Current Trends in Old Testament
- Arts
- 800 level
- 3 credit units
- 157 pages
- 16 units
This course exposes students to current Old Testament approaches in understanding and interpreting Old Testament texts. It treats modern critical biblical scholarship with specific emphasis on the Old Testament. The course also studies theological ideas found in the Old Testament with particular emphasis on God, humanity, sin, redemption and mission. It equips students with tools for a better interpretation and application of the Bible to Africa.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 120 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of CRS810, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
- Unit 1: Introduction – Definition and Need for Biblical CriticismPage 98
- Unit 2: Theology and Biblical CriticismPage 108
- Unit 3: Gains and Losses of Modern Biblical CriticismPage 119
- Unit 4: Author-Centred CriticismPage 124
- Unit 5: Text-Centred Criticism - Rhetorical CriticismPage 129
- Unit 6: Reader-Response CriticismPage 135
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
CRS810 · Unit 1: History and Methodology of Old Testament Theology
There are certain difficulties confronting the study of Old Testament Theology. P. R. House (1998, 12) summarized it under five headings: (1) Historical barriers, (2) Literary barriers, (3) Theological/Hermeneutical barriers, (4) General unfamiliarity with Old Testament, and (5) Scholarly barriers.
What you should be able to do
- Define methodologies in Old Testament Theology
- Discuss the nature and attributes of God
- Analyze the importance of covenants
- Understand the dynamics of worship
- Appreciate modern critical biblical scholarship
What it prepares you for
- Religious Leader
- Theologian
- Religious Teacher
- Biblical Scholar
- Missionary
- Religious Organizations
- Educational Institutions
- Theological Seminaries
- Missionary Work
- Community Development
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 3: Bibilical Criticism
Unit 6: Reader-Centred Approaches
The unit requires understanding of complex literary theories and philosophical concepts.
- Module 3: Bibilical Criticism
Unit 3: Gains and Losses of Modern Biblical Criticism
Requires understanding of diverse viewpoints and methodologies.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 26 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Creator and Creation
Unit 1: Methodologies and Currents in Old Testament Theology · 2 hours
Read the definition of Old Testament Theology. Identify barriers to studying OT Theology. Note approaches to studying OT Theology.
- Week 2Module 1: Creator and Creation
Unit 2: God (Nature and Attributes) · 2 hours
Understand the Nature of God. Study the Names of God. Examine Metaphors about God in the Old Testament.
- Week 3Module 1: Creator and Creation
Unit 3: Creation (Origin and Providence) · 2 hours
Understand the biblical concepts of God in the Pentateuch. Study the Prophetic literature. Study the Wisdom literatures of the Old Testament.
- Week 4Module 1: Creator and Creation
Unit 4: Humanity (Nature and Purpose) · 2 hours
Study Humanity as a creature. Study Humanity as a thinking being. Study Humanity as an ethical being.
- Week 5Module 1: Creator and Creation
Unit 5: Covenants · 2 hours
Know the meaning of covenant in the Old Testament. Discover the features of God's covenant with Adam. Discover the features of God's covenant with Noah.
- Week 6Module 2: Endowments, Abuse and Recovery
Unit 1: The Gift of Land · 2 hours
Understand why importance is placed on the Promised Land. Differentiate between the promise of land and the gift of land. Understand regulations about the land.
- Week 7Module 2: Endowments, Abuse and Recovery
Unit 2: Sin and Evil · 2 hours
Discuss the role of human freedom in the presence of sin and evil. Understand the Old Testament perspectives on the definition for sin. Understand how God views sin and evil in the Old Testament.
- Week 8Module 2: Endowments, Abuse and Recovery
Unit 3: Worship · 2 hours
Discuss the Old Testament precepts for acceptable worship. Describe the acceptable place for worshipping God. Know the items required in an acceptable worship.
- Week 9Module 2: Endowments, Abuse and Recovery
Unit 4: Priesthood · 2 hours
Understand the Old Testament definition of Priesthood. Describe the role of priests in worship. Realize why their ministry was legitimated in the Old Testament.
- Week 10Module 2: Endowments, Abuse and Recovery
Unit 5: Sacrifice · 2 hours
Understand the historical development of sacrifice in the Old Testament. Describe the reasons for sacrifice in worship. List the types of sacrifices in the Old Testament.
- Week 11Module 3: Bibilical Criticism
Unit 1: Introduction – Definition and Need for Biblical Criticism · 2 hours
Define Biblical Criticism. Understand the need for Biblical Criticism. Be acquainted with the tools for doing Biblical Criticism.
- Week 12Module 3: Bibilical Criticism
Unit 2: History of Biblical Criticism · 2 hours
Appreciate the contribution of biblical criticism to systematic theology. Discover that theology and scientific inquiry are not hostile to each other. Examine the Fundamental Nature of Biblical Criticism.
- Week 13Module 3: Bibilical Criticism
Unit 3: Gains and Losses of Modern Biblical Criticism · 2 hours
Outline and discuss some of the gains and losses of Modern Biblical criticism.
Preparing for the exam
- Create concept maps linking theological themes across modules
- Focus on understanding the different types of biblical criticism
- Practice applying different critical methods to sample Old Testament passages
- Review key definitions and concepts from each unit
- Allocate time to review and synthesize material from all three modules
Questions students ask about this course
What is CRS810 about?
This course exposes students to current Old Testament approaches in understanding and interpreting Old Testament texts. It treats modern critical biblical scholarship with specific emphasis on the Old Testament. The course also studies theological ideas found in the Old Testament with particular emphasis on God, humanity, sin, redemption and mission. It equips students with tools for a better interpretation and application of the Bible to Africa.
How many units does CRS810 have?
CRS810, Current Trends in Old Testament, has 16 units across 3 modules, over 157 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is CRS810?
CRS810 carries 3 credit units, at 800 level in Arts.
Is CRS810 hard?
CRS810 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical work.
How long does CRS810 take to study?
About 120 hours of study, spread across its 16 units.
How is CRS810 assessed?
CRS810 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with CRS810?
Religious Leader, Theologian, Religious Teacher, Biblical Scholar and Missionary.