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: