BG 610: Between the Testaments
Fall 2015
Terry W. Eddinger, Ph.D.
(336) 315-8660
teddinger@carolinagrad.edu
Office Hours: M, T, TH 9:00–5:00
I.
Course Description
A study of the history and development of Judaism during the Intertestamental Period. This course
includes an introduction to the literature of the Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, and Dead Sea Scrolls.
II. Course Objectives
KNOWLEDGE
RESEARCH SKILLS
At the end of this course, students will...
 Have gained a general understanding of the
historical connection of the Old Testament with the
New Testament.
 Be able to discuss the development of Judaism in
the Intertestamental Period.
 Have a basic knowledge of Apocryphal,
Pseudepigraphical, and other extra-biblical writings.
At the end of this course, students will...
 Have prepared and presented a paper on Jewish
Institutions.
 Have demonstrated the ability to critically review a
book about the Intertestamental Period.
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
At the end of this course, students will...
 Understand God’s continued working between the
Old and New Testaments to bring about redemption
for his people.
MINISTRY PREPARATION
At the end of this course, students will...
 Be competent in reflecting on the development of
Jewish institutions in preaching New Testament
stories.
III. Required Texts
Harrington, Daniel J. Invitation to the Apocrypha. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999. ISBN: 0-80284633-5.
VanderKam, James C. The Dead Sea Scrolls Today. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2010. ISBN:
080286435X.
VanderKam, James C. An Introduction to Early Judaism. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000. ISBN:
0-8028-464-6.
Vermes, Geza. The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English. New York: Penguin, 1997. ISBN: 07139-9131-3.
A MODERN translation of the Bible with the Apocrypha.
IV.
Course Requirements and Expectations
1. Each student will write a book review on a book concerning the Intertestamental Period. The
review of each book should demonstrate that the student read and understood the book, and have
thought about it. Assume a popular audience for the review. Tell what the book is about, the
slant the author takes on the topic, and give an objective evaluation of the book. Be sure to give
support for your evaluation. Do not just say “I did (or did not) like the book.” The review should
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be 3–5 pages.
2. Each student is required to read the textbooks and required readings according to the schedule in
the syllabus. A statement of on time completion will be submitted to the professor on the last day
of class.
3. Each student will write a topical paper on an issue from the Intertestamental Period. Topics may
include, but are not limited to those discussed in class lectures. Some topics include: The
Essenes, Development of the Pharisees, Development of the Synagogue, Greek Influence on
Early Judaism, or The Impact of the Dead Sea Scrolls on Biblical Studies. The professor must
approve all topics. The paper should be 10–12 pages in length and strictly conform in style to
Kate Turabian, A Manual for Writers, 8th edition and the CGSD Research Paper Handbook.
Students will present their papers in class on the due date. These presentations should be limited
to about 15 minutes.
4. The student will write a 7–8 page paper on a comparison of Genesis 1–Exodus 24 with the Book
of Jubilees. How are the accounts similar? How are they different? What is the theology of
Jubilees that is different from the biblical account? What is the purpose of Jubilees? What is the
point of having two accounts?
5. There will be a Final Exam on the last scheduled day of class.
V.
Grading
Grading will follow the CGSD scale. Percentages are as follows:
Book Review 15%
Topical Paper and Presentation 35%
Paper on Genesis/Jubilees 20%
Attendance and Participation 10%
Final Exam 20%
VI.
Policies.
1. Attendance. Each student must attend class and participate in discussion. Each student will be
subject to penalty of five (5) points subtracted from the final grade for the first absence, ten (10)
additional points subtracted for the second absence, and a failing grade (an “F”) for three or more
absences. The professor may excuse or may not excuse the first absence, based upon the nature
of the circumstance. The student is responsible for obtaining any material missed due to an
absence. Coursework due on the day of an absence must be submitted by the beginning of the
class for which it was scheduled. The professor must be notified before the class to be missed.
Three tardies equals one absence.
2. Tardiness. Classes will begin at the announced time. Because tardiness is disruptive and
deprives the professor of valuable teaching time, three (3) late arrivals will be considered an
absence and will lower the student’s final grade for the course.
3. Laptop Computers and Other Electronic Devices. Students may use laptop computers or other
electronic devices in class for taking notes. However, students should not surf the Internet, check
email, play games, or engage in other non-course related activity on their electronic devices
during class. Such behavior is disrespectful to the professor and fellow students. A student who
has received two (2) warnings concerning misuse of a computer or other electronic device during
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class will forfeit his/her right to use a computer or other electronic device in class.
4. Plagiarism. For written work to demonstrate scholarship and integrity, documentation must be
given for all ideas, paraphrasing, and quotations. Failure to do so is viewed as a very serious
offense. Any assignment containing plagiarized material will be graded “F” and placed in the
student’s file. A future occurrence, if determined to be deliberate, will result in dismissal from
the divinity school. Cheating in any form will be treated in the same manner as plagiarism.
5. Written Assignments. Students are required to use the latest edition of Kate Turabian’s A
Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations and the CGSD Research Paper
Handbook. Professors will not accept papers that do not comply with this policy. Proper format,
grammar, and spelling will factor into the grade the student receives for the paper. Papers are
expected to be submitted on-time, as scheduled by the course professor. All papers are expected
to be new work and cannot be submitted twice at CGSD.
6. Late Work. All work must be submitted by the due date stated on the SCHEDULE. The
professor will not accept late work. All written work must be submitted before the final week of
the half-semester. Assignments can be emailed to the professor who will grade them but not print
them out and return them. If you must miss class, make arrangements to have your work turned
in early. Examinations cannot be taken if all course requirements have not been satisfied.
7. Examinations. Examinations must be taken at the times scheduled in the syllabus.
Postponement of an examination must be requested in writing within two days of the scheduled
date of the exam. The request will be considered only in the case of a major emergency (i.e.,
death in the family or an illness for which you can produce a doctor’s statement).
8. Incomplete. Students have thirty (30) days from the end of the half-semester to complete work
for which they were given an extension by the professor and Director of Student Records. When
course requirements are not met in that thirty (30) day period the final grade will be converted to
an “F” and counted as hours attempted in computing the grade point average for the halfsemester. The request for an extension must be made in writing and include the reasons for
which additional time is needed. Requests will not be considered after the seventh week of class.
A fee will be charged for the extension if granted.
9. Withdrawal. Students must complete the appropriate form when dropping a course. The
withdrawal is not official until the professor and the Director of Student Records have signed the
form. Courses may not be dropped after the fourth week of classes.
VII. Course Schedule
EJ = An Introduction to Early Judaism
IA = Invitation to the Apocrypha
DSST = The Dead Sea Scrolls Today
DSSE = The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English.
Date
Aug 11
Topic
Introduction,
Babylonian Exile,
Persians
Readings
EJ 1–11
Aug 18
Jews in Egypt,
Intertestamental
History
Elephantine Papyri (handout); 1 and
2 Maccabees; EJ 11–52, 62–69; IA
122–151
Assignment*
How does the theology of
the Elephantine papyri
compare to Ezra/
Nehemiah?
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Readings
Assignment*
History cont.,
Qumran, Dead Sea
Scrolls
EJ 150-166; DSST 1–132, 159–203;
DSSE 448–459
Compare the story in the
Genesis Apocryphon with
the story in Genesis
Sept 1
DDS cont.,
Apocrypha
Tobit, Judith, Susanna, Letter of
Jeremiah, Bel and the Dragon; EJ
69–81, 85–88, 115–119, 121–128,
133–137; IA 1–43, 78–102; 170–172
Sept 8
Apocrypha cont.,
Pseudepigrapha
Jubilees; EJ 88–94, 97–102, 119–
121
Sept 15
Pseudepigrapha
cont., Philo and
Josephus
EJ 138–146; Philo On Creation
Sept 22
Sept 29
Oct 6
Jewish Institutions
Paper Presentations
Exam
EJ 175–217
Date
Aug 25
Topic
Compare the story in
Jubilees with the story in
Genesis. Book Review and
Jubilees paper due.
What is Philo’s theology on
creation? How does he
differ from today’s
traditional understanding of
the text?
Topical Paper due.
*Assignments are expected to be turned in on time. Late work does not have to be accepted by the
professor. Any accepted late assignments will be penalized.
VIII. Bibliography
Apocrypha/Pseudepigrapha/Ancient Literature
Charlesworth, James H., ed. The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha. 2 Vols. New York: Doubleday, 1983
and 1985.
Cowley, A. Aramaic Papyri of the Fifth Century B.C. Oxford: Clarendon, 1923.
Delamarter, Steve. A Scripture Index to Charlesworth’s the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha. New York:
Sheffield, 2002.
deSilva, David A. Introducing the Apocrypha: Message, Context, and Significance. Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker, 2002.
Harrington, Daniel J. Invitation to the Apocrypha. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1999.
Jobes, Karen, and Moisés Silva. Invitation to the Septuagint. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2000.
Matthews, Victor H., and Don C. Benjamin. Old Testament Parallels: Laws and Stories from the Ancient
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Near East. 2nd ed. rev. and expanded. New York: Paulist, 1991.
Metzger, Bruce M. An Introduction to the Apocrypha. New York: Oxford University Press, 1957.
Nickelsburg, George W. E. Jewish Literature Between the Bible and the Mishnah. Philadelphia:
Fortress, 1981.
Porten, Bezalel. “The Diaspora: The Jews in Egypt,” in The Cambridge History of Judaism, vol. 1. Ed.
W. D. Davies and Louis Finkelstein. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1984.
Pritchard, James B., ed. The Ancient Near East: An Anthology of Texts and Pictures. 2 Vols. Princeton,
NJ: Princeton University Press, 1958.
. Ancient Near East in Pictures Relating to the Old Testament with Supplement. 2nd deluxe ed.
Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1969.
. Ancient Near East Supplementary Texts and Pictures Relating to the Old Testament. Princeton,
NJ: Princeton University Press, 1969.
. Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament with Supplement. 3rd supplemental ed.
Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1969.
Rost, Leonard. Judaism Outside the Hebrew Canon: An Introduction to the Documents. Translated by
David E. Green. Nashville: Abingdon, 1971.
Russell, D. S. The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1987.
Dead Sea Scrolls
Abegg, Martin G., Peter W. Flint, and Eugene Charles Ulrich, eds. The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible: The
Oldest Known Bible. San Francisco: Harper, 1999.
Campbell, Jonathan. Dead Sea Scrolls: The Complete Story. Berkeley, CA: Ulysses, 1998.
Charlesworth, James H., and Walter P. Weaver, eds. The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Christian Faith: In
Celebration of the Jubilee Year of the Discovery of Qumran Cave I. Faith and Scholarship
Colloquies. Harrisburg, PA: Trinity Press International, 1998.
Collins, John J. The Scepter and the Star: The Messiahs of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Other Ancient
Literature. Anchor Bible Reference Library. New York: Doubleday, 1995.
Collins, John J., and Robert A. Kugler, eds. Religion in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Grand Rapids, MI:
Eerdmans, 2000.
Crawford, Sidnie W. Rewriting Scriptures in Second Temple Times. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2008.
Davies, Philip. Behind the Essenes: History and Ideology in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Atlanta: Scholars,
1987.
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Davis, Michael T., and Brent A. Strawn, eds. Qumran Studies: New Approaches, New Questions. Grand
Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2007.
Eshel, Hanan. The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Hasmonean State: Studies in the Dead Sea Scrolls and
Related Literature. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2008.
Evans, Craig. Noncanonical Writings and the New Testament. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1992.
Fitzmyer, Joseph A. Dead Sea Scrolls and Christian Origins. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2000.
. Guide to the Dead Sea Scrolls and Related Literature. Rev. and Expanded ed. Grand Rapids,
MI: Eerdmans, 2008.
Flint, Peter W., ed. The Bible at Qumran: Text, Shape, and Interpretation. Studies in the Dead Sea
Scrolls and Related Literature Series. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2001.
Gaster, Theodor H. The Dead Sea Scriptures. 3rd ed. New York: Doubleday, 1976.
Magness, Jodi. The Archaeology of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans,
2002.
Martinez, Florentino Garcia. Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition. 2 Vols. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans,
1999.
. The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated: The Qumran Texts in English. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI:
Eerdmans, 1996.
Schuller, E. M. Non-Canonical Psalms from Qumran: A Pseudepigraphic Collection. Harvard Semitic
Studies. Atlanta: Scholars, 1987.
Shanks, Hershel, ed. Understanding the Dead Sea Scrolls: A Reader from the Biblical Archaeology
Review. New York: Random, 1992.
Shanks, Hershel, et al. The Dead Sea Scrolls After Forty Years. Washington, DC: Biblical
Archaeological Society, 1991.
Shiffman, Lawrence. Reclaiming the Dead Sea Scrolls: The History of Judaism, the Background of
Christianity, and the Lost Library of Qumran. Anchor Bible Reference Library. New York:
Doubleday, 1995.
Stegemann, Hartmut. The Library of Qumran: On the Essenes, Qumran, John the Baptist, and Jesus.
Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1998.
Ulrich, Eugene. The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Origins of the Bible. Studies in the Dead Sea Scrolls and
Related Literature. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1999.
VanderKam, James C. The Dead Sea Scrolls Today. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2010.
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Vermes, Geza. An Introduction to the Complete Dead Sea Scrolls. Philadelphia: Fortress, 2000.
. The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English. New York: Penguin, 1997.
Intertestamental History
Ackroyd, Peter R. Israel under Babylon and Persia. New Clarendon Bible, vol. 4. New York: Oxford
University Press, 1970.
Berlin, Andrea M. “Between Large Forces: Palestine in the Hellenistic Period.” Biblical Archaeologist
60, no. 1 (March 1997): 2–51.
Berquist, Jon L. Judaism in Persia’s Shadow: A Social and Historical Approach. Minneapolis, MN:
Fortress, 1995.
Boccaccini, Gabriele. Middle Judaism: Jewish Thought 300 B.C.E. to 200 C.E. Minneapolis, MN:
Fortress, 1991.
Briant, Pierre. From Cyrus to Alexander: A History of the Persian Empire. Winona Lake, IN:
Eisenbrauns, 2002.
Cate, Robert L. A History of the Bible Lands in the Interbiblical Period. Nashville: Broadman, 1989.
Cohen, Shaye J. D. From the Maccabees to the Mishnah. Library of Early Christianity, vol. 7. Ed.
Wayne A Meeks. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1987.
Collins, John J. Between Athens and Jerusalem: Jewish Identity in the Hellenistic Diaspora. 2nd ed. The
Biblical Resource Series. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2000.
Coogan, Michael D. The Oxford History of the Biblical World. New York: Oxford University Press,
1998.
de Blois, L., and R. J. Spek. An Introduction to the Ancient World. Translated by Susan Mellor. New
York: Routledge, 1997.
Ellison, H. L. From Babylon to Bethlehem: The People of God Between the Testaments. Grand Rapids,
MI: Baker, 1976.
Fitzmyer, Joseph A. Semitic Background of the New Testament. The Biblical Resource Series. Grand
Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1997.
Foerster, Werner. From the Exile to Christ: Historical Introduction to Palestinian Judaism.
Philadelphia: Fortress, 1964.
Grabbe, Lesster L. Judaism from Cyrus to Hadrian. 2 Vols. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress,
1991.
Hayes, John, and Sara Mandell. The Jewish People in Classical Antiquity: From Alexandria to Bar
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Kochba. Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox, 1998.
Horsley, Richard A. Scribes, Visionaries, and the Politics of Second Temple Judea. Louisville, KY:
Westminster John Knox, 2007.
Kaiser, Walter. A History of Israel: From the Bronze Age through the Jewish Wars. Nashville:
Broadman & Holman, 1998.
Marks, John H. Visions of One World: Legacy of Alexander. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 1985.
Mendels, Doron. The Rise and Fall of Jewish Nationalism: Jewish and Christian Ethnicity in Ancient
Palestine. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1992.
Neusner, Jacob, and William Scott Green, eds. Dictionary of Judaism in the Biblical Period. Peabody,
MA: Hendrickson, 1999.
Nickelsburg, George W. C., and Michael E. Stone. Early Judaism: Texts and Documents on Faith and
Piety. Rev. ed. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2009.
Pfeiffer, Charles F. Between the Testaments. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1959.
Russell, D. S. Between the Testaments. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1960.
Sanders, E. P. Judaism Practice and Belief, 63BCE–66CE. Philadelphia: Trinity Press International,
1992.
Schürer, Emil. The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ. Rev. and Ed. Geza Vermes,
Fergus Millar, and Matthew Black. 4 Vols. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1973.
Scott, J. Julius, Jr. Customs and Controversies: Intertestamental Jewish Backgrounds of the New
Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1995.
Sherwin-White, Susan, and Amélie Kuhrt. From Samarkhand to Sardis: A New Approach to the Seleucid
Empire. Hellenistic Culture and Society, no. 13. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press,
1993.
Surburg, Raymond F. Introduction to the Intertestamental Period. St. Louis, MO: Concordia, 1975.
Tcherikover, Victor. Hellenistic Civilization and the Jews. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1999.
Tripolitis, Antonίa. Religions of the Hellenistic Roman Age. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2002.
VanderKam, James C. An Introduction to Early Judaism. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2000.
Yamauchi, Edwin M. Persia and the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1990.
Miscellaneous
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Collins, John J., and Daniel C. Harlow, eds. The Eerdmans Dictionary of Early Judaism. Grand Rapids,
MI: Eerdmans, 2010.
Finegan, Jack. Myth and Mystery: An Introduction to Pagan Religions in the Biblical World. Grand
Rapids, MI: Baker, 1989.
Hachlili, Rachel. Ancient Jewish Art and Archaeology in the Diaspora. Boston: Brill, 1998.
Kee, Howard, C., and Lynn H. Cohick. Evolution of the Synagogue: Problems and Progress.
Harrisburg, PA: Trinity Press International, 1999.
Long, A. A. Hellenistic Philosophy: Stoics, Epicureans, Skeptics. 2nd ed. Berkeley, CA: University of
California Press, 1986.
MacMullen, Ramsey. Paganism in the Roman Empire. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1981.
Ogilvie, R. M. The Romans and Their Gods in the Age of Augustus. Ancient Culture and Society Series.
New York: W. W. Norton, 1969.
Saldarini, Anthony J. Pharisees, Scribes, and Sadducees in Palestinian Society. The Biblical Resource
Series. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2001.