Instructor(s)

Course Description

The formation of the Old Testament Canon. Basic literary features/problems associated with the three divisions of the Hebrew Bible (Torah, Neviim, Kethuviim). Questions of Jewish and Christian (Catholic and Protestant) positions about the Old Testament Canon and how they affect the interpretation of the Old Testament literature (e.g. the Septuagint, Apocrypha, Deutero-canon, etc). Attention will be given to the use of the Old Testament in African Independent Churches.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Gain knowledge of the history of the formation of the Old Testament Canon.
2. Gain understanding of the literary features and problems associated with the three divisions of the Hebrew Bible (TANAK).
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the Jewish and Christian positions regarding the Septuagint and the Deuterocanonical books, etc).
4. Examine why some African churches focus more on the Old Testament.

Course Content

Topics

1. Canon of Old Testament (Handout of Council of Rome and Council of Trent)
2. Inspiration and Inerrancy
3. Biblical Criticism/Three Criteria of Interpretation
4. The Torah (Law)
5. The Neviim (Prophets)
6. The Kethuviim (Writings)
7. Jewish positions about the Old Testament Canon
8. Catholic and Protestant positions about the Old Testament Canon
9. The Septuagint
10. The Apocrypha/Deutero-canon
11. The Old Testament and African culture
12. The use of the Old Testament in African Independent Churches

Mode of Delivery

Lecture, Tutorials, Independent study 

Reading Materials

1. Arnold, B. T. (2014). Introduction to the Old Testament. Cambridge: CUP.
2. Brenton, L. C. (1986). The Septuagint with Apocrypha: Greek and English. Peabody, MA.: Hendrickson Publishers.
3. Martin-Contreras, E. and Miralles-Macia, L. eds. (2013). The Texts of the Hebrew Bible: From the Rabbis to Masoretes. Göttengen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.
4. Nelson, R. D. (2019). The Old Testament: Canon, History and Literature. Nashville, TN.: Abingdon Press.
5. Ossom-Batsa G. and Gatti, N. (2011). Journeying with the Old Testament. Berlin: Peter Lang.