Old Testament Bible Survey

Objectives

In this course, we are taking a fast but grand tour of the Bible. We will get to know some of the Bible’s heroes and villains. Learn about the “land flowing with milk and honey”, about why pagan religions were so attractive to the Israelites. Understanding the Old Testament influence on the New Testament helps us to understand things like why the scribes and Pharisees got so mad at Jesus – and why He got mad at the small businessmen trying to make a shekel at the Temple. We will seek to develop a clear and cogent story-flow for this massive and sometimes confusing Book of books while providing interesting and helpful insights into the culture, customs, geography and major themes of the Old and New Testaments.

This subject aims to introduce students to the Bible, equipping them with a sound understanding of the content, structure, settings, and themes of both Old and New Testaments. It is designed to help students heighten their awareness of the Bible generally as well as provide insights into the major theological issues it addresses.

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the cultural, religious, and geographic influences on ancient Israel

• Demonstrate knowledge of the major themes and theological issues of the Old Testament

• Demonstrate knowledge of the cultural and religious influences of the New Testament period

• Demonstrate knowledge of the life and ministry of Jesus as portrayed in the New Testament

• Demonstrate a knowledge of the major themes and theological issues of the New Testament

Although not an assessable part of the subject, a key result of the course should be a heightened interest in and appreciation of the richness and value of Biblical texts.