Old Testament Bible Studies (OBST)
OBST 501 Torah and Story in the Old Testament 3 Credit Hour(s)
This course explores the foundational principles of Torah theology, highlighting the centrality of Torah within Scripture and its shaping. This course highlights the reverberations of Torah’s teachings throughout the rest of the Old Testament story and into the New.
Offered: Resident
OBST 502 Reading the Old Testament Poems and Prophets for the Church 3 Credit Hour(s)
This course begins with the forms and rhetoric of poetic writings and engages specifically in the theologies of the psalms, wisdom books, and prophetic books drawing from their theologies for the modern church within its various cultural and intercultural contexts.
Offered: Resident
OBST 510 Old Testament Introduction 3 Credit Hour(s)
Deals with the two major subdivisions of OTI: (1) general introduction which involves the matters of text, canon, and the particular question of the date and authorship of the Pentateuch; and (2) special introduction relating to the treatment of the individual books of the Old Testament one-by-one, giving an account of authorship, date, purpose, and integrity. The goal of the course is to provide a basis for an introduction to the tools used in the Old Testament materials in their historical and theological context.
Offered: Resident and Online
OBST 515 Old Testament Orientation I 3 Credit Hour(s)
An examination of the current status of research in studies relative to the Pentateuch and Historical Books. Special attention will be given to biblical introduction, hermeneutics, and the acquiring of a strategic grasp of the historical setting, literary genres, and structure of each book, as well as areas of particular critical concern.
Offered: Resident and Online
OBST 516 Introduction to the Pentateuch and Old Testament Historical Books 3 Credit Hour(s)
An expositional study of the Pentateuch and the Historical Books of the Old Testament. Each book will be examined, as well as the various interpretive components regarding Old Testament law, covenant, and historical texts.
Offered: Online
OBST 517 Introduction to the Poetic and Prophetic Books 3 Credit Hour(s)
An expositional study of the poetic and prophetic books of the Old Testament. Each book will be covered, as well as the interpretive processes regarding Old Testament poetic and prophetic texts.
Offered: Online
OBST 520 Old Testament Orientation II 3 Credit Hour(s)
An examination of the current status of research in studies relative to the poetic and prophetic books. Special attention will be given to biblical introduction, hermeneutics, and the acquiring of a strategic grasp of the historical setting, literary genres, and structure of each book, as well as areas of particular critical concern.
Offered: Resident and Online
OBST 640 Apologetics and the Old Testament 3 Credit Hour(s)
An investigation of key issues in the study of the Old Testament with a focus upon defending the truthfulness of the Old Testament. Focused attention will be given to the historicity of Old Testament narratives, issues in archaeology, and the compatibility of the God of the Old Testament with the God of the New Testament.
Offered: Resident and Online
OBST 650 Genesis 3 Credit Hour(s)
An examination of Genesis with particular emphasis on the major themes and events: creation, flood, patriarchal narratives, and the Abrahamic Covenant. Attention will be given to significant historical and archaeological details relative to the cultural milieu as well as to crucial theological concepts found in key chapters in the book.
Offered: Resident and Online
OBST 651 Creation, Cosmology and Genesis 3 Credit Hour(s)
An intensive, comparative study of creation issues. Attention will be directed to a proper exegesis of pertinent Genesis texts, to comparing/contrasting the Genesis account to other Ancient Near East creation stories, and to an evaluation of modern theories of creation.
Offered: Resident and Online
OBST 654 Deuteronomy 3 Credit Hour(s)
A detailed study of the book of Deuteronomy, with attention to the structure and composition of the book, its themes and message, the goodness of God and the law, and the reverberations of Deuteronomy in other books of the Bible.
Offered: Resident
OBST 655 Joshua-Kings 3 Credit Hour(s)
A survey of the historical books of the Old Testament with a brief special introduction to each, followed by a detailed study of the history of Israel from the era of conquest to the era of restoration. Assigned work in the biblical materials.
Offered: Online
OBST 656 Judges 3 Credit Hour(s)
A detailed investigation of the book of Judges with special emphasis on literary structure and devices, themes, theology, composition, and historical setting.
Offered: Resident
OBST 657 Esther 3 Credit Hour(s)
An intensive study of the book of Esther. Attention will be given to historical setting, historiography, composition, structure, literary devices, themes, and theology.
Offered: Resident
OBST 658 Wisdom Literature 3 Credit Hour(s)
A detailed exegetical and theological study of what is traditionally called wisdom literature as presented in the books of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and select other passages. Attention will be given to genre, form, and key theological concepts of wisdom like creation, the fear of the Lord, living righteously within God’s created order, character formation, suffering, the problem of evil, and the nature of God.
Offered: Resident
OBST 659 Job-Song of Songs and Lamentations 3 Credit Hour(s)
A survey of the historical background, nature, and purpose of divine revelation in the poetic literature of the Old Testament. An analysis of the form and content of the poetic books of the Old Testament: Job through Song of Solomon, and Lamentations.
Offered: Resident and Online
OBST 660 Psalms 3 Credit Hour(s)
An in-depth study of representative types of psalmic materials. Attention is given to questions of historical setting and literary form as they relate to major religious ideas and teachings.
Offered: Resident and Online
OBST 661 Isaiah 3 Credit Hour(s)
Careful attention is given to the special introductory aspects of the book: 1) unity, authorship, date; 2) historical background; 3) themes, motifs, or emphasis; 4) purpose(s); and 5) literary features. A detailed exposition of the major portions of the text will be presented, especially the Messianic sections.
Offered: Resident and Online
OBST 662 Jeremiah and Ezekiel 3 Credit Hour(s)
A detailed investigation of two of Judah's great major prophets in the late kingdom and exilic periods, with special emphasis on their historical setting and literary compilation.
Offered: Resident
OBST 663 Daniel 3 Credit Hour(s)
An intensive study of the book of Daniel. Attention will be given to the historical setting, questions of date and authorship, the nature of Hebrew prophecy, parallel eschatological passages, and basic teachings. The best critical literature will be utilized.
OBST 664 Pre-Exilic Minor Prophets 3 Credit Hour(s)
An examination of Israel's prophets before the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Attention is given to their historic setting as well as to their message and theological relevance.
Offered: Resident and Online
OBST 670 Old Testament Usage of the Old Testament 3 Credit Hour(s)
An intensive study of how historical, exegetical, and theological texts, types, and themes of the Old Testament are developed in the Old Testament. Special attention will also be given to how the interpretive methods of the Old Testament writers should impact Christian interpretation of Scripture.
Offered: Resident
OBST 680 New Testament Development of Old Testament Themes 3 Credit Hour(s)
An intensive study of how historical, exegetical, and theological themes of the Old Testament are developed in the New Testament. Special attention will also be given to how the hermeneutics of the New Testament writers should impact Christian interpretation of Scripture.
Note: Cross-listed with NBST 680
Offered: Resident and Online
OBST 695 Directed Research in Old Testament Biblical Studies 3 Credit Hour(s)
Designed for the advanced student in good standing who has demonstrated an ability to work independently. The student will work with the instructor in developing a proposal for guided research in a specified area of Old Testament.
Offered: Online
OBST 697 Seminar in Old Testament 3 Credit Hour(s)
An intensive study in a specific subject of the Old Testament. This course allows variation in the approach and content of the regular curriculum and often will be used by visiting professors.
Offered: Resident and Online