Module 1: Introductory Material

Hi everyone, and welcome to the first module for the Old Testament survey course. In this section, we'll be working through some preliminary information to give you introduction to some background issues that will hopefully help you better learn and understand later material.

Upon successful completion of this module, the student will:

  • Favorably consider the necessity of and the means to study the Old Testament.
  • Articulate the 'Big Picture' history of the Old Testament People of God and the overall message of the Old Testament.
  • Articulate God's purpose for creation and the 'Big-Idea' themes of the Old Testament.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the literary divisions of the Old Testament Scriptures.
  • Place the Major historical epochs of the Old Testament in a general chronology.

There are a few groups of material in this first module:

  • The first group answers the questions "Why Study the Old Testament?" and "How to Study the Old Testament?"
  • The second group gives an umbrella description of how the Old Testament fits in the Bible as a whole, and some Big-Picture ideas that run throughout the entire Old Testament.
  • And the last group gives an overview introduction to the physical location, the history, and the writings of the Old Testament.

Course Documents

In this section, you'll find links to important and supplemental documents for this module. Click the following links to open each document. The first group contains documents that explain and give instruction for all the course activities in this module. The second group is a set of blank lecture notes which you may use as a companion for the video lectures. And the last group contains overview and supplemental documents for some of the topics covered in this module.

Instruction Guides


Lecture Notes


Supplemental Documents


Lecture Videos

In this section, you will find the video lectures for all the introductory course material module. They are designed to be watched in order, but each video should make sense on its own. Click each thumbnail to open access to each video. There is also a link with each video if you prefer to watch on the Rumble or YouTube interface. In addition, there is a link to download the audio from the presentation for offline review.

1: Why Study the Old Testament?

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1: Why Study the Old Testament?
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2: How to Study the Old Testament

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2: How to Study the Old Testament
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3: The Unity of the Bible

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3: The Unity of the Bible
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4: Key Themes of God's Design

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4: Key Themes of God's Design
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5: Big Picture Themes

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5: Big Picture Themes
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6: OT Geography

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7: OT History

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8: OT Literature

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Reviews

In this section, you will find the review slides from the course lectures for module 1. This is a convenient way to view and review the summaries for each lecture. Click the Thumbnail picture to begin the slide show.

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Click the prev. and next buttons (bottom right of the slide) to move through the slides. You can also click on any thumbnail to go directly to that slide.

Review Quiz

This section is a link to a review quiz to test your understanding of the objective material for Module 1. By clicking the link, you will be taken to a series of questions, in random order. Answer each question and then push the Submit button to check your answers. Every question must be answered before you can submit the quiz. At the end, you will be shown your score for the entire quiz. The quiz will be different each time, so feel free to take it more than once. Click the Thumbnail picture to begin the quiz.

Start Quiz

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Here is a review quiz for the material covered in this module's lectures. Click the button next to the best answer for each question, or drag each term to its best definition. Then press the button at the bottom to see if your answers are correct.


What is God's primary purpose in the universe?

To rescue His people

This is true, but a secondary purpose, see Lecture 04

To make His Name known - that He is Yahweh

Good Answer

To reveal His Law

This is true, but a secondary purpose, see Lecture 04

To love His people

This is true, but a secondary purpose, see Lecture 04

To bless every nation

This is true, but a secondary purpose, see Lecture 04
Which is NOT a reason given in the Lecture for studying the Old Testament?

To Know How to Live

Sorry, see Lecture 01

To Know God

Sorry, see Lecture 01

To Know Jesus and the New Testament

Sorry, see Lecture 01

To Know the real world and real life

Sorry, see Lecture 01

To Compare different world religions

Good Job
Which is NOT one of the four themes of God's deign for His OT people?

Covenant

Well Done

Community

Sorry, see Lecture 04

Salvation

Sorry, see Lecture 04

Relationship

Sorry, see Lecture 04

Blessing

Sorry, see Lecture 04
Drag to put all of the Old Testament Historical Epochs in the proper order
Prehistory
Exodus-Conquest
Exile-Return
Monarchy
Patriarchs

First/Earliest

Second

Third

Fourth

Fifth/Latest

The OT history and OT literature are the two main things that help us to learn the OT theology.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 02
We should attempt to know God without having to pay close attention to learning His revealed words in history.

True

Sorry, His words in history are the primary way to know God, see Lecture 02

False

Well Done
Because of the nature of sin, something has to die for even the smallest sins.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 05
Which is NOT a part of the nature of the Bible?

In Human Words

Sorry, see Lecture 02

Word of God

Sorry, see Lecture 02

By Human Initiative

Correct

In History

Sorry, see Lecture 02
God's purpose in the Exodus is to reveal His character and make Himself known.

True

Right

False

Sorry, see Lectures 04 and 12
Which is NOT one of the five epochs of Old Testament history?

Monarchy

Sorry, see Lecture 07

Exile-Return

Sorry, see Lecture 07

Prehistory

Sorry, see Lecture 07

Exodus-Return

Correct

Exodus-Conquest

Sorry, see Lecture 07

Patriarchs

Sorry, see Lecture 07
In the Exodus, God was concerned with much more than just getting His people out of Egypt.

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Lecture 04
Which is NOT one of the regions of the Fertile Crescent?

Mesopotamia

Sorry, see Lecture 06

Trans-Jordan Highlands

Well done

Egypt

Sorry, see Lecture 06

Syria-Palestine

Sorry, see Lecture 06
The responsiblities of relationship with God include responsiblities toward other people.

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Lecture 05
Which is NOT one of the three main things to learn from the Old Testament?

Literature

Sorry, see Lecture 02

Theology

Sorry, see Lecture 02

Experience

Right

History

Sorry, see Lecture 02
In the OT, God is displayed as King over the entire world, not just Israel.

True

Great Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 05
In the OT, God's redemption activity is limited to the nation of Israel.

True

Sorry, it concentrates on Israel, but is not limited, see Lecture 05

False

Well done
The name "Mesopotamia" refers to most of this land being between two rivers.

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Lecture 06
God's salvation is known both by what we are saved from and what we are saved for.

True

Right

False

Sorry, see Lecture 04
Because the Bible comes to us in human words, we need to take its language communication seriously.

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 02
The study of the Bible should be just an intellectual exercise.

True

Sorry, see Lecture 02

False

Correct, It should be intellectual, but transformational as well
The Books of Ezra & Nehemiah occur in which historical epoch?

Exile-Return

Yes

Patriarchs

Sorry, see Lecture 08

Exodus-Conquest

Sorry, see Lecture 08

Monarchy

Sorry, see Lecture 08

Prehistory

Sorry, see Lecture 08
Every item in the Old Testament should be related directly to Jesus.

True

Sorry, they all relate to Jesus, but often not directly, see Lecture 03

False

Well Done
The Prophets wrote during a variety of different times of Old Testament history.

True

Good

False

Sorry, see Lecture 08
Drag Each Bible Book to its proper division in the English Old Testament
Jeremiah
Proverbs
Zechariah
Exodus
Judges

Historical Books

Law-Torah-Pentateuch

Major Prophets

Poetic Books

Minor Prophets

Studying the Old Testament is an act of faith.

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 01
God's character in the Old Testament is shown to be significantly different than His character in the New Testament.

True

Sorry, see Lecture 03

False

Well Done
Which is NOT one of the steps to read the OT in historical progression?

Read the OT without Jesus

Sorry, see Lecture 03

Read Jesus in light of the OT

Sorry, see Lecture 03

Read the OT in light of Jesus

Sorry, see Lecture 03

Read Jesus without the OT

Right
What one thing gives unity between the Old and New Testaments?

Covenant

Sorry, see Lecture 03

Jesus

Correct

God's Commands

Sorry, see Lecture 03

God's People

Sorry, see Lecture 03
Drag each period of Old Testament History to its overall Epoch
Remnant Returns
Fall
Covenant/Law
Promise Protected
Nation Divided

Monarchy

Patriarchs

Exile-Return

Exodus-Conquest

Prehistory

The Book of Leviticus is in which division?

Major Prophets

Sorry, see Lecture 08

Historical Books

Sorry, see Lecture 08

Torah

Correct

Poetic Books

Sorry, see Lecture 08

Minor Prophets

Sorry, see Lecture 08

Discussion/Reflection/Essay Questions

This section contains questions for further thought and discussion from Module 1. These questions can also be used as essay questions in a classroom setting exam. It is recommended that you take time to think through these issues in order to thoroughly grasp the significance and explore the application of the material you are learning. Click the Thumbnail to view the questions.

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The following questions are for your thoughtful consideration and discussion:

  1. What is God's primary purpose in the universe and how does this impact the life and mission of a modern Christian?
  2. What are the four themes of God's design for His people in the Old Testament, and how do these work out in the life of a modern Christian?
  3. How should the unity between the Old and New Testaments influence your Bible reading and understanding?
  4. What impact did geography have on the events of the Old Testament and what lessons can we learn from this?
  5. What are the five Epochs of Old Testament history, and what does each epoch reveal about God and His purposes?

Module Completed!

Congratulations, you have reached the end of the first module. I hope that you have found it rewarding and have noticed personal growth.

I encourage you to continue on to the next module as soon as is convenience. The button below will take you to Module 2.