ANTIOCH BIBLICAL SEMINARY AND COLLEGE

OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY

(B.Th. I, II Semester, 3 Credits Hours)

Course Description
This course is designed to assist the participant in gaining a basic understanding of the content
and history of the Old Testament. This course focuses on understanding the major contents of
each book. It also examines literary structure, historical backgrounds, geographical settings, and
parallel passages to enhance comprehension. The purpose of Old Testament Survey is to prepare
the student for more intensive studies in the Old Testament. Emphasis is placed upon gaining an
overview of the Old Testament through a survey of geographical and historical backgrounds and
a book by book study. Finally, attention will be given to the structure of each biblical book,
significant interpretative problems, and major theological themes.
Course Objectives
 To understand the chronology, structures, and themes of the Old Testament. This
includes seeing how Old Testament narratives reveal God’s hand in Israel’s history.
 To recognize various literary genres of the Old Testament. This includes an awareness of
the vast differences between ancient cultural forms and the modern world.
 To present the outline and flow of each OT book.
 To understand the Biblical theology of each book individually and in relationship to other
books of Scripture.

Course Textbooks
 Hill, Andrew E. and John H. Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament. 3d ed. Grand
Rapids: Zondervan, 2009.
 Smith, Marsha A. Ellis, ed. Holman Book of Biblical Charts, Maps, and
Reconstructions. Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1993.
Pedagogical Method
 Teaching methods will be through online Zoom Meeting: including lecturing, group
discussions, exercises, and assignments will be presented as group and individual
assignments.
Course Grading Criteria
 Reading Assignment 5%
 Participation & Class Test 10%
 Writing Assignment (Academic paper) 25%
 Final Examination 60%

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COURSE OUTLINE

I. Introduction
a. What is Old Testament
b. Nature and Purpose of the Old Testament
c. Division of the Old Testament
II. Pentateuch/Torah: (Title, Authorship, content, Purpose, historical background, texts
canonization, Genre, map, key themes and word, chapter and verse)
a. Genesis
 Genesis 1-11. Creation. Adam and Eve. Sin enters the world.
 Genesis 12-50. The Patriarchs. Abraham and the Covenant. Isaac. Jacob.
Joseph.
b. The Exodus: (The Book of Exodus. Moses. Sinai. God’s Presence)
c. Leviticus: The Law
d. Number: (Numbering OR counting)
e. Deuteronomy: The Law
III. Historical Books: (Title, Authorship, content, Purpose, historical background, texts
canonization, Genre, map, key themes and word, chapter and verse)
a. The Conquest: Joshua, Judges, Ruth. Preparation, invasion, conquest, tribal
inheritances, the Judges Cycle, the nation nearby.
b. United Kingdom:1 & 2 Samuel; 1 Kings 1-11; 1 Chronicles 10, 2 Chronicles9
c. Divided Kingdom: 1 Kings 12 - 2 Kings 17; 2 Chronicles 10-28. Solomon.
Reheboam. Jereboam leads a succession. The Divided Kingdom to the Fall of
Samaria (931-722 B.C.).
d. Exile/Captivity: Esther (God’s presence in Exile. Development of Judaism
during exile)
e. Restoration: Ezra, Nehemiah (Construction of the Second Temple. Return and
Rebuilding: Judaism under Foreign Domination, Awaiting the Deliverer from
Zion)
IV. Poetry: (Title, Authorship, content, Purpose, historical background, texts
canonization, Genre, map, key themes and word, chapter and verse)
a. Psalms. Song of Songs.
V. Wisdom literatures: (Title, Authorship, content, Purpose, historical background,
texts canonization, Genre, map, key themes and word, chapter and verse)
a. Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Job.

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 VI. Prophetical Books and division: Major and Minor prophets
a. Major Prophets: (Title, Authorship, content, Purpose, historical background,
texts canonization, Genre, map, key themes and word, chapter and verse)
1. Isaiah : The Babylonian Captivity: Isaiah 1-33, /Exile/Captivity: Isaiah
34-35
2. Jeremiah: The Babylonian Captivity
3. Exile/Captivity. Lamentations, Ezekiel and Daniel
b. Minor Prophets (Title, Authorship, content, Purpose, historical background,
texts canonization, Genre, map, key themes and word, chapter and verse)
1. The Assyrian Captivity: Amos, Hosea, Jonah
2. The Babylonian Captivity: Micah, Nahum, Joel, Obadiah, Habakkuk,
Zephaniah
4. Restoration/ Post exile: Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Arnold, Bill T. and Bryan E. Beyer. Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian Survey. 2d
ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2008.
Bandstra, Barry L. Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. 3d ed.
Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, 2004.
Benware, Paul N. Survey of the Old Testament. Revised. Chicago: Moody Press, 1993.
Brueggemann, Walter. An Introduction to the Old Testament: The Canon and Christian
Imagination. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004.
Cate, Robert L. An Introduction to the Old Testament and Its Study. Nashville: Broadman
Press, 1987.
Childs, Brevard S. Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture. Philadelphia: Fortress Press,
1979.
Coogan, Michael D. The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew
Scriptures. New York: Oxford University Press, 2006.
Dillard, Raymond B. and Tremper Longman III. An Introduction to the Old Testament. 2d ed.
Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 2006.
Dorsey, David A. The Literary Structure of the Old Testament: A Commentary on Genesis
Malachi. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1999.
Drane, John. Introducing the Old Testament. San Francisco: Harper and Row, Publishers, 1987.
Dumbrell, Wm. J. The Faith of Israel: A Theological Survey of the Old Testament. 2nd ed.
Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2002.
Harrison, R. K. Introduction to the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1969.
Hays, J. Daniel. The Message of the Prophets: A Survey of the Prophetic and Apocalyptic
Books of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010.