BIB3300EN - Mission of God in OT History

Course description

Explores and describes the mission motifs, themes, and theologies in Old Testament historical books. It explores the missionary character of Old Testament history and the presentation of Israelite history as the divine stage for God’s acts of salvation to the world. Periods of Old Testament history are studied to rediscover the missionary goals of the God/human encounter in the story of Israel.

How this course benefits students

The course engages the active presence of God in the events of history. In the Old Testament, this active presence of God in history is seen in his acts of salvation on behalf of individuals and communities in ancient Israel. Since the divine acts of salvation in history climaxes with the revelation of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, the course will help the students see, understand and connect with God’s continuous works of salvation in Christ, and the continuous expressions of this act of salvation in their homes, community, and working place.

Why this course is important

Old Testament history describes Yahweh’s deeds of salvation on behalf of ancient Israel. However, this story of salvation in the Old Testament has its climax in the revelation of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. The understanding of God’s works of salvation within this story demands the involvement of men and women in God’s ongoing mission to save the world. The justification for this course lies in its commitment to read and understand the entire Old Testament from the perspective of God’s mission.

Credit hours
3 hours
Subject area
Biblical Studies
Educational level
Bachelor
Learning type
Instructional
Prerequisites
None
Upcoming terms
Pending
* Schedule subject to change. Please contact the Registrar's office with schedule questions.
Professor
Dr. Scobie Smith, Senior Professor of Ancient Near Eastern Studies

How this course relates to missional core values

Biblically based

This course is biblical-oriented by its diligent quest to understand the biblical texts in their historical contexts and the description of God’s saving acts within Old Testament historical books.

Missionally driven

The study is missiologically-driven by its quest to read and understand Old Testament history from the perspective of mission.

Contextually informed

Acts of God in the Old Testament occurred within a specific historical context. This contextual character of God’s salvation in history inevitably suggests the contextual nature of salvation history, and the need for students to understand as well as engage this contextual dimension of salvation history.

Interculturally focused

The Old Testament historical books largely describe Israel’s relationship to other nations. In spite of the hostility of God to the cultures of the surrounding nations, he longs through Israel to bring all the nations to his saving purpose. This intercultural purpose of God in the historical books naturally underscores the need for contemporary intercultural discourse.

Practically minded

The God of the Old Testament history reveals himself as a God of mission who is practically concerned with the suffering and pain of his people. There is the need to explore this practical involvement of God in history to address the practical needs of our modern communities.

Experientially transformed

The course encourages synergy between the knowledge of God’s mission as laid out in the Old Testament history and the need for an experiential encounter with God in one’s daily life.