TH 555 - The Old Testament

• Describe the history (major time periods), literature (genres), and theologies of the Old Testament, as well as modern methods for studying them.
• Explain the meanings of these ancient Israelite sacred texts by learning to discriminate among the literary, social, and religious dimensions of the texts.
• Demonstrate the method of “close reading” of particular passages in the Old Testament, with special attention to genre, using relevant secondary sources.
• Explain the ways that the canon of the Old Testament is joined with the New Testament as “The Bible” and some ways in which the Old Testament has been and might be used as Scripture within the Catholic community.
• Display critical thinking and communication skills through formal writing assignments and discussion opportunities.