Overview
Welcome to the Old Testament! The Old Testament elicits a variety of reactions in people. For those who have read little of it, it remains a mysterious and strange world. Some have tried to read through the Old Testament in a “Read the Bible in a year”, but the journey floundered once they reached Leviticus and Numbers. Others have read portions of the Old Testament and been horrified by what they find there. Some love portions of the Old Testament, like the Psalms.
Wherever you are in your knowledge of the Old Testament, I hope that this class will be enlightening for you. We will be reading together most of the narrative texts in the Old Testament to help us understand its overall structure and how it fits with the New Testament. But I also hope that the class will be spiritually encouraging and challenging for you. God has revealed himself in dramatic ways in the Old Testament, and interacting with him through those texts will not leave us the same if we are open and honest with him.
About the Course Author
Charlie Trimm loves to inspire students to recognize the beauty of the Old Testament and its relevance for the life of the church today. Having served for several years in pastoral ministry, he strives to encourage the spiritual growth of his students in all his classes. He received his Ph.D. from Wheaton College in 2012, writing his dissertation on God acting as a divine warrior in the exodus. His research interests include violence in the ancient Near East, Old Testament ethics and theology, the book of Exodus, and the work of J.R.R. Tolkien. He has four children: Eily, Kellen, Brynne and Deklan. When he is not teaching, he can often be found watching his favorite soccer team, Arsenal.
About the Course Provider
Talbot School of Theology is a theologically conservative, evangelical seminary in Southern California near Los Angeles. With over a 60-year heritage of biblical fidelity, the seminary couples solid evangelical scholarship with spiritual formation to prepare students for a lifetime of relevant, effective ministry. The seminary's master's degree programs and doctoral degree programs are led by a faculty of nationally renowned, widely-published, and actively engaged ministry leaders.
Course FAQ
Each lesson is designed to take approximately 2-4 hours, depending on how deeply you engage the assignments. Since this is a self-paced course, the time it will take you to complete it will depend on the speed with which you want to progress through the course.
Since this course is designed as a self-paced experience, you will not have any interaction with the professor during the course.
Each lesson is designed to take approximately 2-4 hours, depending on how deeply you engage the assignments. Since this is a self-paced course, the time it will take you to complete it will depend on the speed with which you want to progress through the course.
Since this course is designed as a self-paced experience, you will not have any interaction with the professor during the course.
Welcome to the Old Testament! The Old Testament elicits a variety of reactions in people. For those who have read little of it, it remains a mysterious and strange world. Some have tried to read through the Old Testament in a “Read the Bible in a year”, but the journey floundered once they reached Leviticus and Numbers. Others have read portions of the Old Testament and been horrified by what they find there. Some love portions of the Old Testament, like the Psalms.
Wherever you are in your knowledge of the Old Testament, I hope that this class will be enlightening for you. We will be reading together most of the narrative texts in the Old Testament to help us understand its overall structure and how it fits with the New Testament. But I also hope that the class will be spiritually encouraging and challenging for you. God has revealed himself in dramatic ways in the Old Testament, and interacting with him through those texts will not leave us the same if we are open and honest with him.
About the Course Author
Charlie Trimm loves to inspire students to recognize the beauty of the Old Testament and its relevance for the life of the church today. Having served for several years in pastoral ministry, he strives to encourage the spiritual growth of his students in all his classes. He received his Ph.D. from Wheaton College in 2012, writing his dissertation on God acting as a divine warrior in the exodus. His research interests include violence in the ancient Near East, Old Testament ethics and theology, the book of Exodus, and the work of J.R.R. Tolkien. He has four children: Eily, Kellen, Brynne and Deklan. When he is not teaching, he can often be found watching his favorite soccer team, Arsenal.
About the Course Provider
Talbot School of Theology is a theologically conservative, evangelical seminary in Southern California near Los Angeles. With over a 60-year heritage of biblical fidelity, the seminary couples solid evangelical scholarship with spiritual formation to prepare students for a lifetime of relevant, effective ministry. The seminary's master's degree programs and doctoral degree programs are led by a faculty of nationally renowned, widely-published, and actively engaged ministry leaders.
Syllabus
| Introduction and Genesis Lesson 1 |
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| We will begin our study of the OT in the... Overview |
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| Why Study the Old Testament Video |
| Genesis Overview Video |
| Creation Video |
| The Image of God Video |
| Lesson 1 - Quiz Quiz |
| Discussion Text box |
| Research Questions Reflection |
| The Fall and its Effects Video |
| The Flood Video |
| Abrahamic Covenant Video |
| Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph Video |
| Lesson 1 - Quiz Quiz |
| Old Testament Theology Lesson 2 |
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| Before diving into Exodus, we will take a short... Overview |
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| Lesson 2 Reading: Jarvis Williams Reading |
| Lesson 2 Reading: Sandra Richter Reading Reading |
| Lesson 2 - Quiz Quiz |
| Idolatry in the Old Testament Video |
| Spiritual Warfare in the Old Testament Video |
| Modern Idols Video |
| Group Discussion Discussion |
| Source of the Bible Video |
| YHWH and Jesus in the Old Testament Video |
| Theological Implications from Creation Video |
| Racism Video |
| Research Questions Essay |
| Lesson 2 - Quiz Quiz |
| Exodus and the Wilderness Lesson 3 |
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| We return to our journey through the OT this... Overview |
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| Lesson 3 Reading: Kat Armas: “Mujeres of Exodus” Reading |
| The Ancient Near East Video |
| Exodus Overview Video |
| Moses, YHWH, and Pharaoh Video |
| Passover Video |
| Group Discussion Discussion |
| The Red Sea Video |
| Tabernacle and Temple Video |
| Wilderness Wandering Video |
| Lesson 3 - Quiz Quiz |
| Exodus and the Wilderness Research Questions Essay |
| Law Lesson 4 |
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| This week we are covering the material that has... Overview |
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| Overview of the Law Video |
| The OT Law and the NT Christian Video |
| Eye for Eye Video |
| Carmen Imes: “Bearing God’s Name” Reading |
| Group Discussion Discussion |
| Legalism Video |
| Honor Your Parents Video |
| Sabbath Video |
| Lesson 4 - Quiz Quiz |
| Research Questions Essay |
| Joshua Lesson 5 |
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| We return to the biblical narrative this week... Overview |
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| Reading Narrative - Part 1 Video |
| Reading Narrative - Part 2 Video |
| Overview and Geography of Joshua Video |
| Joshua and Rahab Video |
| Jericho Video |
| Ai Video |
| Land Division Video |
| Final Speech Video |
| Map of Canaan Resource |
| Map of the Ancient Near East (ANE) Resource |
| Map Project Discussion |
| Lesson 5 - Quiz Quiz |
| Research Questions Essay |
| Ethics Lesson 6 |
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| This week we focus on the ethics in the Old... Overview |
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| Sam Allberry Reading Reading |
| Wesley Hill Reading Reading |
| Basics of Old Testament Ethics Video |
| Sexual Ethics Video |
| Prostitution and Polygamy Video |
| Sexual Violence Video |
| LGBTQIA+ Video |
| Group Discussion Discussion |
| Lesson 6 - Quiz Quiz |
| Various Approaches to Divine Violence - Part 1 Video |
| Various Approaches to Divine Violence - Part 2 Video |
| A Defense of Divine Violence Video |
| Research Questions Essay |
| Lesson 6 - Quiz Quiz |
| Judges and Ruth Lesson 7 |
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| This week we return to the biblical story by... Overview |
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| Judges Overview Video |
| Ehud Video |
| Gideon (Herod Spring) Video |
| Samson (Beth Shemesh) Video |
| Lesson 7 - Quiz Quiz |
| The Danites (Dan) Video |
| Gibeah (Jerusalem and Gibeah) Video |
| Ruth (En Gedi and Beersheva) Video |
| Lesson 7 - Quiz Quiz |
| Research Questions Essay |
| Samuel Lesson 8 |
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| This week we continue with the story of the OT... Overview |
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| Samuel at Shiloh Video |
| The Ark's Journey (Beth Shemesh) Video |
| Saul the King Video |
| Rejection of Saul and the Rise of David Video |
| Discussion Question Discussion |
| Lesson 8 - Quiz Quiz |
| David the King (Beth Shean) Video |
| David's Downfall Video |
| Lesson 8 - Quiz Quiz |
| Research Questions Essay |
| Psalms and Wisdom Lesson 9 |
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| This week we take another detour from the... Overview |
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| Lesson 9 Reading: Federico G. Villanueva Reading |
| Reading Poetry Video |
| Psalms of Orientation Video |
| Psalms of Lament Video |
| Laments in Church Video |
| Lesson 9 - Quiz Quiz |
| Discussion Questions Discussion |
| Proverbs Video |
| Job and Ecclesiastes Video |
| Lesson 9 - Quiz Quiz |
| Research Questions Essay |
| Kings Lesson 10 |
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| This week we are introduced to the structure... Overview |
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| Overview of Kings Video |
| Solomon (Hazor) Video |
| Division of the Kingdom Video |
| Lesson 10 - Quiz Quiz |
| Elijah and the Dark Night of the Soul Video |
| Elijah and Ahab Video |
| The Bald Elisha Video |
| Lesson 10 - Quiz Quiz |
| Research Questions Essay |
| Prophets Lesson 11 |
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| Our final detour brings us to the prophets,... Overview |
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| Prophecy in the ANE and the Old Testament Video |
| Reading Prophecy Video |
| Jonah and Assyria Video |
| Purity Culture Video |
| Lesson 11 - Quiz Quiz |
| Discussion Questions Discussion |
| Church Discipline, Part 1 Video |
| Church Discipline, Part 2 Video |
| Jesus and the Prophets Video |
| Jesus and Violence Video |
| Lesson 11 - Quiz Quiz |
| Research Questions Essay |
| Israel and the Empires Lesson 12 |
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| This week we finish the story of the OT (and... Overview |
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| Assyria and the Fall of Samaria Video |
| Hezekiah and Josiah Video |
| The Fall of Jerusalem Video |
| Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah Video |
| Discussion Question Discussion |
| Lesson 12 - Quiz Quiz |
| Justice in the Old Testament Video |
| Eschatology in the Old Testament Video |
| Lesson 12 - Quiz Quiz |
| Research Questions Essay |
| Final Paper Essay |
Course FAQ
Each lesson is designed to take approximately 2-4 hours, depending on how deeply you engage the assignments. Since this is a self-paced course, the time it will take you to complete it will depend on the speed with which you want to progress through the course.
Since this course is designed as a self-paced experience, you will not have any interaction with the professor during the course.
Each lesson is designed to take approximately 2-4 hours, depending on how deeply you engage the assignments. Since this is a self-paced course, the time it will take you to complete it will depend on the speed with which you want to progress through the course.
Since this course is designed as a self-paced experience, you will not have any interaction with the professor during the course.