Winter 2010/Pasadena
OT502
Allen

OT502: THE HEBREW PROPHETS. Leslie C. Allen.


DESCRIPTION: The Former Prophets and Latter Prophets in the Old Testament canon, i.e., the historical books from Joshua to Kings and the prophetic books from Isaiah to Malachi, will be studied via selected readings from the New Revised Standard Version text of the Bible. Historical, theological, literary, and canonical perspectives will be considered.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: While the preacher brings God's Word to the people, the seminary teacher has the prior task of bringing ministerial students to the Bible, in which the revelation of the being and will of God is anchored in ancient history, literature, and culture. From this study in the Old Testament will emerge its recurring agenda of human need or perplexity and divine response, and also issues of spirituality as God's people or individual servants wrestled with problems of living and either found or resisted divine grace.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course will enable students (1) to know better this crucial part of the Old Testament, (2) to understand its literary features and (3) the historical and/or cultural situations in which it was written, and (4) to develop ability in interpreting the Bible.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet for two-hour sessions twice a week for lectures and discussion.

REQUIRED READING:

Childs, B. S. Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1979.

Newsome, J. D. The Hebrew Prophets. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1986.

Rendtorff, R. The Old Testament: An Introduction. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1986.

RECOMMENDED READING:
LaSor, W. S., Hubbard, D. A., Bush, F. W. Old Testament Survey. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996.

Soggin, J. A. Introduction to the Old Testament. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1989.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: Reading of the set texts before class is recommended. An exegetical paper will be required. There will be a midterm and a final examination.

PREREQUISITES: None, but it is recommended that students take OT501 before taking OT502.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Old Testament "B" (OTB).

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes. Exegetical comments and an essay will be required.

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (11/09)