The Department Of Old Testament and Semitic Languages Old Testament and Semitic Language courses acquaint students with the content and teaching of the Old Testament Scriptures and introduce them to the tools they need for a lifetime of effective independent study of these Scriptures.
Attention is given to problems of Old Testament history and criticism.
The value of the Old Testament for preaching and for understanding the New Testament is stressed. The courses also serve to introduce students to the historical and cultural backgrounds of biblical literature, provide an understanding of ancient Near Eastern cultures, shed light on the interpretation of the Bible in its historical setting, and support the biblical record of the history of the Jewish nation in its interrelationship with the peoples of the ancient world. An introduction to the literature of the Old Testament, the history of Israel, critical issues of Old Testament formation, method in Old Testament study, and the theology of the Old Testament. Designed for Master of Divinity students with inadequate background in the Old Testament and for students in the MA and MAR programs. Not for credit toward the Master of Arts concentrations in Old Testament and New Testament.