Course Description

OT Foundations I and OT Foundations II together form an introduction to the Old Testament. These two courses aim: (i) to introduce the Old Testament books, and the historical and cultural contexts in which they originated; (ii) to help students reflect on how to apply the Old Testament in the modern world, and to their own lives.

Throughout, the Old Testament is interpreted as part of Christian Scripture, and out of a conviction that Christians cannot afford to neglect this first and larger part of God’s Word. Though questions relating to history and the ancient Near Eastern context will not be ignored, the main emphasis is on the meaning, theology and application of the text. OT Foundations II covers most of the Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea and Amos), the Psalms, and the Wisdom Literature.

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Instructor

Dr Sun Jiani

Lecturer

Jiani finished her DPhil in Theology/Hebrew Bible at the University of Oxford. Her dissertation is on the Wisdom of Solomon in which she argues that scriptural interpretation enables the reading community to re-experience God’s saving acts in history. Originally from Shanghai, China, she has spent six years in the US before she comes to Oxford. She received her BA in Biblical Studies and Philosophy from Wheaton (IL) in 2018 and then completed an MAR at Yale Divinity School in 2020. She enjoys reading, cooking, and hosting people with her husband.

  • Location:

    Online via Zoom

    First and Last Sessions are in-person for local students at

    AMA Building
    50 Kallang Pudding Rd
    Singapore 349326

  • Dates : 2025

    (Tuesdays)

    Jan: 21
    Feb: 4, 18
    Mar: 4, 18
    Apr: 1, 15, 21

    Closing Date for Registration:

    Jan 18, 2025

  • Timing:

    7:15-10.00pm

Course curriculum

  • 1

    General

    • OT102 Syllabus

    • Orientation Course & Library Access
  • 2

    Session 1 (Live): Introduction to the Course

    • Lecture 1 part I

    • Lecture 1 part II

    • Handout Session 1

    • Supplementary Material: The Order of Mass (The Liturgy of the Word)

    • How to do a Presentation?

    • What is a Gobbet?

    • Session 1: Introduction Slides
  • 3

    Session 2 (Self-Study): Topic 1 The Psalms

    • Checklist for Session 2: Topic 1 The Psalms

    • Lecture 2 The Psalms part I

    • Lecture 2 The Psalms part II

    • OT 102 (2021) Lecture 02 Topic 1 The Psalms I

    • Lecture 3 The Psalms part III

    • Lecture 3 The Psalms part IV

    • Lecture 03 notes

    • Lecture 03 notes.pdf

    • 200-word answer Topic 1: The Psalms

  • 4

    Session 3 (Live): Review Topic 1 The Psalms

    • Checklist Before the Tutorial

    • Class Presentation

    • Reflection on the Psalms (Mandatory)

    • Psalms Handout

    • Psalms Slides
  • 5

    Session 4 (Self-Study): Topic 2 Introduction to OT Wisdom, Proverbs and Job

    • Checklist for Session 4: Topic 2 Introduction to OT Wisdom, Proverbs and Job

    • Lecture 4 OT Wisdom Proverbs part I

    • Lecture 4 OT Wisdom Proverbs part II

    • Lecture 04 notes

    • Lecture 04 notes.pdf

    • Lecture 5 Job part I

    • Lecture 5 Job part II

    • Lecture 05 notes

    • Lecture 05 notes.pdf

    • 200-word answer Topic 2: Proverbs and Job
  • 6

    Session 5 (Live): Review Topic 2 Introduction to OT Wisdom, Proverbs and Job

    • Checklist Before Tutorial

    • Class Presentation

    • Reflection on the Proverbs

    • Wisdom Literature Part I Proverbs and Job
  • 7

    Session 6 (Self-Study): Topic 3 Poetry and Wisdom Continued, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs

    • Checklist for Session 6 Topic 3: Poetry and Wisdom Continued, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs

    • Lecture 6 Ecclesiastes part 1

    • Lecture 6 Ecclesiastes part 2

    • Lecture 6 Ecclesiastes part 3

    • Lecture 6 notes

    • Lecture 6 notes.pdf

    • Lecture 7 Song of Songs part I

    • Lecture 7 Song of Songs part II

    • Lecture 7 Song of Songs part III

    • Song of Songs part IV

    • Lecture 7 notes

    • Lecture 7 notes.pdf

    • 200-word answer Topic 3: Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs
  • 8

    Session 7 (Live): Review Topic 3 Poetry and Wisdom Continued, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs

    • Checklist Before Tutorial

    • Class Presentation

    • Reflection on the Song of Songs

  • 9

    Session 8 (Self-Study): Topic 4 Introduction to OT prophecy, Amos, Hosea, and the Book of the Twelve

    • Checklist for Session 8 Topic 4: Introduction to OT Prophecy

    • Lecture 8 OT Prophecy, Amos part 1

    • Lecture 8 OT Prophecy, Amos part 2

    • Lecture 8 notes

    • Lecture 8 notes.pdf

    • Lecture 9 Hosea and Book of the Twelve part I

    • Lecture 9 Hosea and Book of the Twelve part II

    • Lecture 9 Hosea and the Book of the Twelve part III

    • Lecture 9 notes

    • Lecture 9 notes.pdf

    • 200-word answer Topic 4 Introduction to OT Prophecy, Amos, Hosea, and the Book of the Twelve
  • 10

    Session 9 (Live): Review Topic 4 Introduction to OT Prophecy and the Book of the Twelve

    • Checklist Before Tutorial

    • Class Presentation

    • Reflection on the Life of Prophets and Prophethood

  • 11

    Session 10 (Self-Study): Topic 5 The Book of Ezekiel

    • Checklist for Session 10 Topic 5: The Book of Ezekiel

    • Lecture 10 The Book of Ezekiel part I

    • Lecture 10 The Book of Ezekiel part II

    • Lecture 10 notes

    • Lecture 10 notes.pdf

    • Lecture 11 The Book of Ezekiel part I

    • Lecture 11 The Book of Ezekiel part II

    • Lecture 11 notes

    • 200-word answer Topic 5: The Book of Ezekiel

  • 12

    Session 11 (Live): Review Topic 5: The Book of Ezekiel

    • Checklist Before Tutorial

    • Class Presentation

    • Reflection On the Anti-Idolatrous Discourse in Prophetic Literature
  • 13

    Session 12 (Self-Study): Topic 6 The Book of Jeremiah

    • Checklist for Session 12 Topic 6: The Book of Jeremiah

    • Lecture 12 The Book of Jeremiah part I

    • Lecture 12 The Book of Jeremiah part II

    • Lecture 12 The Book of Jeremiah part III

    • Lecture 12 The Book of Jeremiah part IV

    • Lecture 12 The Book of Jeremiah part V

    • Lecture 12 The Book of Jeremiah part VI

    • Lecture 12 part The Book of Jeremiah VII

    • Lecture 12 notes

    • Lecture 12 notes.pdf

    • Lecture 13A The Book of Jeremiah part I

    • Lecture 13A The Book of Jeremiah part II

    • Lecture 13A The Book of Jeremiah part III

    • Lecture 13A The Book of Jeremiah part IV

    • Lecture 13a notes

    • Lecture 13a notes.pdf

    • Lecture 13B Lamentations part I

    • Lecture 13B Lamentations part II

    • Lecture 13b notes

    • Lecture 13b notes.pdf

    • Progressive Detail in Ezekiel, Jeremiah and Isaiah

    • the " Jeremiah 18 Principle "

    • Lecture 12

    • OT 102 (2021) Lecture 12

    • OT 102 (2021) Lecture 13a

    • OT 102 (2021) Lecture 13b

    • 200-word answer Topic 6: The Book of Jeremiah

  • 14

    Session 13 (Live): Review Topic 6 The Book of Jeremiah

    • Checklist Before Tutorial

    • Class Presentation

    • Reflection on Lamentations

  • 15

    Session 14 (Self-Study): Topic 7 The Book of Isaiah

    • Checklist for Session 14 Topic 7: The Book of Isaiah

    • Lecture 14 The Book of Isaiah part I

    • Lecture 14 The Book of Isaiah part II

    • Lecture 14 The Book of Isaiah part III

    • Lecture 14 The Book of Isaiah part IV

    • Lecture 14 The Book of Isaiah part V

    • Lecture 14 notes

    • Lecture 14 notes.pdf

    • Lecture 15 The Book of Isaiah part I

    • Lecture 15 The Book of Isaiah part II

    • Lecture 15 The Book of Isaiah part III

    • Lecture 15 The Book of Isaiah part IV

    • Lecture 15 notes

    • Lecture 15 notes.pdf

    • OT 102 (2021) Lecture 14

    • OT 102 (2021) Lecture 15

    • 200-word answer Topic 7 The Book of Isaiah

  • 16

    Session 15 (Live): Review Topic 7 The Book of Isaiah and End of Term Conversations

    • Checklist Before Tutorial

    • Student Presentation

    • Reflection on the Servant Songs
  • 17

    Assignment submission

    • Reading I Brueggemann

    • Reading II Goldingay

    • Assignment formatting

    • Reflections (at least THREE)

    • Critique Essay on Brueggemann or Goldingay

    • Essay: Gobbets (Mini-commentaries)
  • 18

    Course Evaluation

    • Course evaluation