Anatomy of the Bible 102

Course: ITB 102 – Old Testament Survey (First Year, Second Semester)

Program Introduction & Course Overview

I. Course Scope and Focus

ITB 102: Old Testament Survey serves as the foundational historical and covenantal installment of the Old Testament curriculum. Spanning ten detailed lessons, this course maps out the narrative spine of the Hebrew Bible—tracing the trajectory from creation and the primeval history in Genesis through the historical books, the monarchy, and the post-exilic restoration in Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. Rather than isolating individual genres, ITB 102 provides the essential chronological, historical, and theological framework that anchors the entire Old Testament narrative.

II. Core Curriculum Architecture

The ITB 102 curriculum is structured systematically across ten comprehensive lessons covering the Pentateuch and the Historical Books:

• The Pentateuch and Patriarchal Origins: Examines creation ex nihilo, the fall, the flood, the tower of Babel, and the Abrahamic, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph narratives in Genesis.
• Deliverance and the Mosaic Covenant: Details Israel’s bondage in Egypt, the call of Moses, the plagues, the Passover, the miraculous Red Sea crossing, and the giving of the Law and Tabernacle design at Mount Sinai.
• Holiness, Wilderness, and Covenant Renewal: Explores the Levitical laws of sacrifice and purity, the forty years of wilderness wanderings due to rebellion, and Moses’ final covenant-renewal addresses in Deuteronomy.
• Conquest, Judges, and Redemption: Chronicles Joshua’s conquest of Canaan, the cyclic apostasy and moral decay of the judges period, and God’s providential preservation through the kinsman-redeemer theme in Ruth.
• The United and Divided Monarchy: Traces the transition to kingship under Saul and David, the establishment of the eternal Davidic Covenant, Solomon’s reign and temple building, and the eventual division into the northern kingdom of Israel and southern kingdom of Judah.
• Exile and Post-Exilic Restoration: Documents the prophetic ministry confronting national apostasy, the subsequent Assyrian and Babylonian exiles, and the post-exilic return, rebuilding of the temple and walls, and divine providence seen in Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.

III. Pedagogical Role in the Program

ITB 102 establishes the vital historical timeline and covenantal backdrop of the Old Testament. By mastering this historical narrative, students gain the essential context required to understand when and why subsequent installments—such as the poetic and wisdom literature (ITB 201) and the prophetic books—speak into the life of God’s covenant people.