1 OTS 528 Old Testament Historical Literature LOGOS EVANGELICAL SEMINARY Spring Semester 2018 (Jan 22-May 11) Tuesday 3:20-6:00 PM Daisy Yulin Tsai Ph.D. [email protected]Skype: daisy.yulin.tsai (626) 571-5110 ext. 170 Office Hours: Tue 1:00-2:30 PM Wed 10:05-10:50 AM; 1:00-3:30 PM And By Appointment COURSE SYLLABUS I. COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course focuses on studying the Old Testament Historical Books, including the ancient histories of surrounding areas that are related to these biblical books (e.g., Egypt, Levant, and Mesopotamia). This course will also help students understand the theological significance of God’s will for His Kingdom and the criticism of the Prophetic books, which are important for the Great Commission in their current church life and ministry. (1) The cognitive objective of this course is to introduce the theology of the OT historical literature and its relationship with other books of the Bible, so students can understand and apply this knowledge to life and church ministries. (2) The affective objective is to help students understand the tension between God’s will and human desire in a decision-making process. Through the course, students should learn from the struggles of the historical figures to make spiritually healthy choices. (3) The behavioral objective of this course, based on the learning described above, is for students to find a “triple-win” solution for real life dilemmas that involve multiple parties. The basic concept of “Game Theory” will be introduced in the beginning of this course, and students will be challenged through coursework to find theological and spiritual ways to deal with church issues. II. COURSE OUTCOMES: As a result of this course, students will be able to: Spirituality: Students are required to think theologically and spiritually. This will be assessed by students’ “Triple-Win” Project. Knowledge: Students should master the general content and message of each book and demonstrate basic knowledge of the literary, theological, and hermeneutical issues of each book, as well as the application of this knowledge. This will be evaluated by students’ Weekly test and Final Paper. Ministry and Life: Students are to apply the knowledge to real life situations. This will be estimated by students’ “Triple-Win” Project.
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OTS 528 Old Testament Historical Literature LOGOS ...€¦ · 1 OTS 528 Old Testament Historical Literature LOGOS EVANGELICAL SEMINARY Spring Semester 2018 (Jan 22-May 11) Tuesday
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1. Weekly Test (36%): Students are responsible for completing their weekly reading in
“Assignments Due” column of the course schedule below. Read the assigned biblical
books and be familiar with outlines and content, as well as the assigned textbooks and
articles. There will be a weekly multiple-choice test at the beginning of each class.
2. Triple-Win Project--“How to Win in a Theological & Spiritual Way (64% total):
The Historical Books show us that when a person, especially a leader, turns away from
God and leans solely on his own desire and/or other people’s agenda—it often results in
regrets and failures. Learning from history, this project intends to train students to think
theologically and prepare them to act spiritually. Each student will choose a real case*
that involves multiple parties in a dilemma which may challenge the individual or
group’s faith, and/or destroy unity. The worst consequence includes church/group-split,
broken relationships, and God’s glory suffered. Students can choose the scenario which
has happened in his/her family, church, social groups. It can also be a current issue or an
anticipated situation.
*Real cases include (but are not limited to):
church structure, ministry visions, development, administration, change of bylaw,
discipline of sins, personnel recruitment, adultery or divorce, abortion, LGBTQ+ issues
within the church, etc. Please discuss your topic with the instructor.
This project involves several parts as listed below:
1) Writing 1: First Draft (10%, Due: Feb 28):
A. Choose a real-life event that is similar to a situation in the Historical
Books that you can theologically and spiritually learn from. Explain the
situation, and briefly summarize the similarities with the Biblical story.
Focus on explaining what you learned from this historical event that can
help dissolve the issue. (at least 1,000 words in Chinese, 800 words in
English)
B. Provide a scholarly bibliography (at least 5 from theological and 5 from
pastoral sources) that you will use to help you discern a practical solution
that is theology based. These must be from scholarly databases and/or
published books.
C. This project requires interviews with at least 3 senior pastors and 2
seminary faculties. You should contact the interviewees (by phone, Skype,
email, in person…etc.) for their point of view on the event chosen in Part
A. In this part of the project, state which method(s) you intend to apply
(interview, survey, meeting, etc.) to conduct your interviews. You must
list the names of your interviewees.
1Students are expected to spend two hours for every hour spent in class for preparation (including reading
textbooks and materials, preparing tests, and doing research & writing their papers, etc.). In other words,
students should devote at least 6 hours of preparation per week for this class.
3
2) Action 1: 5-minute Presentation to introduce your project and the real steps that
you have taken to follow through on solving the problem, and collect feedback
from the instructor and classmates on March 6, 13, or 20 (4%) You may revise
your plan if necessary.
3) Action 2: Carry out your project after you submit your draft project (during
March 1-April 15). Remember to balance practical considerations and theoretical
assumptions. Take notes on these questions (you will need to provide all your
answers in the next part of the project, Writing 2, and presentation):
A. What Biblical values can you base your decisions on?
B. What do you think is God’s will in this event?
C. What have you learned from your interviewees and those involved
in this case?
D. What is the best solution to reach the goal of a triple-win solution?
A Triple-Win “win-win-win” solution: each individual, the group,
and God are all satisfied with the outcome.
E. Can you provide 1-3 proposal that can be practically implemented?
4) Writing 2: Final Paper (with Action 2, 40%; Due on April 30). Articulate all
the answers of Action 2 and the thoughts you have had during that part of the
project. It’s required to reference your own “Writing 1” (Part 1, A) when you
discuss the question in Action 2 (Part 3, A-E). Throughout this paper, you must
properly apply and cite the scholarly sources from the bibliography you listed in
“Writing 1” (Part 1, B). You can use the material from your survey, interviews, or
any statistic data that you have gathered as appendix at the end of the paper (not
counted toward page count or word count). The final paper must have a cover
page in the beginning and a list of your final bibliography at the end of the paper
(you may use more sources than you listed in the draft project). The word count
for this paper is at least 6,000 words in Chinese and 5,500 words in English.
5) Final Presentation (10%): Present your Final Paper and answer questions from
classmates. You will have 15 minutes to present and 5 minutes to respond on
May 1 or 6.
IV. GRADING:
1. Weekly Test 36%
2. Win-Win-Win Project--“How to Win in a theological & Spiritual Way:
1) Writing 1: Study and Write First Draft (10%, Due: Feb 28)
2) Action 1: 5-minute Presentation (4%, March 6, 13, or 20)
3) Action 2+Writing 2—Final Paper (40%, Due: April 30)
4) Final Presentation (10%, May 1 or May 6)
64%
Total 100%
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Grading Scale A 93.5-100.0 C 73.5-76.4 A- 90.0-93.4 C- 70.0-73.4 B+ 86.5-89.9 D+ 66.5-69.9 B 83.5-86.4 D 63.5-66.4 B- 80.0-83.4 D- 60.0-63.4 C+ 76.5-79.9 F 59.9 or below
V. COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
Triple Win Project—Writing 1and Writing 2
Goal 2: Competence in biblical knowledge, interpretation, and theological
integration. Unsatisfactory
B- (below 80%)
Need Improvement
B (80-87%)
Meet Expectation
A-(88-94)
Exceed
Expectation
A (95-100%)
Shows
understanding of
biblical passage
Poor
understanding of
biblical passage
Understanding of
biblical passage
expressed in an
unclear manner
Communicated
understanding of
biblical passage
expressed clearly
Profound
understanding of
biblical passage
expressed with
convincing
arguments
Has clear structure
and solid
arguments with
critical thinking
Poor structure or
illogical arguments
without critical
thinking
Structure does not
flow, or unsound
arguments without
critical thinking
Clear structure and
solid arguments with
critical thinking
Structured
arguments with
convincing logics
with critical
thinking
Provides adequate
citations
No adequate
citations
Few adequate
citations
Adequate citations
provided
Useful and scholarly
citations provided
Triple Win Project—Action 1 and Action 2
Goal 3: Competence in essential ministerial and leadership skills, including pastoral
leadership, counseling, and preaching. Unsatisfactory
B- (below 80%)
Need Improvement
B (80-87%)
Meet Expectation
A-(88-94)
Exceed
Expectation
A (95-100%)
Follows the
instructions step by
step
Does not follow the
instructions step by
step
Partially follow the
instructions step by
step
Mostly follow the
instructions step by
step
Completely follow
instructions step by
step
Shows profound
discernment of
questions and issues
Lack discernment Little discernment Satisfactory
discernment
Profound
discernment
Provides concrete
methods to
investigate the issue
No concrete methods Partial Methods Most methods are
concrete and helpful
Thorough methods
that cover every
angle of the issue
Demonstrates the
feasibility of
solution
Infeasible solution—
No winner at all
Partial solution—
One party wins
Satisfactory
solution—Two-party
win
Excellent solution—
Triple win!
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*THREE IMPOTANT THINGS FOR WRITING YOUR PAPERS:
1. You are always welcome to discuss questions about the topic or writing of your
papers. Please come at office hours or make appointments ahead with the instructor.
Email and Skype are alternative options for you to talk to the instructor.
2. Paper Format: Students are required to write papers in the school format. An
instruction of writing and submission of papers will be given at the first class.
3. Plagiarism: It is students’ responsibility to avoid plagiarism.2 A student who
plagiarizes will get a zero in that paper, and if the extent of offense is serious, he/she will
be failed in this course. The actions of offense, regardless of degrees of seriousness, will
be reported to Academic Dean and Student Conduct Committee.
VI. COURSE TEXTBOOKS AND MATERIALS:
Required: Students are allowed to choose correspondent Chinese versions of these
textbooks; however, he/she is responsible to keep up the same pace with the assigned
reading schedule of their English versions.
1. David H. Howard, An Introduction to the Old Testament Historical Books. Chicago:
Moody, 2007. 中文版—大衛‧郝渥德,《舊約歷史書導論》,台北:華神,
1998。
2. T. Longman III, and R. B. Dillard, An Introduction to the Old Testament. Second
Edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006. 中文版—狄拉德、朗文,《21世紀
舊約導論—全新增訂版》,台北:校園,2012。
3. Walton, John H. Chronological and Background Charts of the Old Testament. Revised
and Expanded. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994. NOTE: Always bring it with you
to class.中文版—華爾頓,《舊約背景與年代表:修訂及擴大版》,台北:
華神,1998。
4. A Biblical Atlas of your own choice. English or Chinese either is okay. Recommended:
Beitzel, Barry J. The New Moody Atlas of the Bible. Chicago: Moody, 2009, or,
蔡錦圖主編,《聖經及教會歷史地圖集》,香港:國際聖經協會,1999,但
其它亦可。3 NOTE: Students are responsible to keep up the same pace of
assigned reading schedule of historical geography.
2 Please refer to school Student Handbook, or go http://www.plagiarism.org/ to see various types of