Old Testament Survey

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. You may access a syllabus offered by Dr. Stuart for this class by clicking on this link.

 

Introduction
1. 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
2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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
5. 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.

6. The Law: Covenant Structure
7. The Law: Numerical Parallelisms
8. The Law: Leviticus
9. The Law: Numbers
10. The Law: Deuteronomy
III. The Promised Land
11. Joshua
12. Holy War
13. Judges
14. The Promised Land: Ruth
IV. The United Monarchy
15. 1 & 2 Samuel
16. Three Kings
17. 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 Kings
V. Poetry and Wisdom
18. Psalms
19. Proverbs
20. Job
21. Ecclesiastes
22. Song of Songs
VI. The Divided Monarchy
23. Prophetical Books
24. Hosea, Amos, & Jonah
VII. Judah
25. 2 Kings
26. Historical Overview
27. Isaiah, Micah, & Nahum
VIII. The Last Days
28. 2 Kings 22-25
29. Jeremiah
30. Joel & Obadiah
31. Habakkuk & Zephaniah
IX. The Exile
32. Lamentations
33. Ezekiel
34. Daniel, Esther, & Isaiah
X. The Return
35. Background
36. Haggai & Zechariah
37. Malachi, Ezra, and Nehemiah