Old Testament Overview

A divine book

The course begins by establishing the nature of the Bible: a divine book that gives life (John 6:63), written by revelation (Galatians 1:11-12) and by inspiration, Theopneustos, the product of the "breath of God" (2 Timothy 3:16). Revelation implies "something hidden that has been made public": God has made Himself known.

Why study the Old Testament?

The Old Testament is the foundation of the New. It presents the types of Christ: people, objects, and events that announce the Messiah centuries in advance (Luke 24:44: "all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me").

From creation to the patriarchs

The journey begins at the dawn of history: creation by Elohim (Genesis 1:1), the creation of humanity in God's image, the mandate to subdue the earth, the Hebrew kabash, "to conquer," and abad, "to cultivate." Then comes the fall: humanity fails the test of obedience, sin enters the world with spiritual death, but God immediately gives a promise of redemption (Genesis 3:15), the first gospel.

The course continues with degeneration (Cain, the flood, Babel), then the call of Abraham and the covenant that structures the rest of Scripture.

What you will discover in this course

• Revelation and inspiration: how the Bible was written
• The scarlet thread of redemption, from Genesis 3:15 to the prophets
• The great periods: creation, patriarchs, exodus, monarchy, exile, and return
• The types of Christ hidden in Israel's stories, institutions, and feasts

"Whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." — Romans 15:4

Who is this course for?

For every believer who finds the Old Testament intimidating or confusing, and who will discover, book after book, that it tells one story: the story of Jesus. No ministry prerequisite is needed: this panorama nourishes the faith of every child of God, every disciple of Jesus.