Speaker:

Dr. Douglas Stuart

This course is an overview of the Old Testament from Genesis to Malachi. These lectures were given at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary during the spring of 2001.

Class Outline

Introduction
Introduction	The purpose of this overview of the Old Testament is to focus on the content of each of the Old Testament books, the historical events that give context to the books, and specific questions that help draw out the overarching principles contained in the Old Testament. There is also an emphasis on identifying ways to use this material that can help people in their daily lives.
I. Origins
Genesis	Genesis tells ten stories that describe origins or beginnings. These include the origin of the "heavens and earth," and the origin of specific families that are significant in God's dealings with humans.
Themes in Genesis	Themes from selected passages in Genesis about which there are interpretations that differ greatly. These include Genesis 2 regarding creation of women and their roles, Genesis 6 about the "Sons of God," and Genesis 9 about the "curse of Ham." Other themes are the story of Abraham, and God as a punisher of evil.
Exodus	The three major themes in Exodus are Israel's deliverance from Egypt, establishment of the Covenant and the Tabernacle. Other themes are how name repetition in a sentence is significant throughout Scripture, and how humility in the Jewish culture affects the actions and responses of many biblical characters.
II. The Law
Law	Exodus contains both apodictic and casuistic laws. There are also paradigmatic laws which are designed to give broad guidance for specific situations that arise. The first part of Exodus is mostly stories, and the second part is mostly a record of the laws which are the basis for how they interact with God and other people.
The Law: Covenant Structure
The Law: Numerical Parallelisms
The Law: Leviticus
The Law: Numbers
The Law: Deuteronomy
III. The Promised Land
Joshua
Holy War
Judges
Ruth
IV. The United Monarchy
1 & 2 Samuel
Three Kings
1 & 2 Samuel, 1 Kings
V. Poetry and Wisdom
Psalms
Proverbs
Job
Ecclesiastes
Song of Songs
VI. The Divided Monarchy
Prophetical Books
Hosea, Amos, & Jonah
VII. Judah
2 Kings
Historical Overview
Isaiah, Micah, & Nahum
VIII. The Last Days
2 Kings 22-25
Jeremiah
Joel & Obadiah
Habakkuk & Zephaniah
IX. The Exile
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel, Esther, & Isaiah
X. The Return
Background
Haggai & Zechariah
Malachi, Ezra, & Nehemiah

Old Testament Survey

Class Outline