Acts 1004 – OT Survey
For this course you will need a copy of the bible and the handbook which is available for download. You will also need to purchase a copy of this survey of the Old Testament Commentary:
Hill, Andrew E. and John H. Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009.
1. You will read the Old Testament in its entirety as a part of this course. In order to thoughtfully engage with the lessons, you will need to read each section of scripture prior to working through the course handbook and other material. You will need to read the scripture specifically for this course, even if you have read the Old Testament previously.
There will be a note like this at the start of each chapter so you know which books of the bible to read.
Listening to an audio bible is only acceptable if you are not multitasking while listening.
Important Note: Read large portions of scripture in one sitting. Pick a translation of the Bible that is easy for you to read quickly. Remember in a survey of the Old Testament the idea is to read large portions not to study in depth. Read to get the content and flow in your mind looking for big themes.
2. Get a notebook or start a file on your computer and create a Biblical Resource Journal or file for each Old Testament book. The file or journal should be organized by book. For example, you should have a section on Genesis another on Joshua, etc. Write down any questions or insights you receive as you read each book.
You will email this to me at the end of the course. It will not be graded for content, but as a “pass/fail” assignment if completed. All content in the journal will be kept confidential by me as a pastor leading this training course. If you opt for a hand-written journal, you can scan the pages to send me an electronic copy at the end of the course.
3. Each of the 5 sections will follow the same pattern for your reading:
- Read the relevant books of the bible and record any notes, questions, or insights you have.
- Read the ‘high level’ overview from the Course Handbook.
- Read the relevant chapters from Hill & Walton’s Survey.
4. Prior to starting the section on the Pentateuch, read Part I (Chapters 1-2) of the Survey of the Old Testament.
5. Prior to starting the section on the Pentateuch, watch this Old Testament Overview: https://youtu.be/ALsluAKBZ-c