Summer 2011/Pasadena
Five-week Intensive: July 25-August 26
OT502
McCrory
OT502: HEBREW PROPHETS. Jeff McCrory Jr.
DESCRIPTION: This course provides an overview of the content of the Old
Testament Former (Joshua-2 Kings) and Latter (Isaiah-Ezekiel and
Hosea-Malachi) Prophets, with emphasis on the Latter Prophets. The approach to
address the content is literary and canonical as well as theological and
historical. Consideration will be given to the relevance of this portion of the
Old Testament to the New Testament for teaching/preaching.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Students, through examining this biblical
material, will learn methods and content for recognizing God's presence.
Through working with this material, they will learn how they can continue to
speak in a trajectory with those who spoke in the Former and Latter
Prophets.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students successfully completing this course will have
demonstrated
- familiarity with the narrative from Joshua to Kings with regard to God's
presence in human government, politics, and leadership;
- a knowledge of the major themes and methods of the prophets with regard to
addressing diverse societies and individuals in teaching and preaching;
- an understanding of biblical historical writing informed by and informing
current assessments of history writing in our culture;
- knowledge and practice of a method for moving from text to context in the
whole Bible to application in preaching and teaching.
COURSE FORMAT: This class will meet twice weekly for four-hour sessions for
five weeks. The format will be class lecture, discussion, and presentations by
students. Students should come to class having read all materials.
REQUIRED READING:
- NRSV or TNIV Bible, all sections of Former and Latter Prophets, 500
pp.
- Arnold, B. T, and H. G. M. Williamson, ed. Dictionary of the Old
Testament: Historical Books. InterVarsity Press, 2005. 250 pp. on selected
books and topics.
- Gowan, Donald G. Theology of the Prophetic Books: The Death and
Resurrection of Israel. Westminster John Knox, 1998. 240 pp.
- O'Brien, Julia M. Challenging Prophetic Metaphor: Theology and Ideology
in the Prophets. Westminster John Knox, 2008. 220 pp.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Blenkinsopp, Joseph. A History of Prophecy in Israel.
Revised and enlarged ed. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1996. ISBN:
9780664256395. $29.95.
- Brenner, Athalya. Feminist Companion to Prophets and Daniel.
Sheffield Academic Press, 2002. ISBN: 9781841271637. $34.95.
- Clements, R. Old Testament Prophecy. Westminster John Knox, 1996.
- Koch, K. The Prophets. Vols. 1-2. Fortress, 1982. 1984.
- Nelson, Richard. The Historical Books. Abingdon, 1998.
- Newsome, J. D. The Hebrew Prophets. Westminster John Knox, 1984.
- Petersen, David L. The Prophetic Literature. Westminster John Knox,
2002.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
- Class preparation shown through homework (10%)
- Student presentations on individual prophets (35%)
- Midterm exam on former prophetic (historical) books (20%)
- Second exam on latter prophetic books (35%)
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Old Testament "b"
(OTB).
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (CORRECTED July 21, 2011)