Critically examines Paul's first and second epistles to the Corinthians in the context of the early Christian community and Paul's life and ministry. We will delve into the historical, political, and philosophical climate prevalent in Corinth during Paul's ministry, with an emphasis on how these factors may have influenced the presentation of Paul's theology. We will learn about Paul's mission in Corinth, the counter mission he faced, and the major theological themes in both letters. We will also cover the continuing relevance and significance of the Letters to the Corinthians for the Christian life and contemporary church. Prerequisite: BIBL 0501. Recommended: NEWT 0522.

Relates the history of God's people from David to the Exile. Students will read the Books of Kings to discover their thematics, structure and especially the theological messages communicated through the period of the monarchy. Critical issues, particularly the scholarly discussion concerning the rise and place of the monarchy, will be addressed. Students will gain an appreciation for the skillful theological production of these narratives and their importance to the larger canonical text. Prerequisite: BIBL 0501.

Among the least read (and most misunderstood) books in the Old Testament are 1 & 2 Chronicles. Yet, we will discover in this course that this material has a vital message for the church and academia today. As the last books of the entire Hebrew Bible, Chronicles is uniquely positioned to provide what a prominent scholar refers to as "one of the richest mines of spirituality in all Scripture." The post-exilic period, when Chronicles was composed, witnessed the production of new kinds of literary and theological works. Prerequisite: BIBL 0501.

A literary and theological study of the books of 1 & 2 Samuel accomplished through a close reading of the text with examination of key exegetical issues. Samuel not only provides a historical record of the transition from the time of the Judges to the establishment of the monarchy, it also displays the breadth and depth of the creativity and artistry of Hebrew Biblical narrative as a literary genre. Through the lives of Samuel, Saul, and David, theology concerning our relationships with God and others will be examined. Prerequisite: BIBL 0501. Recommended: OLDT 0511.

This course consists of two sections. The first section is an introduction of the study of 1 and 2 Samuel (1 and 2 Samuel hereafter Samuel) from three perspectives: author, text, and reader. It serves to provide students a preliminary knowledge of the study of Samuel and develop their methodology on interpretation of the texts. The second section is an introduction of the Old Testament exegesis. Students are expected to apply exegetical skills on the texts of Samuel and integrate the results of exegetical studies and develop the ability to interpret and preach on the texts of Samuel. Recommended prerequisite: OLDT CM02. Offered in Chinese.