Degree Specializations--Old Testament
The objectives of the Old Testament department are three-fold:
1. To develop competence in the Hebrew language through the study of Hebrew grammar and through gaining
facility in translation and exegesis of the Hebrew Bible.
Achieved by:
A. Taking OT 610 (or proficiency)* and OT 611 — 6 hours (core)**
B. Taking at least one or two Old Testament exegesis classes — 3/6
C. Taking Aramaic and/or Reading the Hebrew Bible — 3/6
2. To develop competence in understanding the Old Testament and its place and function in the Christian Bible.
Achieved by:
A. Taking BI 610 — Scripture in Context — 3
B. Doing an independent study in Biblical theology — 3
C. Taking BI 810 — Biblical Interpretation — 3
3. To develop competence in research and writing.
Achieved by:
A. Writing an extended research paper*** — 3
Or
B. Writing a thesis — 6
*Students who proficiency out of OT 610 will substitute an Old Testament exegesis course after taking OT 611.
**Both OT 610 and OT 611 are available via the internet.
***Students who select this option will take another Old Testament exegesis course or do both options under 1.C.
These objectives are attained thought a series of courses in classical Hebrew, exegesis, independent
study, and research and writing. The M.A. program in Old Testament is described in the catalog.
A more detailed description and a recommended bibliography are available from Dr. Hall. Students who
have studied classical Hebrew at the college level may proficiency out of the seminary course and substitute
more exegesis classes.
Click here to see what graduates of the Old Testament Specializations Program are saying!
Basic O. T. Bibliography
(By end of program a student should have a working knowledge of the following resources)
Alfred Hoerth, Archaeology and the Old Testament. Baker, 1998.
Andrew E. Hill and John H. Walton, A Survey of the Old Testament. Zondervan,1991.
Mark Mangano (ed), Randall Bailery, Dale Manor, Walt Zorn, Gary Hall, Old Testament Introduction. College Press, 2005.
Gary Pratico and Miles van Pelt, Basics of Biblical Hebrew: Grammar and Workbook. Zondervan, 2001, 2nd ed,. 2007
Bill T. Arnold and John H. Choi, A Guide to Biblical Hebrew Syntax. Cambridge, 2003.
Ellis Brotzman, Old Testament Textual Criticism: A Practical Introduction. Baker, 1994.
A. Hoerth, G. Mattingly and E. Yamauchi, Peoples of Old Testament Times. Baker, 1994.
Iain Provan, V. Phillips Long, and Tremper Longman III, A Biblical History of Israel. Westminster John Knox, 2003.
Richard Hess, Israelite Religions. Baker, 2007.
Ralph L. Smith, Old Testament Theology. Broadman and Holman, 1993.
William Dyrness, Themes in O.T. Theology. IVP, 1979.
Christopher J.H. Wright, The Mission of God. IVP, 2006.
Sidney Greidanus, Preaching Christ From the Old Testament. Eerdmans, 1999.
Graeme Goldsworthy, Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture. Eerdmans, 2000.
Christopher J.H. Wright, Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament. IVP, 1992.
Kevin van Hoozer, Is There a Meaning in This Text? Zondervan, 1998.
Karen H. Jobes and Moises Silva, Invitation to the Septuagint. Baker, 2000.
Paul Wegner, The Journey from Texts to Translations. Baker, 1999.
D. Brent Sandy and Ronald L. Giese, Jr., Cracking Old Testament Codes. Broadman and Holman, 1995.
Victor Matthews and Don Benjamin, Old Testament Parallels. Paulist Press, 2006, 3rd ed.
John Walton, Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament. Baker, 2006.