Instructor(s)

I.     COURSE DESCRIPTION 

A general introduction to the historical, sociological and religious world in which the Old Testament was produced, as well as the discipline of Old Testament Theology. The course is an analytical study of the Old Testament and its themes and the theology that can be derived from these. The goal is to obtain a better understanding of the whole of the Old Testament, particularly of the God of the Old Testament and His working through history and the nation of Israel, in order to better understand the fulfillment of the Old Testament in Jesus Christ.

II.     COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of the course students will: 

1.     Discuss in-depth the major themes of the Old Testament 

2.     Describe the different existing and emerging models of Old Testament theology and their theological orientation, and be able to critically reflect on the proposed 2-fold theological framework (God reaching out/speaking to Humanity (ie law & proverbs); and Humanity reaching out/Speaking to God) (I.e. holy writings) overarching the 3fold division of the Hebrew Bible. 

3.     Explain of the major historical events of the OT and the ways that the Acts of God intersect with the History of Israel. 

4.     Identify the major theological themes in each of the 3-fold division of the Hebrew Bible (Law, Prophets, and Writings). 

5.     Construct a text-anchored and reader-oriented Old Testament Biblical Theology for each given passage, book, or division of the Old Testament Canon (i.e. from

―descriptive‖ to ―normative). 

III. COURSE CONTENT

A. Introduction 

1   The Three-fold Division of the Hebrew Canon 

2   The Old Testament and the Ancient Near Eastern World: An Overview 

3   Nature of Old Testament History and Old Testament Theology 

4   Encountering the Old Testament: Doing OT Studies in the Past Two Decades 

5   Tools and Resources: An Introduction

B.  The Present Status of Old Testament Theology: An Overview 

1   Unity and Diversity, Centre or Strata of Theological Thoughts 

2   Critical Dialogue: Existing and Emerging Methods 

3   Constructing Old Testament Theology: The Present Task 

4   Self-Constructing Old Testament Theology: The Practice 

5   The Two-fold Theological Framework: A Proposal

C. Themes and Theology of the Pentateuch 

1   Rationale and Objective 

2   Prolegomena to the 3-fold Patriarchal Promise (Gen 1-11) 

3   Promise of ―Heir (Gen 12-17) 

4   Promise of ―Divine-Human Relationship‖ (Exod-Lev) 

5   Promise of ―Land (Num and Deut) 

6   Doctrine of the ―Two-Ways

D. Histories in the Old Testament (Former Prophets and Chronicler) 

1   Prophetic View of History (The Former Prophets) 

2   Chronicler‘s View of History: Midrashic/Didactic History 

3   Apocalyptic View of History 

E.  Theology of the Prophets (Latter Prophets) 

1   Prophetism 

2   View of God in the Prophets 

3   Covenant Idea in the Prophets 

4   From Divine Pathos to Prophetic Pathos: The Inner Life of the Prophets 

F.  Apocalyptic Literature -- Daniel  

1   Apocalyptic Movement: Two Dominant Views 

2   Where is Daniel to be placed in the Overall Structure of Old Testament Theology? 

3   ―In Times Like This: View of the Apocalyptic God 

4   Major Theological Themes

G. Theology of the Wisdom Literature (Wisdom Books and Psalms)  

1 What is Wisdom? 

2 Place of Wisdom in Old Testament Theology 

3 Faith Seeking Understanding 

4 The Tension between the ―Norm‖ (Proverbs and some Wisdom Psalms) and (i) the ―Exceptions‖ (Job and some Wisdom Psalms); and (ii) the ―Reflective/Thinking-out loud (Ecclesiastes)

IV. MODE OF DELIVERY

Through lectures, demonstrated examples, class interaction, group discussion, reading and assignments.

V.    READING MATERIALS

1.     Kessler, John. (2013). Old Testament Theology: Divine Call and Human Response. Waco, Texas: Baylor.

2.     Moberly, R. W. L. (2013) Old Testament Theology: Reading the Hebrew Bible as Christian Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic. 

3.     Ntreh A. B. (2016). A Concise History of Israel and Judah. Cape Coast: Marcel Hughes. 

4.     Waltke, Bruce (2007). An Old Testament Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 

5. Dyrness, William (1979). Themes in Old Testament Theology. Downers Grove, IL: IVP.