BIB 330 Old Testament Literature, History, and Theology

Free Online
Old Testament Course

The Old Testament is more than a collection of ancient texts—it’s a rich narrative of God’s work in history, shaping nations, cultures, and faith. This free online course from Christian Leaders Institute explores the Old Testament’s literature, historical context, and lasting impact on the New Testament and Western thought.

Course Overview:

This class examines the literature of the Old Testament with careful attention to the historical, cultural, geographical, religious, and literary elements of ancient Near Eastern societies. This course will also show the influence of Old Testament literature on the New Testament and on Western culture.

Meet Your Professor:

Dr. Ted Hildebrandt - Professor of OT Literature, History, and Theology

Dr. Ted Hildebrandt taught and is now retired from Gordon College (Wenham, MA). He is the author of Mastering New Testament Greek (Baker, 2005) and Greek and Hebrew Tutors (Parsons Technology) and the virtual reality program “Get Lost in Jerusalem” (Zondervan). He has written articles on Proverbs and Wisdom Literature for IVP and B&H, Journal of Biblical Literature, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Grace Theological Journal. He was a translator for the NLT on the Proverbs team. He is the founder and developer of Biblicalelearning.org

You will Learn and Grow in the Following Topics:

Recall the basic historical content of the Old Testament (OT)
Comprehend the origin and transmission of the OT text
Understand and praise God’s character and actions in history
Comprehend OT cultural issues and their relevance to post-modern culture
Analyze, interpret and apply the meaning of OT texts from multiple perspectives
Critically evaluate and integrate your thinking with current OT research and historical and archeological discoveries
Distill, formulate and integrate your view of God, his working with individuals/nations throughout history in the development of his kingdom in heaven and on earth
Appreciate God’s use of and interaction with human culture and the value of the various disciplines of the liberal arts as supported by the OT.Comprehend, reflect on, understand and apply OT community and moral/ethical constructs
Embrace a worldview that includes a commitment to caring for the creation/environment and upholding basic human rights.

What Other Students Are Saying....

“This course has deepened my understanding of Old Testament theology, particularly in how God’s covenant with His people shapes both historical and modern ministry practices. The focus on understanding God's faithfulness to Israel, His expectations of His people, and the foundational role of the Old Testament in revealing God's character has provided a stronger theological basis for my preaching and ministry work. This will help me in providing a more biblically grounded approach to counseling, teaching, and guiding my congregation.”

“This class has provided a deep understanding of the historical context and theological themes of the Old Testament. Learning about the covenant relationship between God and Israel, the prophetic messages, and the wisdom literature has equipped me with valuable insights that I can apply in my ministry. It has also enhanced my ability to interpret and teach the scriptures more effectively.”

“In this class, I gained a deeper understanding of the Old Testament's literary structure and theological themes, which will enrich my preaching and teaching. Dr. Hildebrandt's engaging style made complex topics accessible and relatable. I particularly appreciated his emphasis on historical context, which enhances biblical interpretation. I believe the course objectives were met effectively, providing valuable insights that I can apply in my ministry calling. Overall, it was a rewarding experience.”

“In Old Testament Literature History and Theology I've gained a deeper understanding of various interpretive methodologies and techniques that will significantly enhance my ministry calling as a pastor. Specifically, I've learned how to approach Scripture with greater contextuality, taking into account factors such as historical background, literary genre, and cultural context. This enables me to interpret the Bible more accurately and effectively communicate its timeless truths to my congregation.”