1 ISAIAH - MALACHI (4OT516) Reformed Theological Seminary, Atlanta Instructor: John J. Yeo, Ph.D. Date of Course: July 5th – 9th E-mail: [email protected] Monday – Friday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Summer 2010 I. COURSE DESCRIPTION An expository study of the message and times of the prophets, emphasizing the themes of the Day of the LORD, judgment, restoration, promise and fulfillment, Messiah, kingdom, and the new people of God. A Reformed biblical-theological approach (i.e., redemptive-historical method) will be used in order to unfold the meaning of the (Latter) Prophetical corpus in relation to its covenant Old Testament context. Its relation and significance to the New Testament will also be discussed. II. COURSE OBJECTIVES Upon successful completion of this course: 1) The student will be familiar with a couple of key interpretive approaches: a) the grammatico-historical method and b) the biblical-theological/redemptive-historical method. 2) The student will be able to identify the message, historical context, and literary structure of each prophetic book. In addition, the student will be familiar with certain key passages found within the Prophetic corpus that will have been examined and exposited in class (e.g., Isaiah 53; Daniel 9; etc.). 3) The student will be familiar with the office and function of the Prophets (i.e., prophetism) and their significance in both Old and New Testaments. 4) The student will be acquainted with the main interpretive issues concerning the interpretation of prophecy (e.g., conservative vs. liberal views of authorship/dating; genre considerations (e.g., literal or figurative/symbolic); literary structure (e.g., the use of recapitulation); etc. 5) The student will see the remarkable development of the Messianic promise found earlier in the Old Testament, e.g., Genesis 3:15, 49:10-12; Num. 24:15-19; 2 Samuel 7:14-16; etc., during the prophetic period. III. TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER MATERIALS **Required: 1) Tremper Longman III & Raymond B. Dillard, Introduction to the Old Testament (Hereafter IOT), Second Edition (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2006). 2) O. Palmer Robertson, The Christ of the Prophets (Hereafter COTP). (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 2006). This is the HARDCOVER, UNABRIDGED edition. Please refer to the following link for the hardcover, unabridged edition: http://www.amazon.com/Christ-Prophets-O-Palmer-Robertson/dp/0875525644/ref=reader_auth_dp2 3) John J. Yeo, Plundering the Egyptians: The Old Testament and Historical Criticism at Westminster Theological Seminary (1929-1998) (Hereafter, PTE) (Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2010). 4) **Supplementary Readings: i. John H. Walton, Ancient Israelite Literature in its Cultural Context. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1990), pp. 201-228. ii. Richard L. Pratt, Jr., “Historical Contingencies and Biblical Predictions,” in The Way of Wisdom, edited by J.I. Packer & S.K. Sonderlund (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2000), pp. 180-203. [ iii. Richard L. Schultz, “How Many Isaiahs Were There and What Does It Matter?: Prophetic Inspiration in Recent Evangelical Scholarship” in Evangelicals & Scripture: Tradition, Authority and Hermeneutics, edited by V. Bacote, L.C. Miguélez, & D.L. Okholm (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2004), pp.150-170. Suggested Resources: 1) Bullock, C. Hassell. An Introduction to the Old Testament Prophetic Books. Chicago: Moody Press, 1986. 2) Chisholm, Robert B. Handbook on the Prophets. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002. 3) Dorsey, David A. The Literary Structure of the Old Testament Grand Rapids: Baker, 1999. 4) *Kline, Meredith G. Images of the Spirit. South Hamilton, MA: Meredith G. Kline, 1986. In print, this book has been subsequently reissued by Wipf & Stock. 5) Meier, Samuel A. Themes and Transformations in Old Testament Prophecy. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2009. 6) McConville, J. Gordon. A Guide to the Prophets. Exploring the Old Testament, Vol. Four. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2002. 7) *Vos, Geerhardus. Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments. Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust, reprint 1992. 8) *Williams, Michael J. The Prophet and His Message: Reading Old Testament Prophecy Today. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 2003. 9) Wood, Leon J. The Prophets of Israel. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1979. 10) *Young, Edward J. My Servants the Prophets. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1952. IV. ASSIGNMENTS 1) Assigned Readings: i. Primary Literature: Each student is required to read the entire (Latter) Prophetic corpus. (e.g., New Geneva Study Bible, pp.1022-1495; 473 pp.) ii. Secondary Literature and Supplementary Readings3 (See section III above) iii. A question on the final examination will ask how much of the assigned readings the student has completed during the semester. Please take this into consideration before taking the final examination. 2) Paper: Topic and due date will be announced in class (see handout) 3) Final Examination: A study guide will be provided. The date of the exam will be announced in class. V. COURSE OUTLINE Prolegomena: Introduction to the Prophets Prophetism in Israel: Its Origin and Its Uniqueness within the ANE Titles Used of Prophets Prophets in Transition The Call and Commission of the Prophet True Versus False Prophets The Role of the Law and Covenant in the Prophetical Books Reading Assignment: - COTP, chapters 1-4, pp. 9-119 - John H. Walton, Ancient Israelite Literature in its Cultural Context. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1990), pp. 201-228 The Eighth Century Prophets Hosea Amos Micah Isaiah Joel Obadiah Jonah Reading Assignment: - Read the corresponding chapters in IOT - COTP, chapter 8, pp. 201-25 - PTE, pp. 135-152; 232-252; 279-289 (Please read the endnotes) - Richard L. Schultz, “How Many Isaiahs Were There and What Does It Matter?: Prophetic Inspiration in Recent Evangelical Scholarship” in Evangelicals & Scripture: Tradition, Authority and Hermeneutics, edited by V. Bacote, L.C. Miguélez, & D.L. Okholm (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2004), pp.150-170 The Seventh Century Prophets4 Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Jeremiah Reading Assignment: - Read the corresponding chapters in IOT - COTP, chapter 9, pp. 255-282 Prophets of Exile Ezekiel Daniel Reading Assignment: - Read the corresponding chapters in IOT - COTP, chapters 10-11, pp. 283-358 - PTE, pp. 29-51 (Please read the endnotes) Prophets of Restoration Haggai Zechariah