Introduction to the Old Testament (BA8001L)

This class is "blended," meaning that students engage with the learning materials, each other and the lecturer in a variety of ways, synchronous (i.e., real time) and asynchronous (students' own time).

• Synchronous classes are scheduled for period 3 (12:30-2:00pm) on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• On campus "in person" students meet in seminar room 2 with distance students joining online via Zoom.

This class is organized into several modules, which indicate the topics/tasks, discussion questions, etc. as well as provide extra reading material outside the Bible and textbook or Bible. There are 12 modules, each conducted over the course of one week (for timing, see schedule in the ARK meta unit):

• Module 1: Introductory Topics (OT geography & history, history of interpretation overview, etc.)
• Module 2: Pentateuch (Genesis)
• Module 3: Pentateuch (Exodus)
• Module 4: Pentateuch (Leviticus & Worship in Israel)
• Module 5: Pentateuch (Numbers & Deuteronomy)
• Module 6: Historical Books (Pre-monarchic Period; Joshua, Judges, Ruth; Biblical Archaeology)
• Module 7: Historical Books (United Monarchy; 1 Samuel to 1 Kings 10)
• Module 8: Historical Books (Divided Monarchy, Exile, & Postexilic Period; 1-2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah, Esther)
• Module 9: Prophets (Pre-exilic, Exilic, & Postexilic Prophets)
• Module 10: Writings (Wisdom Literature; Proverbs & Job)
• Module 11: Writings (Ecclesiastes; Psalms; Genres of Psalmody)
• Module 12: Writings (The Book of Psalms)

Each module follows a similar pattern enabling students to work to a regular weekly rhythm of engaging asynchronous learning materials and readings, synchronous classes, weekly quizzes etc. More information is provided in more detail in ALC's Learning Management System [LMS] called "ARK".

• Steinmann, Andrew E., and Michael Eschelbach. Called to be God’s people: an introduction to the Old Testament. Abridged ed. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2015.
• A formal equivalent translation of the Bible (e.g., ESV, NIV, NKJV, NRSV). Recommended: The Lutheran Study Bible (ESV)