1 ASSEMBLIES OF GOD THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY BOT 540 Studies in Poetical Books: Psalms Roger D. Cotton, Th.D. Summer II 2010 e-mail: [email protected] June, M-F, 8:00-10:00 AM COURSE SYLLABUS COURSE DESCRIPTION An exegetical and devotional study of the Psalms with an emphasis on understanding them as Hebrew poetry in their cultural and theological context so that the student will be able to properly principlize and effectively apply these texts to their lives as the Word of God and minister them to the church today. OBJECTIVES Upon successful completion of the course, the student should be able to: 1. Summarize important characteristics of the psalms. 2. Recognize and deal with, properly, the important features of Hebrew poetry as they relate to interpreting the psalms. 3. Explain and apply the major themes and concepts expressed in the psalms, including messianic references. 4. Preach and minister effectively the theological principles underlying any psalm. TEXTBOOKS Required: Bullock, C. Hassell. Encountering the Book of the Psalms: A Literary and Theological Introduction. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001. ISBN 0-8010-2245-2 Cotton, Roger D., ed. B0T 540 Psalms Handouts 2010 (AGTS) The Holy Bible: Contemporary English Version. New York: American Bible Society, 1995. Gaebelein, Frank E., ed. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Vol. 5, Psalms – Song of Songs. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1991. ISBN 0-310-36470-1 (.v5) COURSE OUTLINE Tues June 1 Introduction and Psalm 1 Weds 2 discussion of Psalm 2; have read Part 1, chapters 1-3, in Bullock Thurs 3 Psalm 8 Fri 4 Hebrew poetryBOT 540 St. in Poetical Books: Psalms Roger D. Cotton Page 2 Mon 7 TURN IN flow of thought diagram of chosen psalm; discuss Psalm 23, word studies Tues 8 Psalm 51 Weds 9 Psalm 45 Thurs 10 Psalm 16 Fri 11 TURN IN word study from chosen psalm Mon 14 Psalm 110 Tues 15 Psalm 22 Weds 16 Psalm 69 Thurs 17 Psalms 73 Fri 18 Psalm 68 Mon 21 Psalm 19 Tues-Thurs 22-24 TURN IN or have scheduled the presentation of your exegetical project. Fri 25 Turn in and discuss the take-home essays [There will be a chapel service as part of one of the classes, but chapel dates are still to be determined.] METHODOLOGY Lecture, discussion, readings, essays, and research writing project. COURSE REQUIREMENTS Class attendance is expected Be prepared to discuss the passages assigned for each day including reading them in the CEV, checking other translations, reading the textbook commentary by VanGemeren and whatever Bullock says on them, and any related handouts. 2. By the end of the course have read the handouts, Bullock for main points and significant understandings, and VanGemeren on all the psalms covered in class and your project as well as the introduction and the appendices after the following Psalms: 1, The Ways of Wisdom and Folly; 3, Yahweh is My God; 5, Yahweh is King; 7, The Name of Yahweh; 46; Zion Theology; 89, The Messianic King; 98, Yahweh is the Divine Warrior; 132, The Ark . . .; 137, Imprecations. 3. TURN IN on Monday, June 7, a flow of thought diagram of your chosen psalm or significant part of one for the exegetically researched teaching or preaching project described in # 5 below. Instructions on this kind of diagramming are in the handouts and will be discussed in class but the recommended reading on it is Walter Kaiser, Toward An Exegetical Theology, chapters 4 and 8, on reserve. This is not expected to be your final understanding of the text but your beginning one. It will give an opportunity for feedback from the professor before proceeding further with the exegesis.BOT 540 St. in Poetical Books: Psalms Roger D. Cotton Page 3 4. TURN IN on Friday, June 11, a 3-4 page word study of a significant Hebrew word in your chosen psalm following the instructions in the handouts and discussed in class. 5. A. Present in class or in the professor’s office during the last week of the course a 3 or more page typed, researched, exegetical, biblical-theological, teaching (or preaching) outline on a psalm or significant part of a psalm of your choice, approved by the professor. “A” grade level requires the work and sources described below and in the handouts about doing good graduate level exegetical/biblical-theological study. OR B. Turn in a 10-12 page typed exegetical/biblical-theological research paper on a passage approved by the professor, with the same basic instructions as above, turned in by June 24. Thorough, detailed, exegetical/biblical-theological research to me includes the following steps: a. Understanding the language of the text through comparing translations and doing significant word studies, which include the use of: (New) Englishman’s Hebrew Concordance (coded to Strong’s) or Kohlenberger, John R., III, and James W. Swanson. The Hebrew English Concordance To The Old Testament With The New International Version or a computer program that searches the Hebrew words, and then reading the articles in the New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis. b. Understanding the significance of the historical and cultural references in the passage through background studies, including the Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, and scholarly, exegetical commentaries. c. Understanding the literary intent of the passage by outlining the flow of thought and studying the literary devices used by the writer. Be sure to turn in with your project your revised diagram incorporating suggestions from the professor and use it to make observations on the points of the passage. NOTE: each student must turn in a flow of thought diagram (instructions to be explained in class) of their choice of psalm or significant portion of a psalm on Monday, June 7. d. Understanding the theology intended through analyzing the significance of the images and the theological and thematic terms and ideas used in context of the book of Psalms and of the whole Old Testament, and determining the underlying principles intended as the message of the inspired writer. To qualify for an “A” grade the best commentaries (see the * ones in bibliography and at least two more) must be consulted, as well as Old Testament theologies, including Waltke’s, and the Dictionary of OT Wisdom, Poetry, & Writings edited by Longman