bible contains summonses to faith: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deut. 6:5, NRSV); “Believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1, NRSV). The Bible alsopresents the reader with invitations to reasoned discourse: “Come now, let us argue it out, says the Lord” (Isa. 1:18, NRSV); “Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you” (1 Pet. 3:15, NRSV).
Faith and learning must begin with God and what we know about the universe from Christian doctrine. Thus, we can factor into the learning process certain basic tenets:
1. God is eternal. Though personal, he is an infinite, all-powerful, and perfect
spiritual being, beyond the capacity of any human’s total comprehension.
2, God is the creator of an orderly, patterned natural universe, in which God continues
to be active.
3. All things, animate and inanimate, were made to please and glorify him.
4. Humans are the highest level of creation because they are made in God’s image.
As such, they have distinctive, God-like capacities. Among them are self-
consciousness (identity), a sense of morality, a desire for ultimate truth, and
a longing for intimacy.
5. Humans are the trustees of the earth but are flawed by an inherent imperfection
called sin. This flaw manifests itself in rebellion, pride, self-interest, and
conflict.
6. Despite human imperfection, God desires a personal relationship with each human
being. This relationship is made possible by the work of his son, Jesus,
who atoned for the imperfections of humankind by his death and resurrection.
7. Jesus is the human essence of God and is the standard by which all humans are to
measure themselves and their conduct.
8. God has revealed himself generally through the awe-inspiring means of nature and
more specifically through the special revelation of scripture.
9. God infuses those who believe in him with a part of his personality called the Holy
Spirit, who guides our thinking toward truth.
10. There is but one singular truth; it is God’s truth. Hence our knowledge of God
guides our search for truth, and what we find to be verifiable reality in our
academic pursuits (in whatever field it takes place) introduces us to more of God.
In this course, we will be studying the text of the Bible, as well as the context of the biblical world in which the people of the Bible lived and the text was produced. This study will acknowledge and appreciate the status of the biblical text as the theological reflection of a faith community and as the inspired word of God. Simultaneously, we will engage in thoughtful examination of the social, historical and cultural backgrounds, literary structure, and vocabulary of the biblical text. Recognizing the value and importance of allapproaches to the study of the Bible, we will be engaging in the integration of faith and learning as we pursue the objective of comprehending the biblical message.
IV.GENERAL STUDENT-LEARNING OUTCOMES:
· The student will demonstrate familiarity with the historical, theological, literary, cultural, geographical, and social background of the Old Testament.
· The student will display understanding of the chronological framework of the Old Testament.
· The student will exhibit comprehension of the content, purpose, themes, authorship, structure, and message of each of the books of the Old Testament.
· The student will demonstrate knowledge of the process of canonization and biblical criticism.
· The student will be able to identify the major characters, locations, concepts, and events in the Old Testament and the Ancient Near East.
· The student will demonstrate knowledge of the ten principles of servant leadership and the ability to apply these principles to an Old Testament character and to her/himself.
V. COURSE OUTLINE:
· The Book and Those Who Study It
· The Geographical and Historical Settings for the Old Testament Prior to 1200 B.C.E.
· Israel Looks at the Beginnings
· Israel Becomes a People: Exodus and Wilderness
· Israel Gains a Home: Joshua and Judges
· The Beginning of the Monarchy: Samuel and Saul
· Israel’s Time of Glory: David and Solomon
· The Division of the Monarchy I: From Jeroboam (922 B.C.E.) to Hoshea (722/721
B.C.E.)
o The 8th-Century Northern Prophets: Amos, and Hosea
· The Division of the Monarchy II: Judah: From Rehoboam (922 B.C.E.) to Ahaz (715
B.C.E.)
o The 8th-Century Southern Prophets: Isaiah and Micah
· 7th-Century Judah: From Hezekiah (715 B.C.E.) to Josiah (609 B.C.E.)
o The 7th-Century Prophets: Nahum, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Habakkuk
· Judah and the Babylonian Exile: From Jehoahaz (609 B.C.E.) to Zedekiah (587/586
B.C.E.)
o The 6th-Century Prophet: Ezekiel
· The Post-Exilic Period: Judah Revised
o The Post-Exilic Prophets: Haggai and Zechariah
o The Post-Exilic Books: Ezra and Nehemiah
· A Legacy of Israel: Wise Men and Psalm Singers
o Introduction to Wisdom Literature
o Introduction to Biblical Poetry
o Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, and Psalms
· The “Persian” and “Between the Testaments” Periods
o Obadiah, Malachi, Daniel, Esther, Ruth, Jonah, and Joel
o Introduction to Biblical Poetry
o Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, and Psalms
VI. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
· Students should overview the pertinent biblical material and read the assigned pages in the textbook prior to each class session.
· Students will complete seven unit tests and one comprehensive final. Each test will be final over the material covered to that date. Questions will come from the textbooks, the biblical material, class discussions and activities, and lectures. Each test is worth 100 points. Students who are absent on the scheduled test day due to a school-related activity must schedule to take the test early. A student who is absent due to what the professor determines to be an unavoidable emergency may be allowed to take the original examination. The professor reserves the privilege to deny a student the opportunity to take a make-up examination if the reason for missing the examination is unacceptable.No make-up exams can be taken after the last regular scheduled class before the final examination.
Examinations missed and not rescheduled will be graded a "0."It is the student's responsibility to arrange with the professor the taking of the makeup examination.
1. Make-up examinations will be given ONLY on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month.Dates for this Spring 2015 are:Jan. 26,Feb. 2, 16,Mar. 2, 23,Apr. 6, 20
2. Make-up examinations will be given in SCRB 207 at 3:00 p.m.
3. Students must get approval from the professor(s) to take the make-up examination.
4. Professors will give Mrs. Debra Summers the examination with the student’s name written on it along with the date the student is to take the exam.
5. The scheduling of the make-up examinations are the responsibility of the professor, not Mrs. Debra Summers, for she cannot make the determination as to whether or not the student’s reason for missing the exam is approved by the professor.
Concerning final examinations, please note the following:
The final examination is as follows:
RLGN 1320.03, MWF, 1:00: Monday, April 27, 2014, 1:00-2:50 p.m.
Please do not make any arrangements that conflict with this date and time. You will not be allowed to take the test other than at the time and date indicated, unless one of the following applies:
Students may request a change in or special administration of their final exam for the following reasons:
1. Four scheduled exams on the same day
2. Serious personal illness
3. Death of an immediate family member
For full information, please see REQUEST TO RESCHEDULE THE FINAL EXAM on the forms page of the ETBU website.
· In order to assist you in your study for the examinations, I will post sample study questions for YOU to complete prior to each examination. The answers to these study questions can be found in four places: the textbook, the Bible, the supplemental reading, and/or class lectures and discussions. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO COMPLETE THE STUDY QUESTIONS. I will be happy to clarify the study questions, if they are unclear. If you have any problems with completing the study questions, you can ask questions only during the class period in which we cover that material. No direct answer will be given any point after the class lecture and discussion. YOU MUST READ AND COMPLETE THE QUESTIONS PRIOR TO THE CLASS MEETING COVERNING THE MATERIAL FOR ME TO GIVE YOU ASSISTANCE.Students WILL NOT submit these questions to the professor for grading and credit.
· Students are asked to complete the on-line evaluation of the course. For completing the survey, five points will be added to the final test grade.
· Students will complete a comparative essay relating to the principles of servant leadership. The assignment is as follows: please go tohttp://www.butler.edu/volunteer/resources/principles-of-servant-leadership/and review the article concerning the ten principles of servant leadership. Then choose an Old Testament character and write an essay of no less than 750 words detailing how the Old Testament character did or did not exhibit each one of the ten principles of servant leadership. Then write an essay of no less than 250 words indicating how YOU do or do not exhibit each one of the ten principles of servant leadership.Assignment due April 15, 2014. A ten point deduction per day will be assessed on late papers.
· Students are expected to be prepared and to be able to dialog with the professor relating to the assigned material for each day. An automatic participation grade will be given to each student each day. A reduction of the participation grade will occur if the student demonstrates the lack of ability to interact with the professor concerning the assigned material.
· To encourage learning, students will be awarded one point per day for participating in ACE. Minimum participation is one hour, and the weekly log form must be completed with the appropriate signatures and information. The points earned will be applied to the upcoming test; these forms must be turned in to the professor prior to the test. Five points maximum for each test.
· Students are to be aware of the school's policy of Academic Integrity. Academic integrity is one of the most important values maintained by East Texas Baptist University. Violations of academic policies are considered serious breaches of both personal integrity and ETBU's student code of conduct. Plagiarism is defined as the act of appropriating or giving out as one's own the literary or artistic work of another. Cheating is defined as falsifying work, copying the work of another person, allowing another to copy your work, and/or the use of unauthorized helps.Any student who is found guilty of breaking the University’s policy of academic integrity (i.e., cheating, plagiarism, etc.) forfeits any chance of receiving credit and has earned a F for the course.In addition, religion majors are expected to abide by the religion department academic honor code: (http://www.etbu.edu/christian-studies/religion-department/honor-code/).
· Students with a disability may request appropriate accommodations for this course by contacting the Office of Advising and Career Development in Scarborough Hall, Room 104 and providing the required documentation. If accommodations are approved by the Disability Accommodations Committee, the Advising Office will notify you and your professor of the approved accommodations. You must then discuss these accommodations with your professor.
· In accordance with the current ETBU policy, food and drinks are prohibited in classrooms. Water in approved containers is acceptable. Approved water containers include squeeze bottles with tops and hard plastic cups with a screw-on lid.
VII. COURSE ATTENDANCE, ABSENCES, PARTICIPATION, AND BEHAVIORS:
· Students are expected to attend all class sessions. Please be in class and be on time. An automatic failing grade will be earned if the allowed percentage of absences set by East Texas Baptist University is exceeded. According to school policy, to be eligible to earn credit in a course, the student must attend at least 75% of all class meetings.
· If a student chooses to withdraw from this course, he/she will continue to be considered as a member of the course (i.e., accumulating absences) until the student completes the appropriate withdrawal form, meets with the professor, and receives the professor’s permission to withdraw from the course. If a student exceeds the number of allowable absences prior to process noted above, he/she will have earned a “WF” for the course and will not be allowed to withdraw from the course.The last day to withdraw from this course without penalty is Friday, April 2, 2015.
· Constant tardiness, as well as constant early departures,disrupts the class; therefore, in order to discourage such behavior, three (3) late arrivals or three (3) early departures will constitute one absence.It is the student’s responsibility to make the professor aware of her/his presence in the classroom if she/he arrives late.
· Please turn off all electronic equipment that makes a sound during class (e.g., cell phones, PDA alarms, and beepers). You are not to be seen using your cell phone for any purpose (calling, text messaging, etc.) and/or listing to an ipod or any other electronic devise that does not pertain to the day’s subject matter.