Syllabus for OT 431: Psalms Lee M. Fields Office Hours: MWF 1:00-4:00 Phone: 2080 (Office), 331-7032 (Home) 334-2074 (Weather Number) Fall 2011 TR 12:30-1:50 Room 213 University Mission What’s the big idea we are all about? Mid-Atlantic Christian University is an undergraduate institution of Christian higher education whose mission is to impact the world by transforming ordinary people into extraordinary Christian leaders. Description What is this course about? This course surveys the book of Psalms. Introductory matters such as authorship, date and canonicity are treated briefly. Three emphases are: 1) how to study the psalms and use them in personal devotional life, 2) some of the major themes of the psalms, 3) direct study of a selection of psalms. Please note that there are two tracks for this course: English Bible exegesis and Hebrew Bible exegesis. Students who have completed one year of Hebrew are eligible to pursue the Hebrew Bible exegesis track. The syllabus describes the requirements for the English Bible exegesis. At relevant points in the syllabus the distinctive requirements for Hebrew Bible exegesis will be indicated. Relation to the University Mission How does this course contribute? One of the distinctive of the Christian university is the basis in the truths of Scripture. In order to prepare extraordinary leaders that are truly Christian, study of Scripture and learning to learn are essential. Rationale Why should I take this course? The mission of MACU is “to educate men and women for career and volunteer Christian service.” Ishodad of Merv, a Syrian Christian of the ninth century, in the introduction to his commentary on Psalms, section 5, gave five reasons that the church should read the Psalms: it is in poetry and therefore is more easily memorized it contains all the key doctrines of Scripture, whereas doctrines are scattered throughout all the other books of Scripture it speaks to the affairs of earthly life and heavenly life Note: This syllabus is subject to change without notice.
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Syllabus for OT 431: Psalms
Lee M. Fields
Office Hours: MWF 1:00-4:00
Phone: 2080 (Office), 331-7032 (Home)
334-2074 (Weather Number)
Fall 2011
TR 12:30-1:50
Room 213
University Mission What’s the big idea we are all about?
Mid-Atlantic Christian University is an undergraduate institution of Christian
higher education whose mission is to impact the world by transforming ordinary people
into extraordinary Christian leaders.
Description What is this course about?
This course surveys the book of Psalms. Introductory matters such as authorship,
date and canonicity are treated briefly. Three emphases are: 1) how to study the psalms
and use them in personal devotional life, 2) some of the major themes of the psalms, 3)
direct study of a selection of psalms.
Please note that there are two tracks for this course: English Bible exegesis and
Hebrew Bible exegesis. Students who have completed one year of Hebrew are eligible to
pursue the Hebrew Bible exegesis track. The syllabus describes the requirements for the
English Bible exegesis. At relevant points in the syllabus the distinctive requirements for
Hebrew Bible exegesis will be indicated.
Relation to the University Mission How does this course contribute?
One of the distinctive of the Christian university is the basis in the truths of
Scripture. In order to prepare extraordinary leaders that are truly Christian, study of
Scripture and learning to learn are essential.
Rationale Why should I take this course?
The mission of MACU is “to educate men and women for career and volunteer
Christian service.” Ishodad of Merv, a Syrian Christian of the ninth century, in the
introduction to his commentary on Psalms, section 5, gave five reasons that the church
should read the Psalms:
it is in poetry and therefore is more easily memorized
it contains all the key doctrines of Scripture, whereas doctrines are scattered
throughout all the other books of Scripture
it speaks to the affairs of earthly life and heavenly life
Note: This syllabus is subject to
change without notice.
2 Error! Reference source not found. Syllabus
it proves wrong the chief heresies of false teachers
it causes the angels to listen when the Psalms are sung
Perhaps he goes too far in some of his claims. Perhaps instead our modern minds
lack the imagination to recognize the beauty and importance of the message of the Psalms
and the pleasure that it must give God when we allow him to speak to us through the
Psalms and when we allow the Psalms to help us speak to God.
Texts What Resources Should I have handy?
Bullock, C. Hassell. Encountering the Psalms. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004. (978-
0801027956) (Available in Logos)
Tesh, S. Edward, and Walter D. Zorn. Psalms. College Press NIV Commentary. 2 vols.
Joplin, MO: College Press, 1999, 2004. (978-0899008875; 978-0899008882)
(Available in Logos)
Wendland, Ernst R. Analyzing the Psalms. 2nd
ed.; Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 2002.
(978-1556711299)
It is strongly recommended that all students have Logos Bible Software, version 4, at
the Leader’s Library or above.
Hebrew Bible Exegesis Substitutions:
Instead of Tesh and Zorn, substitute Mark D. Futato, Interpreting the Psalms. Grand
Rapids: Kregel, 2007. (978-0825427657)
It is strongly recommended that students have Logos Bible Software, version 4, at the
Scholar’s Library or above.
Objectives What are the big ideas I should learn in this course?
Bible/Theology Division Objectives
The Bible Theology Division at Mid-Atlantic Christian University has adopted
nine Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs). One of those is that students should
demonstrate the ability to study independently an entire book of the Bible using
proper methods and tools. Learning a biblical language aids the student in fulfilling this
objective at the most fundamental level, that of reading the text of Scripture with
understanding.
Course Objectives
My schema of the processes of studying a book of Scripture is in the figure below.
The parallelogram represents data; rectangles represent the main processes of studying a
book of the Bible. The hexagons represent preparation necessary to study Scripture
well. The ovals represent processes that contribute to the main processes. The bold
capsule represents products.
Error! Reference source not found. Syllabus 3
Course Procedures How am I going to meet these goals?
As a result of this course, students should be able to do the following (steps from
the main line and categories from Bloom’s taxonomy are listed):
SLO Bloom’s
A Describe the structure and contents. Content Knowledge
Analysis
B Discuss matters of special introduction. Content Comprehension
C Understand the genre. Interpretation Comprehension
Application
D Research a passage.
Content,
Interpretation,
Application
Analysis
E Apply lessons taught by the author to modern
culture. Application Application
F Prepare a presentation to a modern culture based
on exegesis of a passage. Proclamation Synthesis
G Apply lessons to student’s personal life. Life Change Application
H Evaluation sources for Bible study Interpretation Evaluation
Grading & Late Work How am I going to get a good grade ?
The list of grading elements and their weights is as follows:
Assignments 0%
Memorization Work 10%
Quizzes 15%
Term Project 25%
Hermeneutics
Special
Introduction
General
Introduction Church History Homiletics &
Pedagogy
Cultural Milieu
Archaeology
Contemporary History
Contemporary Literature
Content
Life change
in self and
others
Theology Memorize
Outline
Read
Interpretation Application Proclamation
Testimonial Experiential
Reflectional
4 Error! Reference source not found. Syllabus
1. Assignments (SLOs A-C)
The assignments are the heart of the course. “Wrong” answers are not penalized, but
not doing the assignments is. The final course average will be reduced by 1% for each
assignment not done on time and by ½% for each assignment done within 5 school
days of the original due date.
2. Memorization Work and Class Devotion (E-F)
Students will write from memory the assigned passages in class. For full credit, the
version must be indicated.
In addition, each student will choose one of the days indicated on the syllabus to
bring a 5 minute devotion to the class. This should be based on the student’s reading
of the psalms and reading two commentaries on the psalm.
3. Quizzes (A-C)
The quizzes are objective and very basic, mostly memorization of announced
material.
4. Term Project (D-G)
The term project involves two components: a research component (100 pts) and a
proclamation component (25 pts).
The grading scale is as follows:
Letter Grade Scale Description Quality Points A+ 99-100
Excellent
4.000
A 94- 98 4.000
A- 90- 93 3.667
B+ 87- 89
Good
3.333
B 83- 86 3.000
B- 80- 82 2.667
C+ 77- 79
Satisfactory
2.333
C 73- 76 2.000
C- 70- 72 1.667
D+ 67- 69 Improvement needed for competency, but passing
1.333
D 63- 66 1.000
D- 60- 62 0.667
F Below 60 Failing 0.000
Attendance and Late Work What if I miss class or am late with work?
Attendance
Attendance is required. Policies regarding presence and tardiness will follow the
handbook. Rewarded is perfect attendance; 1% is added to final grade for those with
perfect attendance. This sounds very small, but if one is a fraction of a point from a better
letter grade, then it becomes very important. “Tardy” is defined as entering the room after
roll has been called.
Error! Reference source not found. Syllabus 5
For a TTh class, 2 cuts (= one week) are allowed. Every cut after the number
allowed reduces the final grade by one-third of a letter. Three tardies equals one cut.
After every tardy or personal absence the student will receive an “Attendance
Report” in his or her mailbox (see box below). Receiving these should not cause undue
worry; they do not mean the student is in the professor’s doghouse, they are just a way
for all of us to keep accurate track of attendance and know where we stand at all times.
Late Work
Late is defined as turned in after 4:30 p.m. on the date due. Scores are reduced
10% for each weekday the assignment is late. Since adults often have special
circumstances, penalties will not be imposed until after 48 hours. Assignments turned in
by the set due date will receive “full service” grading, with full comments to maximize
learning. Assignments turned in after that will simply receive “minimal service” grading,
i.e., a grade without comment. (If you have read the syllabus to this point, email me at the
address given at the beginning with the subject line “I read Psalms syllabus” for extra
credit for doing homework. For credit, the email must be received by 12 midnight the day
before the second class session.) The most that will be taken off for late work is 50%. No
assignment will be accepted one week after its due date, and the student will receive a
grade of zero for that assignment.
ATTENDANCE REPORT
Student ________________
Date __________________
You were counted tardy/absent for the date __________ for the course BO 109 Personal Hygiene. This brings your total for the semester to:
_____ tardies
_____ absences If you have any questions, please see me within two days from the date above. Remember that 3 tardies = 1 cut and every cut
after 3 (or after 2 for a T Th class) reduces your final course grade by one letter.
Prof. Fields
6 Error! Reference source not found. Syllabus
Academic Honesty What about cheating?
As noted in the Catalog, “Dishonesty is both a sin and a violation of the rules of
Mid-Atlantic Christian University. A student suspected or accused of academic
dishonesty will be approached by his or her teacher; if a student is judged guilty of
dishonesty, he or she will be warned that a second offense will result in suspension or
dismissal from the College. Any work on which it is judged that the student was
dishonest will be nullified; this may result in failure of the course. The teacher will
inform the Vice President for Academic Affairs; the VPAA will notify the College
faculty.
Dishonesty includes misrepresenting the truth about completion of assignments,
cheating on any form of assignment, plagiarism, or in any way passing off the work of
others as your own or permitting another student to pass off your work as his own.
Learning Enhancement Services What if I have special learning needs?
Students with disabilities: Any student in this course who has an identified
disability that might prevent her/him from fully demonstrating her/his abilities should
meet with the Director of the Learning Enhancement Services Office as soon as possible
to initiate disability verification and discuss accommodations that may be necessary to
ensure his/her full participation in the successful completion of course requirements.
Support services are available in the Learning Resource Center for persons
desiring additional assistance in the course.
Instructor/Student Covenant How do teachers and students work together?
As instructor of this course, I covenant with each student that I will model Christ-
like behavior, value and respect each student as a child of God, come to class prepared,
begin and end class on time, make appropriate assignments and grade them fairly, and be
available for consultation outside of class. In return, I expect each student to model
Christ-like behavior, show proper respect to me as the instructor, come to class prepared,
arrive and leave class on time, and submit assignments and participate in ways that
demonstrate your integrity.
Tentative Schedule When are things due?
In the following chart I present a tentative schedule of topics. Should we alter it,
the scheduled readings still must be completed on the days given. Symbols used refer to:
(*) = assignment substitutions for Hebrew Bible exegesis students
* = assignment additions for Hebrew Bible exegesis students
W = Wendland, followed by section numbers
F = Futato, Interpreting the Psalms, followed by page numbers
Lu = Lucas, Exploring the Old Testament: A Guide to the Psalms & Wisdom Literature
B = Bullock, followed by page or chapter number (all Bullock readings are optional unless
marked as required) TZ = Tesh and Zorn, followed by volume and page number
Error! Reference source not found. Syllabus 7
L = Longman, followed by chapter number (on reserve)
M = Memory Quiz followed by passage
Q = Quiz
Ex = Exercises from Wendland followed by section and item numbers
Date Topic Readings Due Assignments Due Quizzes
Aug 23 Introducing Psalms
25 Introducing Psalms W 1.1-1.4
TZ 1:21-40
B pp 22-23 (required)
Pss 1-14
30 Introducing Psalms W 1.5-8
B pp 57-82, 24-34
(required)
TZ 1:45-49, 49-70
(*F, 57-72)
Pss 15-30
Ex 1.2:3, 4, 8
Ex 1.3:1-4
Q1: Biblical
Periods
Sept 1 Major Psalm Genres
Petition Psalms
W 2.3
W 2
W 2.1
W 2.1.1
B ch 7
Skim TZ 1:52-67
(*not required)
TZ 67-70
(*F, 117-138, 139-
145, 150-158, 176-
177, 160-165, 177-
179)
Pss 31-38
Ex 1.5:1
Ex 1.6:3-5
Ex 1.7.1:2
Ex 1.7.4:6-7
Q2: 10 genres
6 Thanksgiving
Psalms
W 2.1.2
B ch 8
*F, 158-160, 177
Pss 39-54
Ex 2.1.1a:4, 6
Ex 2.1.1b:1
Student devo
Q3: Petition
components
8 Praise Psalms W 2.1.3
B ch 6
*F, 146-150, 173-176
Pss 55-67
Ex 2.1.2:6-9 Q4:
Thanksgiving
components
13 Instruction Psalms W 2.1.4
B chs 12-13
*F, 171-173, 180-181
Pss 68-78
Ex 2.1.3:7
Student devo
Q5: Praise
components
15 Profession of Trust
Psalms
W 2.1.5
Pss 79-89
Ex 2.1.4:5, 9,
11
Q6: Instruction
elements
20 Minor Psalm Genres
Repentance Psalms
Remembrance
Psalms
W 2.2
W 2.2.1-2
B ch 5
Pss 90-104
Ex 2.1.5:5-6
Student devo
M: Ps 1
22 Retribution Psalms
Liturgical Psalms
W 2.2.3
B ch 14, 4
Pss 105-111
Ex 2.2.1:3 (for
Ps 130), 4
Ex 2.2.2:4-5
8 Error! Reference source not found. Syllabus
Date Topic Readings Due Assignments Due Quizzes
27 Royalty Psalms
W 2.2.4
B chs 10-11 (required)
Longman, How to
Read the Psalms, ch 4
(*F, 165-171, 179-180,
181-182)
Pss 112-125
Ex 2.2.3:7
Ex 2.2.5:6
Student devo
29 Summary of psalm
genres
Reread 2.3
Pss 126-142
Ex 2.2.4:5
Oct 4 Connected
parallelism
(W 3.1-2)
W 3
W 3.1-2
B pp 35-43 (required)
Pss 143-150
Ex 2.3b:41-50
Student devo
Q7: Genre ID
6 (W 3.3.1-2) W 3.3
W 3.3.1a
W 3.3.1b
W 3.3.2
TZ 1:13-18
(*F, 23-41)
Ex 3.2:1 (Ps
11)
10-14 Mid-semester Break
18 (W 3.3.3) W 3.3.3.1-3 Ex 3.3.1b:1
Ex 3.3.2:3
Student devo
20 (W Ex 3.4d) W 3.4 Ex 3.4a (Pss
17.3; 139.11-12;
78.21-22; 109.28)
25 Distant parallelism
(W 4.1)
W 4
W 4.1
W 4.1.1-4
Ex 3.4e
Student devo
27 (W 4.2-3) W 4.2
W 4.2.1-2
W 4.3
Ex 4.1.4:6 M: Ps 121
Nov 1 (W 4.4) W 4.4.1-2e Select a psalm
or portion of
about 5-10 verses
& begin the
process (7.1.1-4)
3 Poetic Features TZ 1:19-21
(*F, 41-56)
W 5
W 5.1
W 5.2
W 5.2.1-2
(work on
project; 7.1.5-6)
8 W 5.2.3-8 (work on
project; 7.1.7)
10 W 5.3-6 (work on
project; 7.1.7-9)
15 Themes W 6-6.2.11
*F, 72-116
(complete
project)
17 LMF gone to
ETS/SBL
22 LMF gone to
ETS/SBL
Error! Reference source not found. Syllabus 9
Date Topic Readings Due Assignments Due Quizzes
24 Thanksgiving
29 Presentations
Pss 73-75
Dec 1 Presentations
Pss 76-79
Written
project due
M: Psalm
6 Presentations
Pss 80-84
8 Presentations
Pss 85-89
NO FINAL EXAM
Select Bibliography
Journals and Abbreviations1
Journals for General Readers Journals for Advanced Students and Specialists
Bible Review (BR)
Biblical Archaeologist (BA)
Biblical Archaeology Review (BAR)
Bibliotheca Sacra (BSac)
Ex Auditu (ExAu)
Expository Times (ExpT)
Evangelical Quarterly (EvQ)
Interpretation (Int)
Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
(JETS)
Near East Archaeological (NEA)
Themelios
Trinity Journal (TrinJ)
Tyndale Bulletin (TynB)
Westminster Theological Journal (WTJ)
Biblica (Bib)
Biblical Interpretation (BI)
Bulletin for Biblical Research (BBR)
Biblical Theological Bulletin (BTB)
Catholic Biblical Quarterly (CBQ)
Currents in Research: Biblical Studies (CRBS)
Filologia Neotestomentaria (FN)
Harvard Theological Review (HTR)
Horizons in Biblical Theology (HBT)
Jewish Quarterly Review (JQR)
Journal of Biblical Literature (JBL)
Journal for the Study of the NT (JSNT)
Journal for the Study of the OT (JSOT)
Journal of Theological Studies (JTS)
Neotestamentica (Neot)
New Testament Studies (NTS)
Novum Testamentum (NovT)
Palestine Exploration Quarterly (PEQ)
Vetus Testamentum (VT)
(Note: Many books are on reserve in the library)
The following bibliography is meant to be suggestive. Call numbers are provided
for the convenience of the student. If no call number is given, the card catalogue should
still be checked. Some entries in series are found both in the reference section and in the
stacks. Usually only the number for the stacks is given. If not found, check the reference
or reserve sections.
Abbreviations:
AB Anchor Bible Commentary Series
CBSC Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
DSB-OT Daily Study Bible-Old Testament
EBC Expositor’s Bible Commentary, ed. F. E. Gaebelein
1 This list taken from William M. Klein, Introduction to Biblical Interpretation (rev. ed; Dallas:
Word, 2003) 537-8. If you want to use others, please discuss with your instructor for guidance.
10 Error! Reference source not found. Syllabus
EvBC Everyman’s Bible Commentary
FOTL Forms of Old Testament Literature
ICC International Critical Commentary
NICOT New International Commentary on the Old Testament
OTL Old Testament Library Commentary Series
TOTC Tyndale Old Testament Commentary
WBC Word Biblical Commentary
The following code is used in the entries below:
C
L
M
K
J
D
I
G
*
= conservative
= liberal
= moderate
= Catholic
= Jewish
= detailed; i.e., discusses words in original language (still valuable for English-only user)
= intermediate; i.e., original language details in transliteration or footnotes
= general; i.e., limited presentation of material in original languages
= item of special significance
Call No. Titles
Introductions to the Old Testament
221.61
A671
Archer, Gleason L., Jr. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction. Rev. ed. Chicago: Moody,
1974. C
Dillard, Raymond B., and Tremper Longman, III. An Introduction to the Old Testament. 2nd
ed., Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009. C *
221.61
D782
Driver, S. R. An Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament. Rpt., Cleveland: World
Publishing, 1956. L
221.61
E361
Eissfeldt, Otto. The Old Testament: An Introduction. Peter R. Ackroyd, trans. New York:
Harper and Row, 1965. L D
221.61
H321
Harrison, Roland Kenneth. Introduction to the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1969. C
Hill, Andrew E. and John Walton H. A Survey of the Old Testament. 3rd
ed. Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 2009. C *
221.61
K271
Keil, C. F. Introduction to the Old Testament. 2 vols. 1869; rpt., Peabody, MA:
Hendrickson, 1988. C
Pfeiffer, Robert H. Introduction to the Old Testament. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1941.
L
221.95
S387
Schultz, Samuel. The Old Testament Speaks. 4th
ed. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1990.
Sellin, Ernst, and Georg Fohrer. Introduction to the Old Testament. David E. Green, trans.
Nashville: Abingdon, 1968. L
Walton, John H. Ancient Israelite Literature in Its Cultural Context. Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 1989. C I
Introductions to Old Testament Wisdom and Poetry
809.9352
A466
Alter, Robert. The Art of Biblical Poetry. New York: Basic Books, 1985. M I *
Error! Reference source not found. Syllabus 11
223.06
B938
Bullock, C. Hassell. An Introduction to the Old Testament Poetic Books. Rev. ed. Chicago:
Moody, 1988. C
223.06
C915
Crenshaw, James L. Old Testament Wisdom: An Introduction. Atlanta: John Knox, 1981.
223.106
K46
Kidner, Derek. The Wisdom of Proverbs, Job and Ecclesiastes: An Introduction to Wisdom
Literature. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 1985. C
Lucas, Ernest C. Exploring the Old Testament: A Guide to the Psalms & Wisdom Literature.
Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 2003.
Murphy, Roland E. Wisdom Literature. FOTL, vol. XIII. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983. L
K
Scott, R. B. Y. The Way of Wisdom. New York: Macmillan, 1971. G
Septuagint and Dead Sea Scrolls Helps for English Users
R 221.48
B582 1980 Brenton, Lancelot C. L., trans. The Septuagint Version of the Old Testament and Apocrypha.
London: Samuel Bagster and Sons, 1851.
This is a parallel version with the Greek and English texts. It has been reprinted by
Hendrickson. Note: this is exactly what is stated, namely, a translation of the
Septuagint, rather than simply some English version of the Hebrew, which would
be of little use. This is included in Logos Scholar’s Library and above.
The Apostolic Bible. Apostolic Press, 2004.
This is a modern translation of the LXX into English under the auspices of the
Greek Orthodox church. Currently it is available only in e-text at http://septuagint-
interlinear-greek-bible.com/downbook.htm, but is free and printable on-line in
Adobe format. A hard copy edition is expected in 2005. The translation is based on
the 1709 edition of the LXX published by Lambert Bos, which ultimately derives
its text from Codex Vaticanus.
The Apostolic Bible Polyglot. Apostolic Press, 2004.
This is the Greek and English text of the LXX plus the English translation is
available on CD or on-line at http://septuagint-interlinear-greek-bible.com/. It can
be downloaded for a fee.
The Lexical Concordance to the Apostolic Bible. Apostolic Press, 2004.
This is the concordance to The Apostolic Bible Polyglot of the LXX. It is available
on CD or on-line at http://septuagint-interlinear-greek-bible.com/. It can be
downloaded for a fee.
R 221.44
B582 Abegg, Martin G., Peter Flint, Eugene Ulrich. The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible. 1999; San
Francisco: HarperOne, 2002.
Word Study Books and Tools
R 221.44
B75
Botterweck, G. J., and H. Ringgren, eds. Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament. Eng.
Trans. 15 vols. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1974-2006. Often L. Abbr.: TDOT
R 492.403
B877 1997
Brown, F., S. R. Driver, and C. A. Briggs. The New Hebrew –English Lexicon of the ld
Testament. Peabody. MA: Hendrickson, 1979. [Coded to Strong’s Numbering
System.] Abbr.: BDB.
R 221.48
B93
Bullinger, E. W. Figures of Speech Used in the Bible: Explained and Illustrated. 1898; rpt.,