[version 2023.05]

OT1000 Introduction to the Old Testament

This course seeks to present an overview of the Old Testament by studying its main literary works, and the historical, geographical, and theological backgrounds that help to unlock some of its meaning. Also included is a brief survey of the biblical, hermeneutical tools and methods.

OT2000 Genesis and the Pentateuch

Selected passages from Genesis within the framework of the Pentateuch will be studied. The course includes the development and history of the editing of the Pentateuch, the main themes, tendencies, and stylistic peculiarities of its primary sources. Attention is also given to the central theological themes.

OT2001 Deuteronomy and the Pentateuch

Selected passages from Deuteronomy within the framework of the Pentateuch will be studied. The course includes the development and history of the editing of the Pentateuch, the main themes, tendencies, and stylistic peculiarities of its primary sources. Attention is also given to the central theological themes.

OT2022 Deuteronomistic and Chronistic Histories

This course is designed to help the student to understand the development of the historical traditions of the Old Testament. The historiography of the so-called Deuteronomistic and Chronistic Histories will be examined. The differences between the texts will be compared. The theological purposes of their compilation will be examined.

OT2004 David’s Story and the Books of Samuel

The two books of Samuel form a unit in the Hebrew canon. This unit contains the stories surrounding the foundations of the monarchy of Israel, first under the Saulides, and later under the family of David. This course will explore the historical, literary, and sociological questions surrounding the story of the early monarchy in Israel and Judah.

OT2005 Isaiah 1-39 and the Prophets

This course is designed to help the student understand the rise of prophecy in Israel and the prophet Isaiah in the book of Isaiah Chapters 1-39. The historical background of the prophet and this section of the book, theories of composition, and outline of this section of the book are noted. Selected texts may be studied. Special emphasis is placed on the main themes and the theology of the prophet.

OT2006 Amos, Hosea and Micah

This course focuses on the particularly counter-cultural message of three prophets of the 8^th century BCE: Amos, Hosea, and Micah. Historical background, theories of composition, and outline of the three books springing from their prophetic traditions are noted. Selected passages may be studied. Special emphasis is placed on the main themes and theology of the three prophets.

OT2007 The Book of Jeremiah

This course studies the book of Jeremiah and its message. Special emphasis will be given to understanding the messages found within the book and their relationship to the changing situation in the history of Israel.

OT2008 Ezekiel

This course is designed to help the student understand this difficult prophetic book and the message of the prophet. Through the application of exegetical methods on selected texts, the main themes, theologies, and the relevance of the prophetic message will be examined.

OT2009 Isaiah 40-66

The theologies of Isaiah 40-55 and 56-66, with special attention to the prophetic messages about the exiles in Babylonia and returnees to Jerusalem, and the witness about God before the nations (monotheism, idolatry) will be examined. The texts concerning the suffering servant in Isaiah 40-55 will be treated in detail.

OT2010 Post-Exilic Prophecy

In this course, some post-exilic prophetic books (e.g. Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi) and the theological trends (confusion of religious practices, hopes and frustrations, rise of messianic hopes) of that period will be studied.

OT2012/NT2011/DK2000 Biblical Perspectives on Diakonia

See DK2000.

OT2014/NT2014/JS2000 History of Classical Judaism

See JS2000.

OT2015/NT2018/JS2003 The Land and the People of the Bible

See JS2003.

OT2016/NT2019/JS2004 Jewish Faith and Life - Window to the Biblical World

See JS2004.

OT2018/NT2015/JS2001 Jewish Life, Sabbath and Festivals in Biblical and Classical Times

See JS2001.

OT2019/NT2020/JS2005 The Messianic Ideas in Hebrew Scriptures

See JS2005.

OT2021/NT2023/JS2006 Atonement and Forgiveness in the Bible and Jewish Traditions

See JS2006.

OT2022/NT2024/JS2007 Let My People Go! Jewish and Christian Interpretations on Exodus

See JS2007.

OT2023/NT2025/JS2008 Jewish Prayer and Worship

See JS2008.

OT2026/NT2029/JS2010 The Dead Sea Scrolls Texts in Context

See JS2010.

OT2027/NT2031/JS2011 The Jewish “Trinity”: God, People, Land

See JS2011.

OT3000 Wisdom Literature

A study of the wisdom movement and the role of the sages in the history of Israel based upon the books of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Wisdom of Solomon, and Sirach. The course may focus on only one particular book in depth each time. A comparison is drawn between Hebrew wisdom and other wisdom literature of Near-Eastern and Oriental peoples.

OT3001 Psalms

This course is designed to help students understand: a. the common features of Hebrew poetry; b. different types of psalms, their life/ rhetorical settings and their intentions; and c. scholarship in the study of the book of Psalms and the history of its development. It also aims to acquaint the students with the basic research skills for studying different types of psalms, and to explore and practice the use of psalms in Christian ministries.

OT3003 Daniel and Jewish Apocalypse

This course is designed to help the students understand the development, nature, and significance of Jewish apocalypses. Special emphasis is placed on the composition and message of the book of Daniel. The relationship of apocalypticism to subsequent religious ideas in both Judaism and Christianity will also be studied.

OT3004/LHb1004 Hebrew Old Testament Readings

See LHb1004.

OT3005/NT3007 Biblical Hermeneutics

This course will be taught on an interdisciplinary basis and is designed to give students familiarity with the entire process of textual interpretation through their own experience from work with selected texts in both the Old and New Testaments. It will also introduce the students to different models and theories of interpretation of biblical texts and familiarize them with exegetically relevant questions raised in the quest for understanding the biblical message in our time.

OT3006/HM3002 Preaching the Old Testament

This course is designed to help the student in preaching on Old Testament texts. The relationship among exegetical methods, the hermeneutical process, and homiletic devices will be discussed. Different types of Old Testament texts e.g. narratives, poetry, prophetic texts, etc. will be examined in the preaching situation.

OT3008 Old Testament Theology and History of Israelite Religions

In this course the history and methodology of the theology of Ancient Israel and of their great product, the Old Testament, will be reviewed. Studies are concentrated on the characteristic aspects of Israel’s religious history and the theological traditions found within the Old Testament. Furthermore, the relationship between the Old and New Testaments will be examined.

OT3010/NT3012/CE3015 Bibliolog

See CE3015.

OT3011/NT3015/JS3001 Formation and Transmission of Scripture

See JS3001.

OT3012/NT3016/JS3002 History, Archaeology, and the Bible

See JS3002.

OT3013/NT3017/JS3003 Judean Nationalism from the Maccabees to Bar Kochva

See JS3003.

OT3014/NT3013/JS3006 Second Temple Literature

See JS3006.

OT3015/NT3019/JS3005 Rabbinic Literature: A Primer

See JS3005.

OT3016/NT3020/SW3017 Bible and Spirituality

See SW3017.

OT3017/NT3021/JS3004 Philo of Alexandria and Flavius Josephus

See JS3004.

OT4000/NT4000/JS4000 Study Tour: The Bible Land

This course offers theoretical and practical opportunities to learn about the history and geography of Israel, the cultural and religious environments of the Gospels, Second Temple Judaism and Early Christianity in the holy land. It includes a study trip to Israel with excursions to ancient sites, on-site and classroom lectures, and exposures to worship in synagogues, churches and mosques.