Old Testament Survey

BRIEF COURSE DESCRIPTION As students progress through the educational system, there seems to be an unintentional emphasis on the gathering of facts, which then becomes known as knowledge. This emphasis on knowledge strikes the lowest portion of a hierarchy of learning in the cognitive domain as listed by Benjamin Bloom (Developing the Curriculum, p.360). This taxonomy (list) of learning categories moves from the lowest level, knowledge, through the higher levels of comprehension, application, analysis, and synthesis. The highest level of the taxonomy is that of evaluation. Evaluation is the ability to utilize all the lower levels of learning. The Scriptural equivalent of this hierarchy is limited to three areas: knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. King Solomon wrote in Proverbs 4:7 (KJV): "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." Students graduating from a Christian educational institution should be those who are "sought-after for their wisdom." A systematic survey of the Old Testament is a necessary addition to the Bible curriculum in a Christian educational setting. The Old Testament establishes the need for the arrival of Jesus Christ and His substitutionary sacrifice for man. A basic knowledge of the characters, actions, and activities of the Old Testament is necessary to aid the student in the development of his or her relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The Old Testament sets the stage for understanding the ministry of Jesus Christ. It has been said, "The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, the New Testament is the Old Testament Revealed." The Bible is the story of God's desire to raise up a people dedicated to Him so that He might bless them in every area of their lives. The increase of the five-day Christian School has created an effectual opening to reinstitute the teaching of some foundational material in a more scholarly and hopefully biblically correct atmosphere. Using the book by Dr. Henrietta C. Mears, What The Bible Is All About, this course will introduce, reinforce, and prayerfully, inspire students to see the Old Testament in the light of their redemption in Jesus Christ.