OT621 - Former Prophets (English Text)

  • 0 Standard Tuition Fee
  • 4
    Credit Points
  • 0.125 EFT 
  • 8
    AQF level
  • old testamentUnit Discipline

Corequisites

OT501.

Exclusions

OT631.

Set Text

This unit counts towards the "set text" unit requirements of courses.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will

A. Know and understand

1. The contents and structure of the Former Prophets.

2. The themes and theological teaching of the Former Prophets.

3. The major issues in contemporary study of  the Former Prophets.

4. The nature and methods of Old Testament exegesis.

5. Selected chapters of the Former Prophets.

6. The relevance of the Former Prophets to contemporary ministry.

7. A selection of historic and contemporary interpretations of the Former Prophets.

B. Be able to

1. Use sources such as biblical and theological dictionaries, commentaries and on-line resources.

2. Recognise literary form, genre and structure.

3. Recognise issues involved in translation, including text, grammar and word issues.

4. Evaluate matters relating to authorship, date and purpose.

5. Utilise the historical, religious, social and cultural contexts.

6. Relate passages to their literary context.

7. Establish the meaning of significant words and phrases.

8. Trace inter-textual references and allusions.

9. Discuss the main themes, arguments and theological teachings.

10. Exegete a selection of chapters from the Former Prophets.

11. Discuss interpretations of the Former Prophets.

C. Be in a position to

1. Exegete the text of the Former Prophets for personal understanding and for use in ministry contexts.

2. Integrate perspectives from the Former Prophets into biblical interpretation and Christian thinking.

3. Apply the teaching of the Former Prophets to situations and issues in contemporary Christianity and society.

4. Evaluate interpretations of the Former Prophets.

Content

1. The theology of the Former Prophets, with special reference to either (a) Joshua and Judges, or (b) 1 & 2 Samuel, or (c) 1 & 2 Kings, including such motifs as prophecy, temple, kingship, the people of God, the Ark of the Covenant, Deuteronomistic History.

2. Exegesis of the English text of 1 Samuel 1–12; 2 Samuel 5–7, 15–18, or comparable passages drawn from either (a) Joshua & Judges, or (b) 1 & 2 Samuel, or (c) 1 & 2 Kings.

Set Readings

Theological Themes and Traditions

Chisholm, R. B. and D. M. Howard, Interpreting the Historical Books: An Exegetical Handbook (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2006).

Harrison, R., Old Testament Times (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2005).

Satterthwaite, P. E., and J. G. McConville, Exploring the Old Testament: Vol. 2: A Guide to the Historical Books (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2007).

Commentaries

Anderson, A. A., 2 Samuel (Dallas, TX: Word, 1989).

Arnold, B. T., 1 and 2 Samuel (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003).

Birch, B. C., ‘1 & 2 Samuel’ in The New Interpreter’s Bible (Vol. II, Nashville: Abingdon, 1998).

Brueggemann, W., 1 & 2 Samuel (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1990).

Cartledge, T. W., 1 and 2 Samuel (Macon, GA: Smyth & Helwys, 2001).

Evans, M. J., 1 & 2 Samuel (Carlisle: Paternoster, 2000).

Gerbrandt, G. E., Kingship According to the Deuteronomistic History (Atlanta: Scholars, 1986).

Klein, R. W., 1 Samuel (Nashville: Nelson, 2008).

McCarter, P. K., 1 Samuel (New York: Doubleday, 1980).

McCarter, P. K., 2 Samuel (New York: Doubleday, 1984).

Peterson, E. H., 1 & 2 Samuel (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1999).

Polzin, R., Samuel and the Deuteronomist, 1 Samuel (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1989).

Tsumura, D. T., The Book of 1 Samuel (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2006).