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Introduction to THL408

The subject THL408 Introduction To Old Testament Studies is a foundational introduction to the contents of the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) and to basic scholarly tools and critical methods used in Old Testament studies.

Subject Description

This subject surveys the formation of the Old Testament, both as a whole and as comprising collections of books, while focusing on selected texts from the Torah (Pentateuch), Prophets, Writings and Apocrypha. It pays particular attention to issues of oral and textual transmission, historical and geographical context, religion and culture, genre and canon, exegesis, interpretation and diverse theological perspectives.

Availability

• The subject is offered in Session 1.
• It is available on campus at the Canberra Campus and United Theological College.
• It is also available online.

Subject Information

Grading System

The grading system for this subject is HD/FL.

Duration

The subject is one session in duration.

School

The subject is part of the School of Theology.

Enrolment Restrictions

The subject is restricted to students enrolled in the Graduate Diploma of Theology.

Subject Relationships

• The subject THL105 is a paired subject.
• The subject is incompatible with THL103 and THL105.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:

• be able to demonstrate a broad knowledge of the content of the Old Testament
• be able to demonstrate familiarity with key historical, cultural and theological issues pertaining to the study of the Old Testament
• be able to discuss in a way that shows developing critical awareness a range of texts from the Pentateuch, Prophets, Writings and Apocrypha
• be able to demonstrate an understanding of and an ability to use scholarly approaches to the study of the Old Testament
• be able to demonstrate an ability to undertake basic exegesis of Old Testament texts
• be able to demonstrate an ability to conduct basic research using primary sources, dictionaries, commentaries and other scholarly tools
• demonstrate self-guided learning, including research, writing and communication skills

Syllabus

The subject will cover the following topics:

• The contents of Old Testament books
• Scholarly methods of Old Testament studies
• The historical, cultural and geographical contexts of the Old Testament
• The diverse literary genres within the Old Testament, including Hebrew narrative, poetry and rhetoric
• Exegesis and interpretation of texts from the Pentateuch, Prophets, Writings and Apocrypha
• Old Testament theology and theological issues in the Old Testament
• Ethical issues arising from the study of the Old Testament

Residential School

The subject contains a 2-day optional residential school. The residential school provides an orientation to the subject matter, methodology, library resources, and research tools pertaining to the study of the Old Testament. Activities include lectures, library orientation and group work.