REL6432 SURVEY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
3 Credit Hours
Student Level:
This course is open to students on the college level in either Freshman or Sophomore year.
Catalog Description:
REL6432 - Survey of the Old Testament (3 hrs.)
An introduction to the history, literature, and culture that gave rise to the Old Testament from an objective and analytical approach.
Course Classification:
Lecture
Prerequisites:
None
Controlling Purpose:
This course provides an introduction to the scholarship of the Old Testament, as an elective course or as an introductory course in religious studies.
Learner Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, the student will be familiar with the content of the canonical Old Testament, will be able to critically analyze and discuss that content, and will have an understanding of the historical and cultural context from which it comes.
Units Outcomes and Criterion Based Evaluation Key for Core Content:
The following outline defines the minimum core content, not including the final examination period. Instructors may add other material as time allows.
UNIT 1: THE HEBREW BIBLE
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…
- Describe the 3-part structure of the Hebrew Tanakh
- Describe the concept of the covenant in Jewish tradition
- Understand and describe the transmission, canonization, and translations of the Hebrew text, and the critical scholarly methods of studying and analyzing text
UNIT 2: CULTURE OF THE BIBLICAL WORLD
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…
- Outline the basic histories of various cultures of the Ancient Near East, in particular, those of Mesopotamia, ancient Israel, Egypt, Greece, and Rome
- Describe the elements of these cultures that have shaped the formation of the Old Testament
- Describe the many views of God in the Old Testament tradition, in particular, the conceptualizations of the divine, and the roles of characteristics of the Biblical God
UNIT 3: THE TEXT: TORAH (THE LAW)
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…
- Understand and apply critical, scholarly methods in analyzing the text
- Discuss and analyze the sources and authorship of the Torah
- Understand the concept of the Law as found in the Torah
- Describe in scholarly terms the content and meaning of each of the books of the Torah
UNIT 4: THE TEXT NEV’IM (THE PROPHETS)
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…
- Describe the function of the prophecy in ancient Israel’s history and theology
- Describe the context and motives behind the two editions of Deuteronomistic
- Understand the distinction between major and minor prophecies
- Describe the parallel histories of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah
- Describe in scholarly terms the content and meaning of the books of the Prophets, in particular, the major Prophets
- Describe the historical events of the Assyrian domination and subsequent exile, the role of prophets in exile and the role of prophets after the exile
UNIT 4: THE TEXT NEV’IM (THE PROPHETS)
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…
- Describe the function of the prophecy in ancient Israel’s history and theology
- Describe the context and motives behind the two editions of Deuteronomistic
- Understand the distinction between major and minor prophecies
- Describe the parallel histories of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah
- Describe in scholarly terms the content and meaning of the books of the Prophets, in particular, the major Prophets
- Describe the historical events of the Assyrian domination and subsequent exile, the role of prophets in exile and the role of prophets after the exile
UNIT 5: THE TEXT (THE WRITINGS)
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…
- Understand and describe the post-exile context in which the Kethuvim were created, and how the writings reflect that context
- Describe in scholarly terms the content and meaning of each of the books of Ezra and Nehemiah
- Describe the meaning and usage of literary devices such as a metaphor, allegory, and simile in the Psalms and other Hebrew poetry
- Describe in scholarly terms the content and meaning of the Proverbs, Book of Job, and Book of Ecclesiastes
- Describe in scholarly terms the content and meaning of each of the Festival Scrolls (Ruth, Lamentations, Song of Songs, Esther)
- Describe in scholarly terms the reinterpretation of Israel’s history in Chronicles
- Understand and describe the context in which the Maccabean Revolt and Diaspora each occurred, and how apocalyptic writings such as Daniel reflect that context
- Understand and describe the concept of theodicy, as found in the Kethuvim
UNIT 6: BEYOND THE TEXT: DEUTEROCANONICAL & EXTRACANONICAL BOOKS
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…
- Describe in scholarly terms the content and meaning of some of the extracanonical books, in particular, the Pseudepigrapha
- Understand and describe the philosophies and histories of the major Jewish sects: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots
- Describe the formation of the Talmud and rabbinical tradition after the destruction of the Second Temple
Textbook:
Contact Bookstore for current textbook.
Materials/Equipment Required:
Attendance Policy:
Students should adhere to the attendance policy outlined by the instructor in the course syllabus.
Grading Policy:
The grading policy will be outlined by the instructor in the course syllabus.
Maximum class size:
Based on classroom occupancy
Course Time Frame:
The U.S. Department of Education, Higher Learning Commission, and the Kansas Board of Regents define credit hour and have specific regulations that the college must follow when developing, teaching, and assessing the educational aspects of the college. A credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally-established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester hour of credit or an equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time. The number of semester hours of credit allowed for each distance education or blended hybrid courses shall be assigned by the college based on the amount of time needed to achieve the same course outcomes in a purely face-to-face format.
Refer to the following policies:
402.00 Academic Code of Conduct
263.00 Student Appeal of Course Grades
403.00 Student Code of Conduct
Disability Services Program:
Cowley College, in recognition of state and federal laws, will accommodate a student with a documented disability. If a student has a disability which may impact work in this class, which requires accommodations, contact the Disability Services Coordinator.
DISCLAIMER: THIS INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. FOR THE OFFICIAL COURSE PROCEDURE CONTACT ACADEMIC AFFAIRS.
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