Pricing options


Credit Course students are required to complete all the course assignments by the stated deadline. They will receive grades that are transferable to any BGST postgraduate programmes.


Audit students do not have to fulfil the assignment requirements. However, they are encouraged to do class exercises and assignments to get the maximum benefit from the courses. They will not receive grades that are transferable to BGST Postgraduate Programmes.

Course Description

OT Foundations 1 and OT Foundations 2 together form an introduction to the Old Testament and the world in which it originated.

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. Questions relating to history and the ancient Near Eastern context will not be ignored, but the main emphasis is on the meaning, theology and application of the text.

OT Foundations 1 covers the Pentateuch and the Historical Books.

Special Note:

[3 Academic Units, GC Core Course]

Registration closes:
1 week before the class starts
Register

Class Info

  • Dates : 2026

    Jul: 22 (in-person)
    Aug: 05, 19
    Sep: 02, 16, 30
    Oct: 14 (in-person)

  • Time (Day)

    7:15pm–10:00pm
    (Wednesdays)

  • Location

    Online via Zoom

    For local students, first and last sessions are in-person at:

    BGST
    2 Kallang Avenue
    #11-02 CT Hub
    Singapore 339407

Lecturers

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.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    General

    • OT101 Course Syllabus

    • Orientation Course & Library Access

    • Course Texts

    • Thinkific Mobile App

      FREE PREVIEW

    • Video Password

    • Student AI Policy for the Biblical Graduate School of Theology (BGST)

    • BGST Student AI Policy Acknowledgement Statement
  • 2

    Session 1 (Live) Introduction Topic 1 What is the OT

    • Checklist for Session 1

    • Lawson, Inhabiting the Garden: Bible, Theology, and Mission

    • Wiles, The Old Testament’s Relevance for Today’s Church

    • Different Canon Lists

    • Response Template

    • Reflection Template

  • 3

    Session 2 (Self-Study) Topic 2 The World of the OT (1)

    • Checklist for Session 2

    • Bible Map 1

    • Bible Map 2

    • Historical Timeline (Copy)
  • 4

    Session 3 (Live) Topic 2 The World of the Old Testament (2)

    • Checklist for Session 3

    • Gilgamesh ( additional notes )

    • Atrahasis (additional notes)

    • Archaeology and Faith

    • Meshal, Kuntillet Ajrud

    • Denver, Asherah, Women's Cults, and Official Yahwism

    • Smith, YHWH and Asherah

    • Genesis 1-11 Lecture notes

    • Genesis 1-11 Pt 1 Creation and Beginnings

    • Genesis 1-11 Pt II

    • Genesis 1-11 Pt III

    • Genesis 1-11 Pt IV
  • 5

    Session 4 (Self-Study) Topic 3 The Patriarchs (1)

    • Checklist for Session 4

    • Genesis 12-50 lecture notes

    • Genesis 12-50

    • Genesis 12-50 video recording part 1

    • Genesis 12-50 video recording part 2

    • Genesis 12-50 video recording part 3
  • 6

    Session 5 (Live) Topic 3 The Patriarchs (2)

    • Checklist for Session 5

    • Alter, The Art of Biblical Narrative

    • Baden, Introduction

    • Baden, Documentary Hypothesis

    • Baden, Case Study: Sales of Joseph
  • 7

    Session 6 (Self-Study) Topic 4 From Promise to Law (1)

    • Checklist for Session 6: Topic 3 Numbers and Deuteronomy

    • Exodus Lecture Notes

    • Exodus Pt I

    • Exodus Pt II

    • Exodus Pt III

    • Exodus Pt IV

    • Leviticus Lecture Notes

    • Leviticus Pt I

    • Leviticus Pt II

    • Leviticus Pt III

    • Leviticus Pt IV
  • 8

    Session 7 (Live) Topic 4 From Promise to Law (2)

    • Checklist Before the Tutorial

    • Numbers Pt I

    • Numbers Pt II

    • Numbers Pt III

    • Numbers Lecture Notes

    • Deuteronomy Pt I

    • Deuteronomy Pt II

    • Deuteronomy Pt III

    • Deuteronomy Pt IV

    • Deuteronomy Pt V

    • Deuteronomy Pt VI

    • Deuteronomy Lecture Notes
  • 9

    Session 8 (Self-Study) Topic 5 Deuteronomistic History (1)

    • Checklist for Session 8: Topic 4 Joshua and Judges

    • Joshua Pt A

    • Joshua Pt B (I)

    • Joshua Pt B (II)

    • Joshua Pt B (III)

    • Joshua Lecture Notes

    • Judges Pt I

    • Judges Pt II

    • Judges Lecture Notes

    • Judges 20 ( supplementary notes )

  • 10

    Session 9 (Live) Topic 5 Deuteronomistic History (2)

    • Checklist Before the Tutorial

    • Thomas Mann, Israel and the Land: A Note from a Christian Perspective

  • 11

    Session 10 (Self-Study) Topic 5 Deuteronomistic History (3)

    • Checklist for Session 10: Topic 5 Monarchy Samuel and Kings

    • 1 & 2 Samuel Pt I

    • 1 & 2 Samuel Pt II

    • 1 & 2 Samuel Pt III

    • 1 & 2 Samuel Pt IV

    • 1 & 2 Samuel Lecture Notes

    • 1& 2 Kings Pt A (II) (a)

    • 1 & 2 Kings Pt A (II) b

    • 1 & 2 Kings Pt A (II) c

    • 1 & 2 Kings Pt A (III)

    • 1 & 2 Kings Pt B

    • 1 & 2 Kings Lecture Notes
  • 12

    Session 11 (Live) Topic 5 Deuteronomistic History (4)

    • Checklist Before the Tutorial

    • Class Presentation
  • 13

    Session 12 (Self-Study) Topic 6 History Revisited (1)

    • Checklist for Session 12: Topic 6 Post Exilic, Ezra-Nehemiah, Ruth and Esther

    • Ezra and Nehemiah Pt I

    • Ezra and Nehemiah Pt II

    • Ezra and Nehemiah Lecture Notes

    • 1 & 2 Chronicles Pt I

    • 1 & 2 Chronicles Pt II

    • 1 & 2 Chronicles Pt III

    • 1 &2 Chronicles Pt IV

    • 1&2 Chronicles Lecture Notes

    • Ruth and Esther Pt I

    • Ruth and Ester Pt II

    • Ruth and Ester Pt III

    • Ruth and Ester Pt IV

    • Ruth and Ester Lecture Notes

  • 14

    Session 13 (Live) Conclusion Topic 6 History Revisited (2)

    • Checklist Before the Tutorial

    • Class Presentation
  • 15

    Course Evaluation

    • Course Evaluation form Policy for the Biblical Graduate School of Theology

    • BGST Student Course Evaluation Policy Acknowledgement Statement

    • Course Evaluation Form
  • 16

    Article Review

    • Instructions for the Critique Essay

    • Martin Selman, The Kingdom of God in the Old Testament

    • Gordon McConville Old Testament Laws and Canonical Intentionality

  • 17

    Assignment Submission

    • Submission on IMS

    • Introduction to Writing Assignments

    • How to Format an Academic Paper

    • How to Write an Academic Paper

    • Guidelines for Academic Papers

    • General Formatting for all Assignments

    • Reflection

    • Book Critique and Reflection Paper

    • How to Upload Assignment