rev. 10-6-2011 (rev. 5-2014)
Gateway Seminary
REQUIRED Course Template
Old Testament Introduction I – S1112
Number of Credit Hours: __3___
Grade Type: __X__ A/F ____P/F
Prerequisites: _NONE______
Required for degree(s): _ALL______
Listed Faculty: OT Faculty______
Course Template Approval/Revision Date: _6/5/12 (6/2014)______
Material marked by (**) are required to be copied verbatim into the syllabi for this course.
**COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course of a foundational introduction to the content, background, interpretation, and critical studies of the Old Testament, with a survey and study of the books of the Torah and the first two books of the Former Prophets.
**REQUIRED COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of the two-course Old Testament requirement the student will possess and evidence
1) an introductory graduate-level understanding of the Old Testament’s:
Authority as canonical Scripture;
Literary content, contexts, genre, semantics, structures;
Historical, cultural, and geographic settings;
Theological concepts and messages;
2) a demonstrated ability to conduct solid research - based on an introductory knowledge of:
Old Testament hermeneutical issues, methods and tools including Appropriate information literacy; and
3) basic skill in properly interpreting the Old Testament and applying it to modern, multi-cultural life.
This Biblical Studies course addresses both A) those Essential Leadership Characteristics which concern the Biblical text, its interpretation and application and B) Degree Objective #1 articulated for each and all of our Masters Degrees: Exhibit an introductory graduate-level understanding of the Bible's content, contexts, structure, and messages; and demonstrate the ability to conduct solid research with a goal of properly interpreting and applying the Bible to modern life. (NOTE: some specific degrees may have wording that abbreviates this).
**SEMINARY POLICY ON ACADEMIC CREDIT AND WORKLOAD EXPECTATIONS
In all Gateway face-to-face, hybrid or online courses, the Seminary assigns a workload of approximately 45 clock hours of academic learning activities per academic credit hour earned. Traditional in-class format normally apportions 15 hours of in-class instruction and30 hours of instructional exercises to be completed outside of class meetings per credit hour granted. For androgogical reasons, individual courses may adjust the ratio of assignments inside and outside class meeting times.
**MANDATORY ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES
GGBTS engages in regular assessment of its academic programs. Student participation is essential to this process through the following three activities.
1. CoursEval Assessments – Each semester a link to a CoursEval survey for each course taken will appear in the student's MyGateway page. Students are required to complete this online evaluation of course/instructor no later than the last scheduled meeting of the class. A summary of results (without student ID) is released to the professor only after grades have been submitted for the course.
2. ePortfolio Reflections - All degree-seeking students must reflect on the work completed as part of required courses by commenting upon the manner in which the course contributed to his/her growth in relation to at least five Essential Leadership Characteristics selected by the student (see http://www.gs.edu/about/our-mission/ for the complete list). These reflections must be recorded in the student's ePortfolio and a copy emailed to the professor no later than the last scheduled meeting of the class.
REQUIRED COURSE COMPONENTS
The following "required course components" MUST be incorporated into the course assignments in all offerings of this course. Additional course components may be added by the instructor. For each hour of academic credit, course components requiring approximately 15 hours of classroom activities and 25-30 hours of outside activities must be indicated. Courses designed for hybrid or online delivery must include a comparable level of course work.
The student will be exposed to the following basic subject areas:
· Inspiration and Authority issues.
· Canonical history and issues (including introduction to Apocryphal literature).
· Hermeneutical history, issues, and tools.
· Geography (physical and cultural) of the ANE. An Atlas is required and a “history” may be used in addition.
· Historiographical issues.
· History of the biblical period through the period of the Judges.
· Archaeology (anthropology, social science) and its relation to the biblical text.
· Survey of the literature (form, structure, content, style, genre, authorship, etc.) of the 7 books from Genesis – Judges.
· Introduction to basic theological themes and issues found in Genesis-Judges.
· Introduction to and rudimentary evaluation of basic research tools (periodical literature, commentaries, special studies, etc.).
The student will be expected to master the following skills and or minimum content:
· Ability to locate and evaluate periodical literature for its usefulness in interpretation of the OT.
· Demonstrated rudimentary conceptual framework for the many issues involved in OT studies.
· Basic knowledge of the literature and content, including the reading of Genesis-Judges.
· Basic understanding of the theological issues inherent in these books.
· Ability to produce written material commensurate with graduate education. This will entail one major (or more than one minor) research project.
The student will be expected to develop a conceptual framework for:
· The complexity and multi-faceted nature of Old Testament study and interpretation, into which the student will begin to integrate her or his own understanding of the issues and theological application of the biblical text.
· The nature and value of the OT (as foundational to the NT, as instruction for the Christian life, as an illustration of worship, and as the revealing of the nature, character and person of God) within a proper interpretive framework.
· A method of honestly and humbly dialoging with others.
The student will demonstrate affective growth in the following areas:
The student should develop growth in the areas of properly founded convictional strength balanced with a humility born of an understanding of the complexities involved in the human/divine interaction inherent in hermeneutics. An increased love and appreciation for the nature and character of the Author and how God has worked in God’s world will be a natural outgrowth of this study. The student should also develop a greater patience for those who hold different views regarding issues which are not clear cut in the text. Because of the great complexity of the subject matter to be mastered, the student’s prayer life should improve.
REQUIRED ASSESSMENT MECHANISMS
The following "required assessment mechanisms," MUST be incorporated into the course assignments in all instances of this course. Additional assessment mechanisms may be added by the instructor.
NONE
DELIVERY FORMAT
No limitations so long as the required content is covered in a responsible manner and student progress is appropriately evaluated. Any approved format may be utilized.
The following list is suggestive not exhaustive: formats may include Lecture, Discussion, Question and Answer, Case Studies, Research Projects, Take Home Assignments, and the use of educational technologies.
REQUIRED RESOURCES
The Bible
An Atlas
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
Alter, Robert. The Art of Biblical Narrative. Boulder, CO: Basic Books, 1981.
______. The Art of Biblical Poetry. Boulder, CO: Basic Books, 1985.
Alter, Robert and Frank Kermode, eds. The Literary Guide to the Bible. Cambridge: Belknap-Harvard Press, 1987.
Birch, Bruce C., et al. A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1999.
Bright, John. A History of Israel. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1981.
Brisco, Thomas C. Holman Bible Atlas: A Complete Guide to the Expansive Geography of Biblical History. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1998.
Childs, B. S. Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1979.
Currid, John D. Doing Archaeology in the Land of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1999.
Dumbrell, William J. The Faith of Israel: A Theological Survey of the Old Testament. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002.
Fee, Gordon D., and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1993.
Hamilton, Victor P. Handbook on the Historical Books. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001.
______. Handbook on the Pentateuch. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1985.
King, Philip J. and Lawrence E. Stager. Life in Biblical Israel. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001.
Matthews, Victor H. and Don C. Benjamin. Old Testament Parallels: Laws and Stories from the Ancient Near East. New York: Paulist Press, 1997.
Mazar, Amihai. Archaeology of the Land of the Bible: 10,000-586 B.C.E. New York: Doubleday, 1990.
McCurley, F. R. Ancient Myths and the Biblical Faith. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1983.
McKenzie, Steven L., and Stephen R. Haynes, eds. To Each Its Own Meaning: An Introduction to Biblical Criticisms and Their Application. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1999.
Newsom, Carol A., and Sharon H. Ringe, eds. The Women’s Bible Commentary. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1992.
Weinfeld, M. Deuteronomy and Deuteronomic School. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1972.
Westermann, Claus. The Promise to the Fathers: Studies on the Patriarchal Narratives. Translated by D. E. Green. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1980.
Plus various commentaries and other resources.