Division of Religion and Philosophy
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY RLGN 1301 VC04
Syllabus for Winter 2013 (11 NOV 2013 – 15 FEB 2014)
Dr. Marty Akins
UNIVERSITY MISSION: To educate students in an academically challenging, learning-focused,
and distinctively Christian environment for professional success, lifelong learning, and service to
God and humankind.
I.
COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE: RLGN 1301VC04 Old Testament History
II.
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: An introductory survey of the Old Testament and its
historical literature with special attention to the institutions, religion, and national life of the
Hebrew people.
III.
PREREQUISITE:
IV.
RESOURCES
Required Texts: The Learning Bible, NIV. American Bible Society,
2003. (ISBN: 1-58516-681-2) Written responses may be required over
selected readings.
Other Required Resources: Class/Lecture notes posted periodically
(download from the course in Blackboard).
Suggested Supplemental References Resources:
Introduction to the Old Testament by Roland K. Harrison
Old Testament Survey by William S. LaSor, David A. Hubbard and Frederic W.
Bush and A History of Israel, 3rd ed. By John Bright
Your own research (online and otherwise).
A.
B.
C.
D.
V.
None
COURSE OUTLINE AND CALENDAR
(check the Discussion Board at least 3 times per week!)
Date (week of)
11 NOV
Subject
Intro to the course; Intro to the
Bible and Background of the OT
18 NOV
Quiz 1 over notes & pp. 5-22
The Background of the OT and the
Pentateuch
Assignment
Pp. 5-22
Genesis 1-22, 37-50
Pp. 23-28, 133-36, 219,
262-64, 340-41
Exodus 1-22
25 NOV
THANKSGIVING BREAK—Give Thanks!
Food, Family & Football
02 DEC
Quiz 2 over notes & pp. 23-38, 133-36,
219, 262-64 & 340-41. The Pentateuch
Leviticus 1-7, 19-27;
09 DEC
FIRST EXAM! The Pentateuch & Historical
Books. Joshua 1 & 24, Judges 6-7, Ruth,
1 Sam. 1, 9, 15-17; 2 Sam.7-12; 1
Kngs.1-3, 11-12; 17-22; 2 Kgs.2-4; Amos
1-6, Hos.1-3
Pp. 405-08, 410, 444,
453-54, 469, 501, 513,
574, 650, 711, 730-31
16 DEC
Quiz 3 over notes & Pp. 405-08, 410, 444,
Pp. 734, 776, 792-93,
453-54, 469, 501, 513, 574, 650, 711, 730- 834, 852-54, 859, 87431
75, 902-03
The Historical Books & Poetry, 2 Kings 1820; Habakkuk 1-3; Isaiah 1-9
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23 DEC 2013 –
03 JAN 2014
06 JAN
13 JAN
CHRISTMAS BREAK—Celebrate!
Rest, gifts and catching up. 
Quiz 4 over notes & Pp. 734, 776, 792-93,
834, 852-54, 859, 874-75, 902-03
Job 1-3, 38-42; Psalms 1, 8, 22
Pss. 32, 51, 90-98, 103, 106
Ezra 1; Nehemiah 1-2
The Historical Books & Poetry
SECOND EXAM!
Poetry & Wisdom Books
Pp. 919-34. Psalms
119-134
20 JAN
Quiz 5 over notes & Pp. 919-34.
Wisdom Books & the Prophets.
Pp. 948-62. Prov. 1-5, 31.
Ecclesiastes 1-3; Isa. 49-53
Jeremiah 1, 11-20; Ezek.
1-2, 4-5, 40-48
27 JAN
Quiz 6 over notes & Pp. 948-62.
Prophets.
Pp. 935-47. Daniel 1-6;
Joel 1-3; Micah 4-6
03 FEB
Quiz 7 over notes & Pp. 935-47.
Prophets. Papers due by Wednesday.
Haggai 1-2;
Zechariah 9-14;
Malachi 1-4
10 FEB
FINAL EXAM!! (please complete by
MIDNIGHT, Saturday, February 15)
VI.
ENJOY the
JOURNEY!
OUTCOME COMPETENCIES: Students will
Demonstrate knowledge of the historical, religious, and social context of the Old Testament world.
B. Demonstrate knowledge of some of the critical methods used in Old Testament studies.
C. Demonstrate an understanding of the basic content of the Old Testament and its main teachings
(theological content).
D. Demonstrate knowledge of the canonical process producing a more complete understanding of the
Old Testament.
A.
VII.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
A.
Written Assignments: Students will submit a 1500-word paper on the topic of
their choosing—one that relates to the biblical material we are studying this term.
The papers will be submitted via email and are due by the Wednesday before
the last week of the term. Students will download the class notes from the WBU
website (under Lecture Notes). The material scheduled for each week’s
assignments will be posted during that week unless otherwise noted (it is possible
that each exam’s notes will appear at once under the Lecture Notes tab).
B.
Reading Assignments: Reading assignments in the NIV Learning Bible will be given
to supplement class notes. Page numbers assigned in the NIV Learning Bible are
introductory materials that give background to the biblical text. Readings from the
biblical text itself are assigned according to the traditional method of location, which is
name of book, chapter, and verse. These Bible readings (the chapters mentioned
should be “read quickly” and not laboriously by sounding out every word as I want
you to get an overall understanding of the passages and not necessarily a detailed
memorization of them). All reading assignments should be completed by the end of
the week in which they are listed in the syllabus.
C.
Examinations
1. There will be periodic exams over the reading material from the NIV Learning Bible. The
weeks are listed in which the tests will occur (over the previous week’s reading and the
lecture notes) are listed in the syllabus. These will be timed tests (usually 10 or 15 minutes
allowed) taken via Blackboard.
2. There will be 3 major exams worth 100 points each. Each exam will be final over the
material covered since the prior exam. The three exams will be taken on Blackboard
but will be timed (usually 75 minutes).
D.
Participation Policies: Students are expected to ask questions and respond to those
asked, based upon materials presented. In addition, all students will participate in
class discussions posted on the “Discussion Board.”
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E.
Attendance Requirements: Online Student attendance (from Policy 8.4.2):
1. Student “attendance” in an online course is defined as active participation in the course as
described in the course syllabus. Instructors in online courses are responsible for
providing students with clear instructions for how they are required to participate in the
course. Additionally, instructors are responsible for incorporating specific instructional
activities within their course and will, at a minimum, have weekly mechanisms for
documenting student participation. These mechanisms may include, but are not limited to,
participating in a weekly discussion board, submitting/completing assignments in Blackboard,
or communicating with the instructor.
2. Students aware of necessary absences must inform the professor with as much advance
notice as possible in order to make appropriate arrangements.
3. Any student absent 25 percent or more of the online course, i.e., non-participatory during 3
or more weeks of an 11 week term, may receive an F for that course. Instructors may also file
a Report of Unsatisfactory Progress for students with excessive non-participation.
4. Any student who has not actively participated in an online class prior to the census date for
any given term is considered a "no-show" and will be administratively withdrawn from the
class without record. To be counted as actively participating, it is not sufficient to log in and
view the course. The student must be submitting work as described in the course syllabus.
5. Additional attendance and participation policies for each course, as defined by the instructor
in the course syllabus, are considered a part of the university’s attendance policy.
F. Academic Honesty (Plagiarism): University students are expected to conduct themselves
according to the highest standards of academic honesty. Academic misconduct for which
a student is subject to penalty includes all forms of cheating, such as illicit possession of
examinations or examination materials, forgery, or plagiarism. Plagiarism is the
presentation pf the work of another as one’s own work. It is the student’s responsibility
to be familiar with penalties associates with plagiarism stated in the catalog.
VIII.
DISABLITY STATEMENT: It is university policy that no otherwise qualified disabled person
be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination
under any educational program or activity in the University.
IX.
COURSE EVALUATION
A.
University Grading System
A
90-100
B
80-89
C
70-79
D
60-69
F
BELOW 60
I
Cr
NCr
WP
WF
W
INCOMPLETE**
FOR CREDIT
NO CREDIT
WITHDRAWAL PASSING
WITHDRAWAL FAILING
WITHDRAWAL
**A grade of incomplete is changed if the deficiency is made up by midterm of the next regular
semester, otherwise, it becomes "F". This grade is given only if circumstances beyond the
student's control prevented completion of work during the semester enrolled and attendance
requirements have been met. A grade of "CR" indicates that credit in semester hours was
granted but no grade or grade points were recorded.
B.
Procedure for computations of final grade.
1.
Each major exam is worth 20% of the final grade.
2.
Periodic quizzes are worth 21% of the final grade.
3.
Discussion Board participation is worth 9% of the final grade.
4.
1500-word paper is worth 10% of the final grade.
5.
The final grade will be determined by the total points earned on exams and
written assignments.
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C.
Class Grading Scale:
TOTAL POINTS = 500 POINTS
A = 450-500
C = 350-399
B = 400-449
D = 300-349
F = 0-299
X.
INSTRUCTOR’S INFORMATION
A.
Mailing address: 519 West 4th Street
Denver City, Texas 79323
B.
Phone Number: 806-592-3130 EMERGENCY ONLY: 817-995-1246
E-mail: martyakins@hotmail.com or martin.akins@wayland.wbu.edu
ALWAYS include the following in the subject line: OT VC04
C.
Communication: The primary mode of communication should be email. However, I am not
averse to phone calls in special situations (or if I have not responded to an email within 24
hours). I expect you to be completely familiar with the syllabus (which will most likely require
more than one cursory reading!). Please avoid the attitude of making yourself the “necessary
exception” to every requirement in this course.
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