Course Description

The 400 years between Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament to the birth of Christ is often thought to be a period of divine silence. Yet, this is the period of Second Temple Judaism, which is not only significant for the development of Judaism and Jewish identity but also a time when Jewish literature and the Hebrew canon took shape.

This course will provide a broad overview of this historically rich era and how it informs our understanding and interpretation of the Old and New Testaments.

  • Location

    Online via Zoom (Live)

    *In-person sessions at BGST:
    50 Kallang Pudding Road,
    #07-01, AMA Building,
    Singapore 349326

  • Dates

    (Fridays)
    Jul: 28*
    Aug: 25*
    Sept: 15, 29
    Oct: 13, 27

    *Live in-person sessions

    Registration Close Date
    Jul 25, 2023

  • Time

    7:15pm-10:00pm

Lecturer

Dr Jasmine Foo

Associate Lecturer

Dr Jasmine Foo was a former BGST student, before eventually completing her PhD in Biblical Studies at King’s College London, researching on the concept of Jewish identity during the Second Temple Period depicted in the Dead Sea Scrolls. In London, she attends All Soul’s Church, Langham, famously known as John Stott’s church. Previously a lawyer, polytechnic lecturer, strategic planner at the State Courts, while being a staffworker at the Fellowship of Evangelical Students (FES), Jasmine’s varied experiences has helped developed her passion for learning and teaching the Bible and also equipping all Christians in the practice of their faith in society. She double-hats as the Marketplace Research Editor for the BGST column in Salt&Light and is running a social enterprise in sustainability.

Course Curriculum

  • 1

    General

  • 2

    Topic 1: End of "Exile" and Impact of Imperial Rule on Jewish Identity

    • Course Introduction History or Historiography

    • Lesson 01

    • Session 1.1

    • Session 1.2

  • 3

    Topic 2: Temple/Torah/Mystery - Does God Still Speak?

    • Temple/Torah/Mystery – Does God Still Speak?

    • Session 2.1

  • 4

    Topic 3: Outside the "Bible"

    • Outside the ‘Bible’

    • Outside the "Bible"

  • 5

    Topic 4: Discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls

    • Discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls

    • Discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls

  • 6

    Topic 5: Messianism & Apocalyptism - What were the Jews Hoping For?

    • Messianism & Apocalyptism – What were the Jews hoping for?

    • Judaism and their Messiahs

  • 7

    Topic 6: Connecting the Dots + Group Presentation

    • Connecting the Dots

    • Session 6

  • 8

    Evaluation

    • Course Evaluation

  • 9

    Assignment Submissions

    • Reflection 1

    • Reflection 2

    • Reflection 3

    • Essay