OTS 502-EL Old Testament Survey II: Prophetic, Poetic, and Wisdom Literature LOGOS EVANGELICAL SEMINARY LOGOS EVANGELICAL SEMINARY Credit Unit: 3
Spring Semester 2016 (Jan 18-May 6)
Daisy Yulin Tsai Ph.D. Skype: daisy.yulin.tsai
daisytsai@les.edu
COURSE SYLLABUS I. COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course surveys the significant literary, theological, and hermeneutical issues of
Prophetic (Isaiah through Malachi), Poetic (Lamination, Psalm, and Song of Solomon) and Wisdom Literature (Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes). Special focuses and assignments are designed to help and develop students’ application of the issues to their Christian
spirituality, ministries, and life today.
II. COURSE OUTCOMES: As a result of this course, students will be able to:
Spirituality: apply the learned spiritual issues on wisdom literature to his/her reflection of spirituality. This will be assessed by students’ Self-directed Learning Project.
Knowledge: master the general content and message of each book and demonstrate basic knowledge of the literary, theological, and hermeneutical issues of each book. This will be primarily evaluated by students’ Reading and Mid-term Exam.
Ministry: to set up his/her ministry goal(s) and strengthen skills and knowledge in gifted areas. This will be estimated by students’ Self-directed Learning Project.
Life: start or improve his/her daily praying life and sharing his/her learning with classmates. This will be evaluated by students’ Project of Praying with the Psalms and Presentation.
III. COURSE REQUIRMENTS:1
1. Reading: Students are responsible to read all the biblical books and textbooks, whether assigned or chosen by the student himself/herself (A Form of Reading Plan will be
provided in Dropbox). He/She must at least keep up with “Assignments Due” column in the course schedule below. Working ahead is welcomed and encouraged. Please turn in the Reading Plan at the end of the semester by May 2 (*Graduates, please turn in
everything by Apr 30).
1Students are expected to spend two hours for every hour spent in class for preparation (including reading textbooks and materials, preparing tests, and doing research & writing their papers, etc.). In other words, students should devote at least 6 hours of preparation per week for this class.
2. Mid-term Exam: Students will take a multiple choice exam for the first half of the course material.
3. Project of Praying with the Psalms: Students may consult at least one of the following books (or others approved by the instructors) with his/her reading of the book of Psalms, and plan a project of daily praying life that will implement in this semester, and possibly, the future years. The details of steps and requirements will be given in the first class. Peterson, Eugene H. Answering God: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer. Reprint Edition.
New York: HarperOne, 1991. 中文版—畢德生，《回應上帝：用詩篇禱告》，
香港：天道，2006。
___________. Praying with the Psalms: A Year of Daily Prayers and Reflections on the
Words of David. New York: HaperOne, 1993. 中文版—畢德生，《詩情禱語：
與詩篇一起禱告》，台北：校園，2000。
Brueggemann, Walter. Praying the Psalms: Engaging Scripture and the Life of the Spirit. Second Edition. Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2007.
4. Self-directed Learning Project in Ministry and Spirituality: Based on the result of spiritual gifts tests2, students have to design a self-directed learning project, which should be achievable and assessable in spirituality, ministry, life, and/or knowledge related to the issues in the wisdom literature. The details of steps and requirements will be given in the first class. Please report the result of your test and the topic of your project to the instructor by Feb 15.
5. Presentation: Students are required to present his/her Paper/Project in class. You may record a 10 minute video clip and post it on Youtube (private link is acceptable) so classmates can go online to watch and comments, as well as ask questions. You are required to respond to questions. Please inform the instructor and others of the link. Your report and post should be done by May 2.
*THREE IMPOTANT THINGS FOR WRITING YOUR PROJECTS/PAPERS: 1. You are always welcome to discuss questions about the topic or writing of your project/paper. Email and Skype are the best means for online students to talk to the instructor.
2. Please carefully read the PDF file of “How to Write Term Paper/Essay & Obtain Your Grades” written by the instructor if this is the first time you take the instructor’s course. This instruction will be given at the Second week of the class.
3. Plagiarism: It is students’ responsibility to avoid plagiarism.3 A student who plagiarizes will get a zero in that paper, and if the extent of offense is serious, he/she will be failed in this course. The actions of offense, regardless of degrees of seriousness, will be reported to Academic Dean and Student Conduct Committee.
IV. GRADING:
1. Reading 10%
2. Mid-term Exam 20%
3. Project of Praying with the Psalms 60%*
4. Self-directed Learning Project
5. Presentation (5% your speech, 5% your response to the reader and classmates
10%
Total 100%
*Students will have the freedom to decide on his/her desired percentage of these two items. Details will be given in the first class.
Grading Scale
A 93.5-100.0 C 73.5-76.4 A- 90.0-93.4 C- 70.0-73.4 B+ 86.5-89.9 D+ 66.5-69.9
B 83.5-86.4 D 63.5-66.4
B- 80.0-83.4 D- 60.0-63.4 C+ 76.5-79.9 F 59.9 or below V. COURSE TEXTBOOKS AND MATERIALS:
Required: Students are allowed to choose correspondent Chinese versions of these textbooks; however, he/she is responsible to keep up the same pace with the assigned reading schedule of their English versions.
Longman III, and R. B. Dillard, An Introduction to the Old Testament. Second Edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006. 中文版—狄拉德、朗文，《21世紀舊約導論—全新增
訂版》，台北：校園，2012。
*In addition to Longman’s book, choose from the following books and read a total number of 800 pages (English), 1,000 pages (Chinese), or 900 pages (English+Chinese) Bullock, C. Hassell. An Introduction to the Old Testament Prophetic Books. New Edition. Chicago: Moody, 2007.
3 Please refer to school Student Handbook, or go http://www.plagiarism.org/ to see various types of plagiarism.
McConville, J. Gordon. Exploring the Old Testament: A Guide to the Prophets. Downers
Grove: IVP, 2008. 中文版—麥康維爾，《舊約文學與神學：先知書》，香港：天道，
2008。
VanGemeren, Willem. Interpreting the Prophetic Word: An Introduction to the Prophetic Literature of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996. 中文版—范甘麥倫，
《舊約先知書概論》，South Pasadena: 麥種，2013。
Lucas, Ernest C. Exploring the Old Testament: A Guide to the Psalms & Wisdom
Literature. Downers Grove: IVP, 2008. 中文版—盧卡斯，《舊約文學與神學：詩篇與
智慧文學》，香港：天道，2010。
Bullock, C. Hassell. An Introduction to the Old Testament Poetic Books. New Edition.
Chicago: Moody, 2007. 中文版（譯自舊版）—卜洛克，《舊約詩歌智慧書導論》，
台北：華神，1999。建議讀英文新版
Murphy, Roland E. The Tree of Life: An Exploration of Biblical Wisdom Literature. Third Edition. Grand Rapids: W. B. Eerdmans, 2002. 中文版—Murphy, Roland E.，《生命之
树：圣经智慧文学之探索》，第三版，北京：宗教文化出版社，2010。
Brown, William P. Character in Crisis: A Fresh Approach to the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: W. B. Eerdmans, 2002.
Alter, Robert. The Art of Biblical Poetry. Second Edition. New York: Basic Books, 2011. Fokkelman, J. P. Reading Biblical Poetry: An Introductory Guide. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2001. 中文版—Fokkelman, J. P. ，《聖經詩歌導讀》，香港：天道，2008。
Reserved:
Alter, Robert. The Wisdom Books: Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes: A Translation with Commentary. New York: Norton, 2010.
Boda, Mark J., and J. Gordon McConville. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Prophets. Downers Grove: IVP. 2012.
Brueggemann, Walter. Praying the Psalms: Engaging Scripture and the Life of the Spirit. Second Edition. Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2007.
Chisholm, Robert B., Jr. Handbook on the Prophets. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002.
Crenshaw, J. L. Old Testament Wisdom: An Introduction. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2010.
Leclerc, Thomas L. Introduction to the Prophets: Their Stories, Sayings, and Scrolls. New York: Paulist, 2007.
Longman, Tremper III, and Peter Enns, ed. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings. Downers Grove: IVP. 2008.
Perdue, Leo G. Wisdom Literature: A Theological History. Louisville: Westminster John
Knox, 2007.
Petersen, David L. The Prophetic Literature: An Introduction. Louisville: Westminster
John Knox, 2002. 中文版—大衛‧彼得森，《先知文學導論 》，香港：道聲，2007。
Peterson, Eugene H. Answering God: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer. Reprint Edition.
New York: HarperOne, 1991. 中文版—畢德生，《回應上帝：用詩篇禱告》，
香港：天道，2006。
___________. Praying with the Psalms: A Year of Daily Prayers and Reflections on the
Words of David. New York: HaperOne, 1993. 中文版—畢德生，《詩情禱語：
與詩篇一起禱告》，台北：校園，2000。
*Additional bibliography (books and articles) will be suggested in class. VI. COURSE CALENDAR
Week Day Course Schedule Assignments Due
1 1/18 Introduction to the Course The Basic Concept, Roles, and Ministries of Prophets in Ancient Israel
2 1/25 The Neo-Assyrian Period: Jonah, Amos, Hosea
Bible: Jonah, Amos, Hosea Textbooks:
3 2/1 The Neo-Assyrian Period: Isaiah and Micah
Bible: Isaiah and Micah Textbooks:
4 2/8 The Neo-Babylonian Period: Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Jeremiah
Bible: Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Jeremiah
Textbooks: 5 2/15 The Neo-Babylonian Period:
Nahum, Ezekiel, Obadiah, Lamentations
Bible: Nahum, Ezekiel, Obadiah, Lamentations Textbooks:
6 2/22 The Persian Period: Daniel, Haggai, Zechariah
Bible: Daniel, Haggai, Zechariah
Textbooks: 7 2/29 The Persian Period: Joel and
Malachi
Bible: Joel and Malachi Textbooks:
8 Tue (3/17) Mid-term exam
Introduction to the poetic and wisdom Literature
Figurative language in the Bible
8 3/14 Job Bible: Job
Textbooks:
9 3/21 Psalms Bible: Psalms
Textbooks:
10 3/28 Proverbs Bible: Proverbs
Textbooks:
11 4/4 Ecclesiastes Bible: Ecclesiastes
Textbooks:
12 4/11 Song of Solomon Bible: Song of Solomon Textbooks:
13 4/18 Final Paper/Project presentation
14 4/25 Final Paper/Project presentation (If needed)
VII. COURSE POLICIES: 1. Course Copyright Statement:
Copyright 2015 by the instructor, Daisy Yulin Tsai. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise specified, all the materials distributed in this course are for your personal and non-commercial use, and you may not modify, copy, distribute, transmit, display, perform, reproduce, publish, license, create derivative works from, transfer, or sell any information, software, products or services obtained from this course without the written permission from the instructor, Daisy Yulin Tsai. Any form of audio or video recording is prohibited. Photo-taking of the course content is illegal unless it is by the school authority with the instructor’s permission. (The school: Logos Evangelical Seminary, 9358 Telstar Ave. El Monte, CA 91731).
2. Use of Resources:
It is expected that students will use a variety of resources in the completion of their assignments. Students are expected to use the resources which are currently available in Logos’ library, as well as various academic levels of monographs and journal articles (such as ATLA online data). Reputable Internet sources may also be used. Students should avoid using the free Internet commentaries such as those available at
http://www.ccbiblestudy.org/index-T.htm. Acceptable commentary series include, but are not limited to:
Word Biblical Commentary (WBC)
Apollos Old Testament Commentary (AOTC) The Expositor’s Bible Commentary (EBC) revised New American Commentary (NAC)
NIV Application Commentary (NIVAC) The New Century Bible Commentary (NCBC) International Critical Commentary (ICC) New International Biblical Commentary (NIBC)
The Anchor (*Yale) Bible Commentary (ABC/*AYBC)
Students may also use patristic or classical works from church history such as those
produced by Calvin, Luther, Tertullian, Barth, etc. Many of these resources are available at www.ccel.org. Questions concerning the usefulness of secondary resources should be sent to your course instructor.
