OT551: Syllabus Page 5
OT 551: Syllabus Dr. Peter T. Vogt
Fall 2012 Bethel Seminary
September 26–December 6 Office: A201; Phone: 651-635-8501
Thursday, 8:00 a.m-12:00 a.m. Email:
P.O. Box: 7005
Website: www.petertvogt.com
Genesis-Ruth (Hebrew)
Course Description:
An examination of the books of Genesis through Ruth, including the contents, major themes, and theological messages of each. Special emphases are placed on the nature and significance of God’s promises and covenants with His people. Special attention is also given to legitimate ways of reading the Bible. This involves understanding the particular qualities of narrative literature and of Old Testament law, and developing a valid hermeneutic for interpreting them. Prerequisites: OT521/522/531 and BT501.
Goals and Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
1. Be able to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the contents of the books Genesis-Ruth.
2. Understand the theological themes present in each book, and develop an appreciation for and understanding of the key theological themes in the books.
3. Demonstrate basic skills of interpreting biblical narratives.
4. Understand how to interpret biblical law, and to demonstrate the ways in which it is relevant to the modern Christian.
5. Be aware of the ways in which each book supports the themes and theology of the Old Testament as a whole, and how these themes relate to and support the themes and theology of the New Testament.
6. Understand the ways in which extra-biblical literature from the Ancient Near East aids in exegesis of the biblical material and apologetics.
7. Grow in confidence and ability to work with the Hebrew text of the covered books.
8. Gain an appreciation for the importance and relevance of the Old Testament in general, and these eight books in particular, for the modern Christian.
Required Texts:
Alexander, T.D. and D.W. Baker, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch. Downers Grove: Intervarsity, 2003. ISBN: 0-8308-1781-6
Brown, A. Philip II and Bryan W. Smith. A Reader’s Hebrew Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2008. ISBN: 0-310-26974-1. (Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia is an acceptable alternative, though the Reader’s Hebrew Bible is highly recommended.)
Collins, C. John. Did Adam and Eve Really Exist?: Who They Were and Why You Should Care. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011. ISBN: 978-1-4335-2425-7
Long, V. Philips. The Art of Biblical History. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan, 1994. ISBN: 978-0310431800
Rasmussen, Carl G. Zondervan Atlas of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010. ISBN: 978-0310270508 (Please bring to each class for possible reference).
Vogt, Peter T. Interpreting the Pentateuch: An Exegetical Handbook. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-8254-2762-6
Additional Material :
“Atrahasis,” in Myths From Mesopotamia: Creation, the Flood, Gilgamesh and Others, trans. S. Dalley, 1-38. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989.
“Akkadian Epic of Creation (Enuma Elish),” in The Context of Scripture. Vol. 1, Canonical Compositions From the Biblical World, ed. Hallo, W. W. and K. L. Younger. Leiden: Brill, 1997.
Carey, Benedict. “Forget What You Know About Good Study Habits.” The New York Times, 6 September 2011, accessed 10 September 2011 at www.nytimes.com.
Harrell, Daniel. “The 30-Day Leviticus Challenge.” Christianity Today (August 2008): 30-33.
Howard, D.M., Jr. “Joshua,” “Judges,” “Ruth” in An Introduction to the Old Testament Historical Books (Chicago: Moody, 1993).
Kitchen, Kenneth A. “The Patriarchal Age: Myth or History?” Biblical Archaeology Review 21/22 (1995): 48-57, 88-95.
McConville, J. Gordon. “Deuteronomy: Torah for the Church of Christ.” European Journal of Theology 9, 1 (2000): 33-47.
Vogt, Peter T. "Social Justice and the Vision of Deuteronomy." JETS 51,1 (2008): 35-44.
OT501/551 Genesis-Ruth Online material (available in Moodle).
Assignments:
1. Daily Hebrew and English Bible Reading (10%):
You are to read carefully the entire contents of the books Genesis-Ruth in any version desired. International students may read the Bible in their own language. Each book is to be read in one sitting. You are free to read ahead, of course, but you must have completed the reading of the biblical material by the week in which that book is examined.
You will be provided with a schedule of daily readings from the Hebrew Bible. These are to be completed on the dates indicated, and you will turn in a record of your reading.
2. Examinations and Quizzes (50%): There will be one examination in this course, representing 20% of your final grade. You will be expected to demonstrate your mastery of the key themes and theology of the books covered, and their contribution to our understanding of theology. You will also be asked to translate and from key texts covered in the class. The exam is closed book.
In addition, you will have six quizzes. One of these will be content quizzes, and the other five Hebrew quizzes. The content quiz is worth 5% of your final grade. The content quiz will be taken online in Moodle, and will test your mastery of the content of the biblical books covered in this course. You may take the quiz at any time you feel ready during the course, but it must be completed by midnight (Central time) on the date indicated in the Course Schedule. Please note that you have other assignments due at the end of the quarter, and you will need to plan accordingly to avoid having all assignments due in the same week.
Hebrew quizzes will assess your ability to engage in meaningful analysis of Hebrew texts. Each will represent 5% of your final grade.
Study guides for the exam and content quiz will be provided.
3. Interpretation in Community: Exegetical Paper or Project (30%): Students will work with a partner and together will choose to complete either an exegetical paper or an exegetical project according to the guidelines provided in this syllabus. This is to be a collaborative effort, and both students will receive the same grade for the assignment.
4. Reflection Paper (10%): It is my prayer (and conviction) that the materials we will be studying will be relevant to your life and ministry as Christians. To facilitate awareness of the relevance of the materials we are studying, students will complete the reflection paper in accordance with the guidelines in this syllabus.
Time Allotment:
Reading/viewing 34 hours
Class time 32
Exams and quiz 16
Interpretation in Community 34
Reflection Paper 4
TOTAL 120
Grading
Your work will be graded according to the following scale:
• 95 – 100 = A • 85 – 86 = B- • 75 – 76 = D+
• 93 – 94 = A- • 83 – 84 = C+ • 72 – 74 = D
• 91 – 92 = B+ • 79 – 82 = C • 70 – 71 = D-
• 87 – 90 = B • 77 – 78 = C- • 69 and below = F
In addition to the student meeting due dates and using correct English, the following will serve as general criteria for grade levels:
A / Excellent work submitted; outstanding evidence of ability to synthesize and utilize course knowledge; initiative expressed in preparing and completing assignments; creativity and originality manifested in assignment process and outcomes; positive contributions verbalized in class; and consistency and thoroughness of work submitted.B / Good work submitted; substantial evidence of ability to analyze and utilize course knowledge; positive contributions verbalized in class; and consistency and thoroughness of work submitted.
C / Satisfactory performance and thoroughness of work submitted; moderate evidence of ability to utilize knowledge of the subject; and satisfactory class contribution.
D / Poor performance in comprehension of work submitted; and meets minimal credit standard of the professor.
F / Inadequacy of work submitted or performance and attendance in class.
Please note that satisfactory completion of the assigned work does not result in a grade of A. I expect that as graduate students you are all able to complete the assignments satisfactorily. Grades of A are given to work that is consistently outstanding
Plagiarism and Cheating
Any work that involves plagiarism or cheating will be assigned a grade of “0.” Repeated or especially egregious violations may result in the denial of credit for the course, in accordance with the policy outlined in the current catalog and presented in the Academic Course Policies document in Moodle. Ignorance of what constitutes plagiarism is not an acceptable excuse. If you are unsure as to what constitutes plagiarism or cheating, it is up to you to take the initiative to find out.
Late Work and Incompletes
All assignments are to be handed in by the beginning of class on the date indicated on the course schedule. Unless prior arrangements are made with the professor, late work will be penalized 10% for each day it is overdue, beginning with the first day. (That is, an assignment turned in after the start of class but on the same day is still penalized 10%. The next 10% is taken off 24 hours after the start of class.) No assignments will be accepted more than five days late. Students should take the initiative as much in advance as possible to alert the professor to extenuating circumstances. I am more than willing to take emergencies and crises of various sorts into account. Note, however, that though they often precipitate a crisis or emergency of one kind or another, procrastination, over-scheduling, and over-committing (even in the context of a worthwhile endeavor like ministry) do not constitute a crisis or emergency. Circumstances that a congregation would accept for a pastor’s missing a Sunday sermon would constitute an emergency or crisis for which latitude will be granted.
In accordance with the policy in the current catalog and discussed in the Academic Course Policies document in Moodle, a grade of incomplete is granted only by written contract initiated through the Registrar's Office. Please see the catalog for full details.
Attendance
Regular and on-time class attendance is a necessary part of the learning experience. Unexcused absences beyond one class period (or equivalent) will result in a grade reduction. Students who miss more than two class sessions should not expect to pass the course. Absences will be excused at the professor’s discretion, according to the standards described above regarding late assignments. Please make every effort to attend every class session, and to be on-time.
Class Participation
Students are expected to contribute to class discussions. In so doing, students are expected to be intentional about fostering an environment in which all perspectives and voices may be heard and valued. You are expected to contribute positively not only in terms of what you say, but also how you say it. Inappropriate classroom interaction will first be addressed privately, but continued or especially egregious behavior may result in dismissal from the course.
Please note, too, that the realities of a busy life and the availability of technology in the classroom make it tempting to multitask during class sessions. If this becomes a distraction or, in my judgment, has a negative effect on your participation or that of your classmates’ I reserve the right to “unplug” the classroom and prohibit or restrict the use of computers during class discussions.
Academic Course Policies
Please familiarize yourself with the catalog requirements as specified in Academic Course Policies document found on the Syllabus page in Moodle. You are responsible for this information, and any academic violations, such as plagiarism, will not be tolerated.
PO Boxes
Please ensure that your Seminary PO box number appears on every assignment you turn in.
An Invitation
Please let me know if I can help you in any way. Please let me know if you are struggling with or have questions/concerns about the course. E-mail is the best way to contact me for appointments. I will make every effort to respond to your email within one business day. Please note, however, that I rarely check email in the evening or on weekends, and so will likely not respond to emails sent during those times.
Fall Conference: The Spiritual Dimension of Healthcare-- October 11-12
In collaboration with the nursing department of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Seminary is hosting a conference on the topic of healthcare. This event promises to be a significant integrative conversation and is free of charge. To register, go to http://www.bethel.edu/events/healthcare-conference/. Students who attend the conference and turn in a one-page reflection paper on what insights were most significant for your ministry and/or what invitations God is extending to you as a result of the conference will receive up to five points on their lowest-scored Hebrew quiz. Reflection papers need to be turned in no later than November 30, 2012 to receive the extra credit.
OT551: Syllabus page 6
Course Schedule
Abbreviations: DOTP = Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch
HOTE = Vogt, Interpreting the Pentateuch
ABH= Long, The Art of Biblical History
DAERE=Did Adam and Eve Really Exist
Syllabus Fall 2012 OT551
OT551: Syllabus Page 7
11/22 / Thanksgiving – No Class11/29 / Seminar: Reading Old Testament Narrative / Ruth
Re-read Genesis 34
ABH
Due: Interpretation in Community Project
12/06 / Judges, Ruth / Hebrew Quiz 5
Due: Reflection Paper
Content Quiz: Must be completed by start of class
Take Home Final Exam available (due by12/7 at 11:59 p.m.)
OT551: Syllabus Page 11