Fall 2015 Syllabus
Brother Bryan Samms
I.
Course Description
This course is an examination of the canon, text, inspiration, and interpretive data which will help us gain a better understanding of the Old Testament. Detail will be given to the authorship, date, theme, liberal criticism, secular, and historical background of Old Testament Scriptures.
Course Objectives II.
The student who successfully completes this course will be able to:
Institutional
Objectives*
Program
Objectives*
Course
Requirement
1
Articulate in matters of Old Testament inspiration and canon
2
Show a thorough knowledge of themes and settings of Old Testament books
3
Have logical answers to critical liberal scholars in regards to Old Testament issues
1, 2, 6
1
1, 2, 3
A, B
A
D
Tests, Projects
Tests
Projects, Tests
4
Apply clearly the truths learned when confronted with contemporary situations
1, 2, 3, 6 A, B, D Projects
*Institutional and Program Objectives are published in the current catalog.
III.
Course Requirements
Students may find the lecture notes for this class at samms.wcbc.edu. Each student will be required to have the notes printed or downloaded to their computers. Each student is expected to bring them to class every day.
1.
Quizzes
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Each student will be required to read the text book according to the class schedule provided, and will be quizzed weekly on their reading. This book can be purchased at the campus bookstore.
Archer, Gleason L., Jr. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction. 4 th
ed . Chicago:
Moody Publishers, 2007.
2.
Essay Questions
Each student will write six answers to the following essay questions. They must be at least 750 words in length, and must have a bibliography page with five referenced sources. Each essay must be turned in to the instructor by 5:00pm on the scheduled due date. No late projects or emailed projects will be accepted.
Essay 1
Describe the JEDP Documentary Hypothesis. Then, provide a brief biblical and historical accounting of the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch.
Due Tuesday, September 15 th
Essay 2
A new believer approaches you after having watched a National Geographic film on
Archaeology that questioned the veracity of the Bible. How would you respond to this? Provide a believer’s perspective on archaeology and the Bible. Also, provide at least one example of archaeology supporting Scripture.
Due Tuesday, September 29 th
Essay 3
Should the Apocrypha be included in the canon of Scripture? Why?
Due Tuesday, October 13 th
Essay 4
On page 89 of your textbook, Archer includes a section on “How to Identify a
Liberal”. Find an example of one of these in liberal writings and then refute their claims with Scripture.
Due Thursday, October 29 th
Essay 5
How do we justify the extermination of the Canaanites in the book of Joshua? What is the difference between the extermination of the Canaanites in the Bible and
Muslim Jihad?
Due Thursday, November 12 th
Essay 6
What is the theme and spiritual significance of the books of Haggai and Zechariah?
How do they differ? How could you apply them to a contemporary audience in preaching?
Due Tuesday, November 24 th
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3.
Tests
You will have three written exams in this class. The dates for these tests are listed in the course schedule below. Each test covers the lectures and the textbook reading leading up to that test date. The final exam will be comprehensive over the entire class.
4.
Outside Reading
Each student will complete 1000 pages of outside reading in Old Testament
Introduction and write an annotated bibliography on the subject. An example of an annotated bibliography can be found at samms.wcbc.edu.
Due Tuesday, December 1 st
IV.
Class Schedule
Date
Week 1: September 8, 10
(Job Fair on Thursday)
Material Covered
What is Old Testament
Assignments
Thursday: NO CLASS
Week 2: September 15, 17
Week 4: September 22, 24
Week 5: September 29, Oct. 1
Introduction?; The Importance of the Old Testament
Old Testament Inspiration; The
Canon of the Old Testament
Antilegomena; Apocrypha
Preservation
Archaeology
Tuesday: ESSAY #1
Thursday: QUIZ 1 - Archer 1-2
Tuesday: QUIZ 2 - Archer 3, 5
Week 6: October 6, 8
Week 7: October 13, 15
Introduction to Higher Criticism;
Documentary Theory of Mosaic
Writings
Pentateuch
Tuesday: ESSAY #2
Thursday: UNIT 1 TEST
Thursday: QUIZ 3 - Archer 6-10
Week 8: October 20, 22
Week 9: Oct. 27, 29 (Missions
Conference Week)
Week 10: November 3, 5
Historical Books
Major Prophets
Obadiah; Joel; Jonah
Tuesday: ESSAY #3
Thursday: QUIZ 4 - Archer 14-18
Tuesday: QUIZ 5 - Archer 19-20
Tuesday: QUIZ 6 - Archer 23-24,
26-29
Thursday: ESSAY #4
Tuesday: UNIT 2 TEST
Week 11: November 10, 12
(College Days on Thursday)
Week 12: November 17, 19
Week 13: November 24
(Thanksgiving Break on Thurs.)
Week 14: December 1, 3
(Interview Days on Thurs.)
Week 15: December 8, 10
V.
Amos; Hosea; Micah
Nahum; Zephaniah; Habakkuk;
Post Exile Books
Wisdom Literature
FINAL EXAM WEEK
Spiritual and Academic Integrity
Tuesday: QUIZ 7: Archer 21-22
Thursday: ESSAY #5
Tuesday: QUIZ 8 – Archer 30-35
Tuesday: ESSAY #6
Thursday : NO CLASS
Tuesday: Outside Reading Due
Thursday: NO CLASS
FINAL EXAM
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Attendance Policy
In your student portal, you are able to track your attendance. You should be checking this weekly. If you miss more than fifteen (15) percent of this class, you will be automatically dropped from the roster and receive an “F” for the course. The amount missed contains the accumulation of tardies, cuts, and any other absences.
Academic Honesty
Cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and any act designed to give an unfair advantage to the student (such as, but not limited to, submitting the same assignment for two courses or providing false or misleading information in an effort to receive a postponement or an extension on a test, quiz, exam, or other assignment) is considered cheating and will not be tolerated.
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is “the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one’s own original work.” Common forms of plagiarism are copying words or ideas and not giving the author credit for them by providing proper reference.
Another author’s specific words must be placed within quotation marks with an appropriate reference given. Another author’s ideas must include an appropriate reference.
VI. Course Grading Factors
Quizzes
Tests
Essay Questions
Outside Reading
20%
45%
30%
5%
VI. A Final Word
It is a real privilege for me to have a small part in training you for the Gospel ministry. I am excited to see how God is going to use your lives in the future. I want you to know that I am available to you. Please feel free to communicate with me through any of the following connection places:
Office 661-946-4663 ext. 3112
Cell
Email
Twitter
(661) 802-6258 bryan.samms@wcbc.edu bryansamms
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