SYLLABUS FOR "HE GAVE US PROPHETS"
Course Description
This course gives an introductory perspective for the study of the prophets of the Old Testament. It dispels common misunderstandings about the prophets, provides guidelines for interpreting prophecy, and gives the student confidence to begin studying prophetic literature. The course is based on the DVD series by Dr. Richard Pratt, "He Gave Us Prophets."
Dr. Richard L. Pratt, Jr.
Dr. Pratt is the president and founder of Third Millennium Ministries. He received his M.Div. from Union Theological Seminary and his Th.D. in Old Testament Studies from Harvard University. He formerly chaired the Old Testament department at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida. Then he transitioned in 2006 from his teaching role at RTS to work full time with Third Millennium Ministries. Among his published books are: Every Thought Captive, Pray With Your Eyes Open, He Gave Us Stories, and Designed For Dignity.
Goals and Objectives
GOALS
In this course, we would like to accomplish the following:
1. We hope you will develop a new interest in studying and teaching from the prophetical books of the Old Testament.
2. We hope you will make use of all the instruction elements of the course to learn about the background and purpose of the prophetical books of the Old Testament, as well as about the proper interpretation of prophetic literature in the Old Testament.
3. We hope you make changes in your life as a response to the teachings of this course.
OBJECTIVES
When you have done the following, it will show that the goals are met:1. Use all the written elements of the course to express your own thoughts and attitudes regarding the Old Testament prophetical books.
2. Obtain satisfactory grades on the tests, demonstrating that you have learned the key information about the background and purpose of the prophetical books of the Old Testament.
3. Answer the application questions in the study guides, in which you express your own responses and opinions, showing how you have applied the teachings of the course to your own life.
Resources
The course is based on materials taught by Dr. Richard L. Pratt, Jr., produced and distributed by Third Millennium Ministries.
Credit
Birmingham Theological Seminary offers 1.5 hours of credit for this course, as part of the program leading to a Certificate in Christian Ministry.
Thematic Outline of the Course
Lessons Based on the Video Lectures:
Lesson 1. Essential Hermeneutical Perspectives
Lesson 2: A Prophet's Job
Lesson 3. People of the Covenant
Lesson 4: Dynamics of the Covenant
Lesson 5. Historical Analysis of Prophecy
Lesson 6: Literary Analysis of the Prophets
Lesson 7. The Purpose of Predictions
Lesson 8: Unfolding EschatologyRequired Additional Reading
Frank K. Sanders, Old Testament Prophecy
Alex R. Gordon, The Prophets of the Old Testament
Assignments
If you have taken other Third Millennium courses, you will notice that this one is organized in a slightly different way. The video lectures for the lessons are shorter, with only about a half hour to watch, and they are not divided into sections. Because of this difference, the course is basically divided into four pairs of lessons (1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8). This means that some assignments that normally apply to all lessons will only be required for either just the odd numbered lessons or just the even numbered lessons. This will become clear as the student works through the lessons.
Required Assignments for Lessons Based on the Video Lectures
Repeat the following required assignments for each odd numbered lesson (lessons 1, 3, 5, and 7):
1. Read the "Preparation" document and complete any activity mentioned there in preparation for the lesson.
2. Read the instructions for the lesson.
3. Watch all the video parts of the lesson (or listen to the audio, or read the text version).
4. Complete the study guide for the lesson.Optional Quizzes
While they are not required, and while the grade will not be part of the official grade for the course, we recommend that you take the quiz on each lesson. This will help prepare you for the accumulative test.
For each even numbered lesson (lessons 2, 4, 6, and 8), do the same as above, then take the accumative test on the two lessons.
Required Additional Reading
After completing the lessons based on the video lectures, there is a final lesson based on required additional reading. The student should do the reading, complete the study guides, and take the corresponding test based on the reading.
Estimated Time for Study
While each student is different, we estimate that each lesson of this course may take around 4 hours to do the required assignments, if the student is already familiar with how to use these courses.
Grades
You may see your grades at any time by clicking on the link. (It is in the left margin in the computer version, and at the bottom in other versions.)
1) Each accumulative test is worth 100 points and the test on the required reading is worth 100 points.
2) The quizzes on each lesson are graded (10 points for each) so that you can evaluate your learning, but they will not be included in the official course grade. They are only for the purpose of practicing and learning.
3) The final grade for the course will be calculated by taking the appropriate percentages from each accumulative test and from the test on required reading, to make a total of 100%.
The evaluation scale has the following meaning:
90-100%: Excellent (A)
80-89%: Good (B)
75-79%: Average (C)
0-75%: Insufficient (F)
Include Other People
We highly recommend that you involve other people in your studies, in order to avoid isolating yourself. You may choose to form a study group with other students that are in the same program, or in a similar program of studies. You could share what you are learning, encourage one another, and pray for each other. It would also be a great idea to form a mentoring relationship with your pastor or with another person you respect, to make yourself accountable to him. You could meet once a week to share what you are learning and pray together.