Pohick Episcopal
Church
Lorton, Virginia
Pentecost Season, 2001
The Reverend Donald D. Binder, PhD
Email: dbinder@pohick.org
Web site: www.pohick.org/sts
Course Description
An exploration of recent archaeological methods and discoveries
and how they have illuminated our understanding of the Bible and enriched our Christian heritage and
faith.
Course Objectives
This course seeks to help participants to:
 | Gain a greater knowledge of the Bible and the ancient world in which
it was composed and its narrated events enacted
|
| Cultivate a richer and deeper Christian faith
|
| Develop a familiarity with the leading Biblical Archaeologists of the
past two centuries
|
| Understand common methodologies used in archaeological excavations
|
| Appreciate the import of several leading archaeological discoveries
from the past two centuries
|
| Discriminate between media hype and firm archaeological conclusions
|
| Acquire resources to continue study in Biblical Archaeology
|
Class Requirements
| Regular attendance and participation in weekly class meetings
|
| Bringing of class materials each week (i.e., your Bible)
|
| Completion of assigned readings
|
Outline of Class Meetings
October 7 Introduction
| Overview of the Course
|
| Biblical Archaeology: An Incarnational Science?
|
| Suggested Resources
|
October 14—No Class,
Newcomers’ Reception
October 21 David's Jerusalem
| Remember, the Jebusites had it First
|
| Joab's feat: A Shaft Job?
|
| A Great View from the Palace
|
Reading Assignment: 2 Samuel 5:6-8, 11:1-27; 1 Chronicles
11:4-7
October 28 The Empire Strikes Back
| Sennacherib's Thrust into Judah
|
| Hezekiah's Dilemma
|
| A Prophetic Voice
|
| A Mystery at Lachish
|
Reading Assignment: Isaiah 36:1-37:38
November 4 Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls: Discovery of the
Century
| A Lucky Stone Throw
|
| To Be or not to Be (Pure)
|
| Just Scrolling By
|
Reading Assignment: Dead Sea Scrolls Handout
November 11 A Temple Built with Human Hands
| An Eighth Wonder
|
| Insiders and Outsiders
|
| No Stone Left Unturned
|
Reading Assignment: Mark 13; Acts 3:1-5:42; Josephus
Handout
November 18 Synagogue and Ekklęsia
| How to be a Good Jew outside Jerusalem
|
| Homiletical Possibilities
|
| Church Origins
|
Reading Assignment: Luke 4:15-37; Acts 13:14-49
November 25 Sepphoris: A City Set on a Hill
| The Jewel of Galilee
|
| Mother City of Nazareth?
|
| Hypocrites in the Theaters?
|
Reading Assignment: Matthew 5:14, 6:1-7:5
|
Biblical
Archaeology
