Old Testament Introduction 1 (Onsite)

Lecturer: Ms. Allison Lee

Venue: On Campus
Time: Tuesday, 9.00 am – 12.00 pm
3 units

Course Description

A fascinating journey to discover Jesus’ cultural and religious heritage through Genesis to Esther.  This course offers a historical, literary and theological overview of each book in its Ancient Near East context. It provides a road map to understanding the background of the New Testament, and how its writers interpret the Old Testament in the context of Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection and ascension.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Describe the historical setting and cultural world of the Old Testament.
• Explain the theological messages of Pentateuch and Historical Books.
• Identify different literary genres of the Old Testament.
• Explaining the continuity and discontinuity of biblical theology in both testaments.

Required Textbooks

• Bill T. Arnold, Bryan E. Beyer. Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian Survey, 3^rd ed.  Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2015. (Textbook for undergraduate students)
• Raymond B. Dillard, Tremper Longman III, An Introduction to the Old Testament, 2^nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006. (Textbook for Graduate Students).
• Christopher J.H. Wright. Knowing Jesus through the Old Testament, 2^nd ed. Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2019 (Book Review)

Background Research Reference Texts

• Alfred J. Hoerth, Gerald L. Mattingly, Edwin M. Yamanchi. Eds. People of the Old Testament World.  Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1994.
• David E. Graves. The Cultural Background of the Old Testament: Bringing the Ancient World of the Bible to Life.  Moncton: Eletronic Christian Media, 2020.
• Jonathan S. Groel, John W. Hi.ber & John H. Walton, eds, Behind the Scones of the Old Testament: Cultural, Social, And Historical Context. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2018.
• Walton, John H, Mathews, Victor H., Chavalas, Mark. The IVP Bible Background Commentary:  Old Testament. Downers Grove; Intervarsity Press, 2000.
• Randall Price & H. Wayne House. Zondervan Handbook of Biblical Archeology.  Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2017.
• Walton, John H. Chronological and Background Charts of the Old Testament.  Grand Rapids:  Zondervan, 1994.

Selected Texts

• Alexander, T.D. From Paradise to the Promised Land:  An Introduction to the Pentateuch, 3^rd ed.  Grand Rapids:  Baker Academic, 2012.
• Arnold, Bill T. Beyer, Bryan E. Readings From The Ancient Near East. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2002.
• Bright, John, A History of Israel, 4^th ed. Louisville:  Westminster John Knox Press, 2000.
• Brisco, Thomas V. Holman Bible Atlas. Nashville: Broadman & Holman 1998.
• Childs, Brevald S.  Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments.  Minneapolis :  Fortress Press, 2011.
• Davall, J. Scott., Hays, J. Daniel., Pate, C. Marvin., Richards, E. Randolph., Tucker Jr, W. Dennis., Vang, Prehen, The Story of Israel.  Downey Grove:  IVP Academic, 2004.
• Hamilton, Victor R. Handbook on the Historical Books. Grand Rapids:  Baker Academic, 2001.
• Hamilton, Victor R. Handbook on the Pentateuch 2^nd ed. Grand Rapids:  Baker Academic, 2005.
• Hoerth, Alfred J., Gerald L. Mattingly., Yamanchi, Edwin M., Peoples of the Old Testament World.  Grand Rapids:  Baker Books, 1994.
• Hwang, Jerry & Potokham eds. Exploring the Old Testament in Asia. Malina:  Longham & ATA, 2022
• Kitchen, Kenneth A.  On The Reliability of the Old Testament.  Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003.
• Lodahl, Michael. Claiming Abraham: Reading the Bible and the Quran side by side. Grand Rapids:  Brafos Press, 2010.
• Merrill, Eugene H; Booker, Mark E., Grisanti, Michael A. The World and The Word:  An Introduction to the Old Testament.  Nashville:  B&H Academic, 2011.
• Pelt, Miles V. Van.  A Biblical Theological Introduction to the Old Testament.  Wheaton:  Crossway, 2016.  
• Satterthwaite, Philip; McConville, Gordon. Exploring the Old Testament: Volume 2 The Histories, London:  SPCK, 2007.
• Steven L. McKenzie & M. Patrick Graham, Editors. The Hebrew Bible Today: An Introduction to Critical Issues. Kentucky:  Westminster John Knox Press, 1998
• Walton, John H. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Old Testament, 5 volumes. Grand Rapids:  Zondervan, 2009.
• Walton, John H, Mathews, Victor H., Chavalas, Mark.  The IVP Bible Background Commentary:  Old Testament. Downers Grove; Intervarsity Press, 2000.
• Walton, John H. Chronological and Background Charts of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids:  Zondervan, 1994.
• Walton, John H.  Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament:  Introducing the Conceptual World of the Hebrew Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006.
• Wenham, Gordon J. Exploring the Old Testament:  Volume 1. The Pentateuch, London: SPCK, 2003.

Course Requirements

Class Schedule