INTRODUCTION TO OLD TESTAMENT
Instructor: Rev. Dr. Mark H. Hughes
Telephone: 816.518.6019
Email: orthodoxpresby@yahoo.com
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides students with a basic introduction to the Christian Old Testament, focusing on its content, historical context, theology, and significance for today. The Old Testament puzzles many Christians in our time. They realize it encompasses a large percentage of their Bible, yet apart from some of the famous stories and characters, they know little about it. This course will focus on opening up the great story of salvation through the narrative storyline of the Old Testament. Themes of creation, fall, covenant, captivity, salvation, exile, restoration, and new creation will play a significant role in our weekly studies as we travel on the road from creation to the cross.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Students will be able to:
- grow in their knowledge of the content of the Old Testament;
- gain an understanding of the overarching story of the Old Testament;
- learn some of the dominant themes that permeate the Old Testament texts;
- gain some sense of how to preach and teach the Old Testament in their various ministry contexts.
REQUIRED TEXT(S), READINGS, AND MATERIALS
- Hill, Andrew and Walton, John H. A Survey of the Old Testament, 3rd Edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009.
- Study Bible not based on a paraphrase: ESV, NIV, and NRSV are all acceptable. The Message, The Living Bible, and The New Living Translation are not acceptable.
- There will also be articles, readings, and videos posted on UDTSLearning.net
RECOMMENDED FOR FURTHER STUDY: (These books are not required, but are very helpful in teaching and preaching the Faith of the Church.)
- Baylis, Albert H. From Creation to the Cross: Understanding the First Half of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996.
- Fee, Gordon and Stuart, Douglas. How to Read the Bible Book by Book: A Guided Tour. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002.
- France, R.T., Jesus and the Old Testament. Vancouver: Regent College Publishing, 1992.
- Greidanus, Sidney. Preaching Christ from the Old Testament: A Contemporary Hermeneutical Method. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999.
- Harper Collins Bible Dictionary. General Editor Paul J. Achtemeier. New York: Harper Collins, 1996.
- Harper Collins Bible Pronunciation Guide, General Editor William O. Walker, Jr. New York: Harper Collins, 1994.
- Longman III, Tremper and Dillard, Raymond. An Introduction to the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006.
- McKim, Donald K. Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1996.
- Motyer, Alec. The Story of the Old Testament: Men With a Message. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001.