Current Trends In Old Testament
- Arts
- 800 level
- 2 credit units
- 156 pages
- 16 units
This course explores current trends in Old Testament scholarship. It investigates modern critical biblical scholarship with a specific emphasis on the Old Testament. The course delves into methodologies, the nature and attributes of God, creation, humanity, covenants, endowments, sin, worship, priesthood, and sacrifice. It also examines different approaches to biblical criticism, including author-centered, text-centered, and reader-centered perspectives, equipping students with tools for interpreting and applying the Bible in contemporary African contexts.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 208 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- No
- Basic knowledge of the Old Testament
- Understanding of theological concepts
- Assignments
- Tutor Marked Assignments
- Final Examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of CRS820, 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
CRS820 · Unit 1: History and Methodology of Old Testament Theology
Theology into three subheadings: (1) by naming a single theme as the Old Testament‘s unifying concept, (2) by explaining the problems with answering this question, and (3) by answering this question in a way that treats the diversity of Old Testament materials.
What you should be able to do
- Define and apply methodologies in Old Testament Theology
- Discuss the nature and attributes of God in the Old Testament
- Analyze the importance of covenants in humanity's relationship with God
- Understand the dynamics of worship, priesthood, and sacrifices
- Evaluate modern critical biblical scholarship
- Synchronize different approaches to biblical criticism
What it prepares you for
- Theologian
- Religious Educator
- Pastor
- Biblical Scholar
- Missionary
- Religious Organizations
- Educational Institutions
- Missionary Work
- Theological Research
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 3: Modern Biblical Criticism
Unit 4: Author-Centred Approaches
Understanding the nuances of source identification and distinguishing between different hypothetical sources requires careful analysis and comparison of textual evidence.
- Module 3: Modern Biblical Criticism
Unit 5: Text-Centred Approaches
Grasping the theoretical underpinnings of structuralism and applying it to biblical texts demands abstract thinking and familiarity with linguistic concepts.
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 introduction to Old Testament Theology.. Define Old Testament Theology.. Identify barriers to studying Old Testament Theology..
- Week 2Module 1: Creator and Creation
Unit 2: God (Nature and Attributes) · 2 hours
Study the nature of God as presented in the Old Testament.. Examine the names and attributes of God.. Reflect on metaphors used to describe God..
- Week 3Module 1: Creator and Creation
Unit 3: Creation (Origin and Providence) · 2 hours
Explore creation accounts in the Pentateuch.. Analyze creation themes in prophetic literature.. Consider creation in wisdom literature..
- Week 4Module 1: Creator and Creation
Unit 4: Humanity (Nature and Purpose) · 2 hours
Examine humanity's nature as a creature.. Discuss humanity as a thinking, ethical, and free being.. Reflect on humanity as the image of God..
- Week 5Module 1: Creator and Creation
Unit 5: Covenants · 2 hours
Define covenants in the Old Testament.. Study the covenants with Adam, Noah, and Abraham.. Analyze the Sinai and Davidic covenants..
- Week 6Module 2: Endowments, Abuse and Recovery
Unit 1: The Gift of Land · 2 hours
Understand the concept of land as a gift from God.. Explore regulations about land use.. Reflect on the loss and recovery of land..
- Week 7Module 2: Endowments, Abuse and Recovery
Unit 2: Sin and Evil · 2 hours
Define sin and evil in the Old Testament.. Explore the origin and consequences of sin and evil.. Consider hermeneutical implications..
- Week 8Module 2: Endowments, Abuse and Recovery
Unit 3: Worship · 2 hours
Study the Old Testament law and worship.. Examine precepts for worship.. Analyze the nature of worship in historical books..
- Week 9Module 2: Endowments, Abuse and Recovery
Unit 4: Priesthood · 2 hours
Define priesthood in the Old Testament.. Explore patriarchal and Aaronic priesthood.. Analyze the legitimating of priestly status..
- Week 10Module 2: Endowments, Abuse and Recovery
Unit 5: Sacrifice · 2 hours
Study the history of sacrifice in the Old Testament.. Examine different types of sacrifices.. Analyze the aims of sacrificial acts..
- Week 11Module 3: Modern Biblical Criticism
Unit 1: Introduction – Definition and Need for Biblical Criticism · 2 hours
Define Biblical Criticism.. Understand the need for Biblical Criticism.. Explore the tools for doing Biblical Criticism..
- Week 12Module 3: Modern Biblical Criticism
Unit 2: Theology and Biblical Criticism · 2 hours
Understand the relationship between theology and biblical criticism.. Examine examples from Christian history.. Appreciate the importance of diversity in interpretation..
- Week 13Module 3: Modern Biblical Criticism
Unit 3: Gains and Losses of Modern Biblical Criticism · 2 hours
Evaluate the gains and losses of modern biblical criticism.. Analyze the impact of criticism on understanding the Bible.. Discuss the limitations of criticism..
Preparing for the exam
- Review key methodologies and currents in Old Testament Theology from Module 1, Units 1-5.
- Create concept maps linking the nature and attributes of God (Unit 2) to creation and humanity (Units 3-4).
- Practice applying different biblical criticism approaches (author-centered, text-centered, reader-centered) to selected Old Testament passages.
- Focus on understanding the historical context and cultural background of each Old Testament book.
- Prepare summaries of key arguments and figures in the history of Old Testament scholarship (Module 3, Unit 2).
- Review all Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) and address any areas where you struggled.
- Allocate specific study time for each module, prioritizing areas of weakness.
Questions students ask about this course
What is CRS820 about?
This course explores current trends in Old Testament scholarship. It investigates modern critical biblical scholarship with a specific emphasis on the Old Testament. The course delves into methodologies, the nature and attributes of God, creation, humanity, covenants, endowments, sin, worship, priesthood, and sacrifice. It also examines different approaches to biblical criticism, including author-centered, text-centered, and reader-centered perspectives, equipping students with tools for interpreting and applying the Bible in contemporary African contexts.
How many units does CRS820 have?
CRS820, Current Trends In Old Testament, has 16 units across 3 modules, over 156 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is CRS820?
CRS820 carries 2 credit units, at 800 level in Arts.
Is CRS820 hard?
CRS820 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does CRS820 take to study?
About 208 hours of study, spread across its 16 units.
How is CRS820 assessed?
CRS820 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assignments and Final Examination.
What do I need before starting CRS820?
Basic knowledge of the Old Testament Understanding of theological concepts
What can I do with CRS820?
Theologian, Religious Educator, Pastor, Biblical Scholar and Missionary.