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(Lay Academy- 2004) 
Old Testament 

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LAY ACADEMY 2004

Old Testament 
(Feb. 27-28; March 26-27)
Dr. Marsha M. Wilfong, Presenter

Course Description:
 
The 2004 course on the Old Testament will explore the use and authority of the Old Testament as scripture for the Church. The first session will focus on the narrative books (Genesis-Deuteronomy, Joshua-Kings). The second session will focus on the prophetic books and wisdom writings.

Required Reading:  (These books will be used for both sessions.) 

Arnold B. Rhodes & W. Eugene March, The Mighty Acts of God (Revised Edition),
Westminster/John Knox Press, 2000

 Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. Preaching and Teaching from the Old Testament: A Guide for the Church Grand Rapids, MI:Baker Academic, 2003

Lawrence Boadt, Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction, Paulist Press, 1984 (or some other introduction to the OT- see additional reading list)

Pre-course Assignment for February 27 – 28:

1. Read Rhodes/March, the chapters dealing with the narrative books (Gen.- Kings).

2. Survey Boadt (or some other introduction) to discover its usefulness as a resource. Read any sections/chapters that are of interest to you.

3. Read Kaiser, chapters 1-4, 5, & 9. Reflect on your own views of the use and authority of the Old Testament as scripture for the Church. Compare the following references in the Book of Confessions: Second Helvetic Confession 5.001-.003; Westminster Confession 6.001-.010; Confession of 1967 9.27-9.30.

4. Review/peruse Genesis-Deuteronomy, Joshua-Kings in your Bible. (I will use the NRSV; bring the version you prefer.) If possible, read quickly through any book(s) with which you are unfamiliar.

Post-course Assignment for February 27 - 28:

Submit a 500 - 750 word report on each of the following:

A. Choose one of the following passages: Genesis 12:1-9; Deuteronomy 8:1-20; Judges 2:6-3:6; or 2 Samuel 7:1-17.

1) Identify and describe the main themes of your chosen passage.

2) Identify three (3) other passages (from 3 different books of the Old Testament) that relate in

some way to your chosen text; and discuss briefly the nature of that connection.

B. Pick a favorite or familiar story from the Pentateuch (Genesis-Deuteronomy) or the Former Prophets

(Joshua-Kings).

            1) Analyze the passage as narrative (cf. Kaiser, ch. 5) –1/2 of the report.

            2) Discuss briefly each of the following questions:

a) What new insight(s) into the passage did you gain from the above literary analysis?

b) What does the text say about God?

                        c) What does the text say about humanity/the world?

                        d) What does the text say about the people of God?

                        e) How might this text be significant for the Church today?

Pre- and Post-Course Assignments for March 26-27:

Pre-course reading will include the chapters in Rhodes/March that cover the rest of the Old Testament, the remaining chapters in Kaiser, and a similar survey of prophetic and wisdom literature in an Old Testament introduction. The post-course assignments will be announced at the time of the second session.

About the Presenter:

Dr. Marsha M. Wilfong is currently Temporary Supply Pastor at First Presbyterian Church, Bellevue, Iowa. From 1996-2003, she served as Assistant Professor of Homiletics and Worship at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. Prior to that time, she served as pastor of Presbyterian churches in Refugio, TX (1986-92) and Ponchatoula, LA (1992-96). She received a D.Min. (basic seminary degree) and a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia

Additional Reading/Resource List :

Introductions to the Old Testament (these or similar books may be substituted for Boadt):

Bernard Anderson, Understanding the Old Testament, Abridged 4th edition, Prentice Hall, 1998 (or any other edition)

Rolf Rendtorff, The Old Testament: An Introduction, Fortress Press, 1983 (out of print)

Claus Westermann, Handbook to the Old Testament, Augsburg Press, 1967 (out of print)

Brevard Childs, Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture, Fortress Press, 1979

James L. Mays, editor, HarperCollins Bible Commentary, Revised Edition, Harper SanFrancisco, 2000

John Bright, A History of Israel, 4th Edition, Westminster/John Knox Press, 2000