Details for The Minor Prophets

This paper examines the book of the Twelve (Prophets) as a collage, with particular emphasis given to the themes, rhetoric and portrayals of Yahweh.  

Awards offering The Minor Prophets

This unit is offered as a part of the following awards:

• Bachelor of Contemporary Ministry
• Diploma in Biblical Studies (Level 6)

Unit Content

Curriculum Objective

This paper examines the book of the Twelve (Prophets) as a collage, with particular emphasis given to the themes, rhetoric and portrayals of Yahweh. 

Outcomes

Students should be able to:

1. Analyse the content, structure and themes of the individual books of the minor prophets
2. Examine the minor prophets (or Book of the Twelve) as a unified collection
3. Explain the concept of divine involvement in the world and its significance in its ancient Near East setting
4. Discuss the use of prophetic literature in contemporary settings
5. Exegete critically specific texts in selected passages

Subject Content

1.   Introduction to the biblical prophetic literature

2.  The nature of the Hebrew poetic genre

3.  Overview to the religious socio-historical setting of the Minor Prophets

4.  The main themes of the Minor Prophets

5.  The presentation of Yahweh in the Twelve

6.  Selected analysis and exegesis

This course may be offered in the following formats

Lectures, tutorials, group discussion, online engagement

Please consult your course prospectus or enquire about how and when this course will be offered next at Alphacrucis College.

Assessment Methods

Forum Postings (20%, 2500 words); Exegetical Essay (50%, 2500 words); Exam (30%,1 hours)

Prescribed Text

No Set Text

Representative References

Ben Zvi, E.  Hosea, FOTL, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2005.

Boice, J.M.  The Minor Prophets.  Grand Rapids:  Baker Academic, 2006.

Chisholm, R.B.  Handbook on the Prophets.  Grand Rapids:  Baker Academic, 2003.

Day, J. “God's Enduring Love in the Book of Hosea: A Synchronic and Diachronic Analysis of Hosea11, 1-11”, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament;  31:5 (2007):130.

De Vries, S.J. “Futurism in the pre-exilic minor prophets compared with that of the postexilic minor prophets.” SBL Seminar Papers 40 (2001): 19-38.

House, P.R.  The Unity of the Twelve. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 2009.

Kelle, B. Hosea 2: Metaphor and Rhetoric in Historical Perspective. Brill 2005.

McComiskey, T.E. (ed).  The Minor Prophets:  An Exegetical Expository Commentary.  Grand Rapids:  Baker Academic, 2009.

Mitchell, M.W., “Hosea 1-2 and the Search for Identity”, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 29:1 (S 2004): 115-127.

Premnath, D.N. Eighth Century Prophets: A Social Analysis. St Louis: Chalice Press, 2003.

Sandy, D.B., & O'Hare, D.M. Prophecy and Apocalyptic: An Annotated Bibliography. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007.

Seitz, Christopher R. Prophecy and Hermeneutics: Toward a New Introduction to the Prophets, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2007.

Sweeney, M.A. & Nogalski, J (eds). Reading and Hearing the Book of the Twelve, SBL Symposium Series, SBL, 2000.

Journals:

Currents in Biblical Research

Journal for the Study of Old Testament

Journal of Biblical Literature

Interpretation