Course Syllabus

Course title: ET 511 Old Testament Introduction

Course description: This course is designed to acquaint the student with the important issues related to
the inspiration, canon, text, message, and relevance of the Old Testament.
Course instructor: Robert Gonzales Jr. holds a Master of Arts degree (M.A.) in Theology and a Doctor
of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Old Testament Interpretation from Bob Jones University.
He is the author of Where Sin Abounds: the Spread of Sin and the Curse in Genesis
with a Special Focus on the Patriarchal Narratives (Wipf & Stock, 2010) and has
contributed to the Reformed Baptist Theological Review, The Founders Journal, and
Westminster Theological Journal. Bob and his wife, Becky, have five children.
Course credit: 3 credits
Course requirements: Student must satisfactorily complete the following course requirements:
(1) Lectures The student must listen to the 20 lectures by Dr. Bob Gonzales on OT Introduction,
which are available as podcast for download or streaming on Virtual Campus.
(2) Reading The student must complete the following assigned reading:
Read the following Old Testament Introduction in its entirety:
Merrill, Eugene H., Mark F. Rooker, and Michael A. Grisanti. The World and the
Word: An Introduction to the Old Testament. B & H Academic, 2011.
Read at least 300 pages from the following works (or works the instructor approves
of). The student should select works that contribute most towards his research paper.
Alexander, T. D. The Servant King: The Bibles Portrait of the Messiah, pp. 7-
120. Regent College Publishing, 1998. [approx. 110 pages]
Archer, Gleason, Jr. New International Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties.
Zondervan, 2001. [approx. 300 pages in OT section]
_________. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction, 3
rd
edition. Chicago: Moody
Press, 1994. [approx. 600 pages]
Baker, David L. Two Testaments, One Bible: The Theological Relationship
Between the Old and New Testaments. Third edition. Intervarsity, 2010.
Barrett, Michael P. V. Beginning at Moses: A Guide to Finding Christ in the Old
Testament. Ambassador-Emerald International, 1999. [approx. 320 pages].
Beale, G. K., and D. A. Carson, editors. Commentary on the New Testament Use of
the Old Testament. Baker Academic, 2007. [approx. 1,200 pages]
Beale, G. K., editor. The Right Doctrine from the Wrong Text? Essays on the Use
of the Old Testament in the New. Baker Academic, 1994. [approx. 420 pages]
Bell, Robert D. The Theological Messages of the Old Testament. BJU Press, 2010.
[approx. 490 pages]
Beckwith, Roger T. The Old Testament Canon of the New Testament Church.
Wipf & Stock, 1985. [approx. 500 pages]
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Brotzman, Ellis R. Old Testament Textual Criticism: A Practical Introduction.
Baker Books, 1994. [approx. 200 pages]
Dillard, Raymond and Tremper Longman III. An Introduction to the Old
Testament. 2
nd
edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006. [approx. 520
pages]
Carson, D. A., ed. The Scriptures Testify About Me: Jesus and the Gospel in the
Old Testament. Crossway, 2013. [approx. 175 pages]
Clowney, Edmund P. The Unfolding Mystery: Discovering Christ in the Old
Testament. Presbyterian & Reformed, 1988. [approx. 200 pages].
Currid, John. Ancient Egypt and the Old Testament. Baker Books, 1997. [approx.
250 pages]
________. Doing Archaeology in the Land of the Bible: A Basic Guide. Baker
Books, 1999. [approx. 125 pages]
Edershiem, Alfred. Old Testament Bible History, updated edition. Reprint,
Hendricksen, 1994. [approx. 1400 pages]
Gaebelein, Frank E., editor. The Expositors Bible Commentary. Vol. 1, pp. 197-
405. Zondervan, 1979. [approx. 730 pages]
Greidanus, Sidney. Preaching Christ from the Old Testament. Eerdmans, 1999.
[approx. 350 pages]
Harrison, Roland K. Introduction to the Old Testament. Reprint, Hendrickson
Publishers, 2004. [approx. 1,270 pp.]
Hess, Richard. Israelite Religions: An Archaeological and Biblical Survey. Baker
Academic, 2007. [approx. 420 pages]
Hill, Andrew E., and John H. Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament. Second
edition. Zondervan, 2000. [approx. 600 pages]
Hoerth, Alfred. Archaeology and the Old Testament. Baker, 1997. [approx. 480
pages]
Hoffmaier, James K. Ancient Israel in Sinai: The Evidence for the Authenticity of
the Wilderness Tradition. Oxford, 2005. [approx. 300 pages]
________. Israel in Egypt: The Evidence for the Authenticity of the Exodus
Tradition. Oxford, 1996. [approx. 200 pages]
Johnson, Dennis E. Him We Proclaim: Preaching Christ from All the Scriptures.
Presbyterian & Reformed, 2007. [approx. 450 pages]
Kaiser, Walter C., Jr. Hard Sayings of the Old Testament. Intervarsity Press, 1988.
[approx. 250 pages]
________. More Hard Sayings of the Old Testament. Intervarsity Press, 1992.
[approx. 260 pages]
________. Preaching and Teaching from the Old Testament. Baker/Revell, 2003.
[208 pages]
________. The Messiah in the Old Testament. Zondervan, 1995. [approx. 240
pages]
________. The Old Testament Documents: Are They Reliable and Relevant?
Intervarsity Press, 2000. [216 pages]
________. Toward Rediscovering the Old Testament. Zondervan, 1991. [approx.
200 pages]

Kitchen, Kenneth A. On the Reliability of the Old Testament. Eerdmans, 2003.
[approx 500 pages]
Kline, Meredith G. The Structure of Biblical Authority. Second edition. Eerdmans,
1975. [approx. 210 pages]
La Sor, William S., David A. Hubbard, Frederic W. Bush, and Leslie Allen. Old
Testament Survey. Second edition. Eerdmans, 1996. [approx. 850 pages]
Longman, Tremper, III. Making Sense of the Old Testament: Three Crucial
Questions. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998. [approx. 140 pages]
Motyer, Alec. Look to the Rock: An Old Testament Background to Our
Understanding of Christ. Kregel Academic & Professional, 1996. [approx.
250 pages]
Merrill, Eugene H. Kingdom of Priests: A History of Old Testament Israel, 2
nd

edition. Baker Academic, 2008. [approx. 530 pages]
Niehaus, Jeffrey J. Ancient Near Eastern Themes in Biblical Theology. Kregel
Academic & Professional, 2008. [approx. 200 pages]
Oswalt, John N. The Bible Among Ancient Myths: Unique Revelation or Just
Ancient Literature? Zondervan, 2009. [approx. 200 pages]
Provan, Iain, V. Philips Long, and Tremper Longman III. A Biblical History of
Israel. Westminster/John Knox Press, 2003. [approx.
Schultz, Samuel J. The Old Testament Speaks. Third edition. Harper & Row, 1980.
[approx. 425 pages]
Walton, John H. Ancient Israelite Literature in its Cultural Context: A Survey of
Parallels Between Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Texts. Zondervan,
1989. [approx. 250 pages]
________. Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament: Introducing the
Conceptual World of the Bible. Baker Academic, 2006. [approx. 350
pages]
Wright, Christopher. Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament. Intervarsity
Press, 1992. [approx. 250 pages]
Young, Edward J. An Introduction to the Old Testament. Eerdmans, 1960.
[approx. 400 pages]
When he has completed the reading, the student should notify the dean and indicate
which works have been read and how many pages from each work. The student may
be allowed to substitute other reading for the requirements listed above, but he must
obtain approval from his mentor and course instructor before doing so. If the student
has any questions about what works might serve best to contribute to this term paper,
he should contact the instructor, Dr. Gonzales (rgonz985@gmail.com).
(3) Study Questions The student should complete the Old Testament Introduction Study Guide
definitions, listings, and discussion questions, which are based primarily upon your
reading in the assigned Old Testament Introduction. The student should neatly format
the questions and answers and send them to the course instructor for credit.
(4) Exam The student will be tested over the material covered in the study guide. The student
should learn this material in preparation for the exam. The exam will consist of
multiple-choice, matching, true/false, and fill-in-the-blank questions that are based on
the information gleaned from the students study guide. The student may not use his
study guide, textbooks, or Internet helps to take the exam. The final exam constitutes
60% of the students grade. The student will have 90 minutes to take the exam.

(5) Term Paper The student should write a term paper on one of the following three subjects:
1. A Defense of the Essential Mosaic Authorship of the Pentateuch
The paper should summarize and evaluate the various post-Enlightenment
critical views on the authorship and composition of the Pentateuch. In addition
to critiquing the various critical views, the paper should provide a biblical and
cogent defense for essential Mosaic authorship.
2. A Defense of the Reliability of the Old Testament
The paper should summarize the problem of the alleged discrepancies in the
OT, identifying the various types (numerical, historical, doctrinal, and ethical)
and providing some examples of each. The paper should also articulate a
biblical defense of the inspiration and reliability of the OT as well as offer
possible solutions to these alleged discrepancies.
3. Comparative Studies of the Ancient Near East and the Old Testament
The paper should address both the values and also the potential dangers of
studying the Old Testament in light of non-inspired ancient Near Eastern
literature and archaeological data. The paper should provide concrete
examples of both the misuse of ANE parallels as well as the proper use of
ANE parallels.
4. The Relevance and Value of the Old Testament for the New Testament
Church
The paper should address the issue of the abiding relevance of the Old
Testament for the New Testament church. The student should seek to address
criticisms that the teachings or ethics of the Old Testament are inferior to or
inconsistent with the New Testament. The paper should also demonstrate
various ways in which Old Testament benefits the New Testament church.
5. Finding and Preaching Christ in the Old Testament
The paper should discuss the manner and extent in which the Old Testament
bears witness to the person and work of Christ; it should highlight the
continuity of both testaments while also highlighting the progressive nature of
special revelation. The paper should include some practical guidelines for
interpreting and preaching Christ from the Old Testament Scriptures.
More information about any of the suggested topics above can be solicited from the
instructor, Dr. Gonzales (rgonz985@gmail.com). The student may write on another
topic not listed above but that is related to the study of the Old Testament contingent
on the instructors approval.
The paper must be 12 to 15 pages in length (double-spaced) with at least 2 pages of
bibliography and should conform to the term paper standards set forth in the RBS
Guidelines & Expectations for Students and more fully in A Manual for Writers of
Term Paper, Theses, and Dissertations, 7
th
edition by Kate L. Turabian. The student
will submit a first draft of the paper to the instructor. The instructor will note any
modifications that need to be made. Then the student will revise the first draft and
submit a final draft for grading.
The student should use and reference secondary sources such as Bible dictionary or
encyclopedia articles, journal articles, or books like those listed above.
Course grading: Lectures = 10%; Reading = 10%
Exam over Study Questions = 40%
Final Paper = 40%