Trinity School for Ministry
Spring Term 2015
COURSE SYLLABUS
Department: Biblical Studies
Course Title: Introduction to the Old Testament
Course Number: OT 500 OL
Credit Hours: 3
Dr. Sarah Lebhar Hall
shall@tsm.edu
904-662-0157
I. Course Description
This course is designed to provide the student with an introduction to the history of
salvation as expressed in the OT. It explores the major themes and events recorded in the
OT with special attention to the relationship of the OT to Jesus Christ. Our interaction
with the OT is intended not only to increase your knowledge, but also encourage spiritual
growth and skill in using the OT in ministry.
II. Course Goals: By the end of this course students will:
1. Gain a working knowledge of the history, major themes, and content of the OT.
This includes a basic understand of each book’s historical background, content,
message and place in the canon of Scripture.
2. Gain a familiarity with the historical and cultural ancient Near Eastern context of
the OT.
3. Describe Israel’s geography and the location of historical sites in the ancient Near
East that are important for our understanding of the OT.
4. Understand how and what the Old Testament teaches us about Jesus.
5. Appreciate the relevance of the OT for teaching, preaching, and Christian living.
III. Course Objectives: In order to achieve these goals, students will:
1. Read and discuss a written introduction to the Old Testament.
2. Read, summarize, and evaluate a work of Old Testament theology.
3. Develop the skill to identify major persons, places and events in the ANE and the
OT.
4. Develop the ability to communicate the richness of the OT books to a diversity of
people in diverse ministry settings.
IV. Course Outcomes: As a result of this class, students will:
1. Be able to identify major persons, places, and events in the ANE that are
important for understanding the OT.
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2. Preach and teach from the OT with greater biblical-theological sensitivity, and
with an emphasis on how the various portions of the OT point to and find their
fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Trinity Outcomes: The general set of outcomes Trinity desires for each of our graduates
includes the following:
1. The student will recognize and identify the biblical theology evident in the course
work.
2. The student will be able to articulate an Anglican understanding of biblical,
historical, systematic, and pastoral theology.
3. The student will be able to effectively communicate the Christian message to a
diversity of people in order to advance the mission of God.
4. MDiv: The student will be prepared to effectively lead in a variety of Christian
communities. MAR: The student will be equipped to apply scholarship to the life
of the church in his or her chosen theological discipline. STM: The student will
be equipped to successfully pursue further independent research and postgraduate study in his or her chosen theological discipline.
This course will further all four of these goals. It will help students to understand the
biblical theology of the Old Testament, and how it applies to the new covenant
community (Outcome 1). This attention to biblical theology is a classically Anglican
approach to Scripture (Outcome 2, see Article XX of The XXXIX Articles of Religion).
The course will focus on equipping students to closely study, understand, and
communicate the material in the Old Testament in a way that benefits both the church
and the academy (Outcomes 3 and 4).
Along with these objectives related to knowledge and skill that will be assessed through
written work, there are other objectives that are important, even though development in
these areas will not be formally assessed. Seminary education is a not just a matter of
growing in knowledge and skill, but also in one’s relationship with God and one’s
Christian character as a disciple of Jesus. I pray that your work in this course will deepen
your love for God and for your neighbor.
Assessment of Learning Outcomes: The above outcomes will be assessed through
1. Quizzes
2. Participation in Class Discussion
3. Book Reviews
4. Final Exam
V. Course Texts
Our main textbook will be the Old Testament. Read as much as possible of the Old
Testament during the course of our study together (perhaps skipping, if necessary, any
biblical books that you have read completely within the past two years). Use a reliable
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English translation (not a paraphrase) of the OT such as the ESV, RSV, NASB, NIV,
NKJV. This is a lot of reading, but familiarity with the text of the OT is necessary if we
are to appreciate the big redemptive picture that unfolds in the Bible. On the final exam,
you will be asked to report what percentage of the Old Testament you were able to finish.
This report will be used to determine extra credit for the final exam grade.
Other Texts (not all required)
Goldsworthy, Graeme. The Goldsworthy Trilogy: Gospel and Kingdom: A Christian
Interpretation of the Old Testament. Carlisle: Paternoster Press, 2001.
Longman, Tremper III and Ray Dillard. An Introduction to the Old Testament [2nd ed.]
Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006.
Wright, Christopher J. H. Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament. Downers Grove:
IVP, 1992.
Recommended Resources
OT39 Old Testament Flashcards, available from the Trinity bookstore (while supplies
last) and the Walk Thru the Bible website [www.walkthru.org. Go to “Store” and then
“Teaching Tools.”] $11.95 for the print version, and $3.99 for the iPhone app.
Harrison, R. K. Introduction to the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1969.
Kaminski, Carol. Casket Empty. Casket Empty Media, 2012.
Longman, Tremper III. Making Sense of the Old Testament: Three Crucial Questions.
Grand Rapids: Baker, 1999.
Richter, Sandra L. The Epic of Eden: A Christian Entry into the Old Testament. Downers
Grove: IVP, 2008.
OT39 Old Testament Flashcards, available from the Trinity bookstore and from the Walk
Thru the Bible website [www.walkthru.org. Go to “Store” and then “Teaching Tools.”] .
$11.95 for the print version, and $3.99 for the iPhone app. These are silly but helpful!
VI. Course Requirements:
1. ASSIGNMENT ONE: Each week, students are required to post one comment (or
one response to someone else’s comment) on the class website, in response to the
lecture and/or reading assignment. This can be a question, an observation, a
realization, or a reflection. Often, the professor will pose a question to initiate the
discussion. Each post should be between 50 and 200 words. Please work to be
concise and stay within these limits. Also, limit yourself to two posts at the most
each week; this will give space for everyone in the class to be involved in the
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discussion. The professor will read and monitor the class discussion, and will
occasionally have input, but the bulk of the discussion will be between the
students themselves. Specific questions for the professor (about assignments, etc.)
should be directed to her via email. [20% of final grade]
2. ASSIGNMENT TWO: Read EITHER Gospel and Kingdom [Goldsworthy] OR
Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament [Wright] and write a seven page
review. In the first three pages write a brief summary of the major points. For the
last four pages write a critical analysis of particular features of his discussion that
you found interesting, helpful or troublesome. Due March 16 [20% of final
grade]
NB: Please stick to the page limits. I will not read beyond page 8.
Trinity requires students to use the SBL style of writing. See: Patrick H. Alexander, et al.
The SBL Handbook of Style, Second Edition. Atlanta: SBL Press, 2014. See also:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/44040953/SBL-Sample-Paper
3. ASSIGNMENT THREE: Weekly Quizzes. The material for these quizzes will
be posted on the class website. During the weekly quiz, you will also report what
percentage of the week’s lectures you listened to, and what percentage of the
textbook reading you completed. I will drop your lowest quiz grade before
tallying the total. The material in each of these quizzes will also appear on the
final exam. [20% of final grade]
4. ASSIGNMENT FOUR: Comprehensive Final Exam based primarily on class
lectures and quiz materials. Your percentage of Old Testament reading will also
be reported as part of this exam, and can provide extra credit for the exam. This
Exam will be posted online, and must be completed in the presence of a proctor
[40% of final grade].
5. ATTENDANCE and PARTICIPATION: Failure to participate in class
discussions may adversely affect your final grade.
Incompletes are not normally given and are given only in the most serious of cases. They
are not granted as a way to extend the semester due to incomplete work. In order to
request an incomplete, student must obtain the necessary form online and submit it to the
professor who will list the specific assignments to be completed, with due dates. The due
date cannot be beyond six weeks from the last day of class. [Requirements differ for
intensive courses.] The form will be submitted to the Academic Dean for final approval.
As per the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) requirements, several samples of
student work may be randomly selected and used as a class artifact as part of an ongoing
assessment of courses and degree programs. Students’ names will be removed from any
work used for this purpose.
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VII. Course Grading
I will use letter grades or their equivalent to mean the following:
B (80-89): The thought and expression are clear and the information is accurate. The
discussion is broad and deep enough to indicate a solid understanding of the issue. By
broad I mean that sufficient aspects of the topic are covered and by depth I mean that
enough supporting and illustrating material is offered to flesh out the basic thought.
C (70-79): The material shows an adequate grasp of the topic, but at points the discussion
is unclear, inaccurate, narrow or shallow.
D (60-69): The material shows something close to an adequate grasp of the topic, but is
notably defective according to one or more of the criteria.
F (below 60): The material does not indicate that the student has an adequate grasp of the
topic, or it is severely defective according to the criteria.
A (90-100): The material is exceptional. Usually this means that it is not only clear and
accurate but also develops the topic in breadth and depth beyond what is necessary for a
good understanding of it. Such material is often, though not always, marked also by
creativity, exceptional insight, and/or relatively extensive research.
VIII. Course Schedule:
Week of:
Jan 26
 Online lecture: Why study the OT?; Biblical Overview; Tanach; Course overview
 Read Longman and Dillard, pp. 13-37
 Online post (due Friday): Please post a short introduction of yourself. Where do
you live? What do you do? What do you eat for breakfast?
Feb 2
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Online lecture: Pentateuch overview; Genesis; Hebrew Narrative
Read Longman and Dillard, pp. 38-62
Online post (due Friday): one reflection from lecture and reading
Quiz (due Friday): Timeline
Feb 9
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Online lecture: Exodus and the Wilderness Wanderings; Hebrew Legal Material
Read Longman and Dillard, pp. 63-119
Online post (due Friday): one reflection from lecture and reading
Quiz (due Friday): Ancient Near East (ANE) map
Feb 16
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Online lecture: Introduction to the Former Prophets; Conquest and the Period of
the Judges (Joshua, Judges, Ruth)
Read Longman and Dillard, pp. 120-150
Online post (due Friday): one reflection from lecture and reading
Quiz (due Friday): Israel Map
Feb 23
 Online lecture: The Monarchy, united and divided (Samuel – Kings, Chronicles)
 Read Longman and Dillard, pp. 151-201
 Online post (due Friday): one reflection from lecture and reading
 Quiz (due Friday): Timeline
March 2
 Online lecture: Introduction to the Latter Prophets; The 8th century prophets
(Hosea, Amos, Isaiah, Micah)
 Read Longman and Dillard, pp. 397-408; 420-34; 449-55
 Online post (due Friday): one reflection from lecture and reading
 Quiz (due Friday): Geography of the Prophets
March 9: Reading Week
 Book report due March 16.
March 16
 Online lecture: 8th century prophets, cont.: Isaiah
 Read Longman and Dillard, pp. 301-320.
 Online post (due Friday): one reflection from lecture and reading
 Quiz (due Friday): The Prophets in Perspective
March 23
 Online lecture: The Collapse of the Northern Kingdom, and the Continuation of
the Southern Kingdom; Introduction to the 7th century prophets (Nahum,
Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Habakkuk)
 Read Longman and Dillard, pp. 456-76; 321-40
 Online post (due Friday): one reflection from lecture and reading
 Quiz (due Friday): Geography of the Prophets
March 30: Holy Week
 No assignment
April 6
 Online lecture: The Exilic Period: Daniel and Ezekiel; minor prophets with
disputed dates (Joel, Obadiah, Jonah).
 Read Longman and Dillard, pp. 354-396; 409-19; 435-48.
 Online post (due Friday): one reflection from lecture and reading
 Quiz (due Friday): ANE map
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April 13
 Online lecture: Post-Exilic Period and Restoration (Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi;
Esther, Ezra-Nehemiah).
 Read Longman and Dillard, pp. 477-502; 202-23.
 Online post (due Friday): one reflection from lecture and reading
 Quiz (due Friday): Israel map.
April 20
 Online lecture: Introduction to Hebrew poetry; Lamentations and Psalms
 Read Longman and Dillard, pp. 26-29 [review]; 342-53; 237-64.
 Online post (due Friday): one reflection from lecture and reading
 Quiz (due Friday): Timeline
April 27
 Online lecture: Introduction to the Wisdom Literature: Song of Songs, Proverbs
 Read Longman and Dillard, pp. 289-300; 265-277.
 Online post (due Friday): one reflection from lecture and reading
 Quiz (due Friday): Prophets in Perspective
May 4
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Online lecture: Wisdom Literature: Job and Ecclesiastes
Read Longman and Dillard, pp. 224-36; 277-88
Online post: (due Friday): one reflection from lecture and reading
Quiz (due Friday): Geography of the Prophets
Exams must be submitted online by MAY 15.
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