Introduction to the Old Testament Studies - RETA1001

• Title: SZP-Introduction to the Old Testament Studies
• Guaranteed by: Katedra biblických studií (27-BS)
• Faculty: Protestant Theological Faculty
• Actual: from 2025 to 2025
• Duration in semesters: 2
• Semester: winter
• Points: 5
• E-Credits: 5
• Examination process: winter s.:
• Hours per week, examination: winter s.:2/0, C [HT]; summer s.:2/0, C(+Ex) [HT]
• Capacity: winter:unlimited / unknown (unknown); summer:unlimited / unknown (unknown)
• Maximum number of enrolled students: unlimited
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• Key competences: critical thinking
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Additional information: https://moodle.etf.cuni.cz/moodle/course/view.php?id=1091
• Repeated enrollment: 2 / 2 / 2 / 2
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment; priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
• Guarantor: prof. Martin Prudký, Dr.; doc. Mgr. Jan Rückl, Ph.D.; doc. Petr Sláma, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): prof. Martin Prudký, Dr.; doc. Mgr. Jan Rückl, Ph.D.; doc. Petr Sláma, Ph.D.

Annotation

A two-semester series of lectures aimed at providing (a) a factual knowledge of the biblical texts (the Old Testament including the deuterocanonical books), (b) a basic knowledge of the Bible, its forms and constituent parts (the books and groups of books), and their literary and factual characteristics, and (c) an understanding of the basic issues relating to biblical studies, especially how Scripture has been read, used, and interpreted in the Christian tradition.

The aim is for students to acquire a basic knowledge of the biblical material, an orientation in the biblical texts, their kinds and nature, and a knowledge of the Bible and the methodological approaches to studying it.
The course is arranged so as to roughly follow the order of the books in the Hebrew Bible (the Palestine Canon). In the winter semester the course covers a general introduction and the books of the Pentateuch (Torah), and in the summer semester the Former and Latter Prophets, the Writings (Ketuvim), the deuterocanonical books, and the most important pseudepigrapha.

The lectures assume ongoing preparation and independent work from students, especially reading the biblical texts (translated into the vernacular) and studying recommended literature.
In order to pass the course, students must elaborate all the tasks which are part of the lessons at the moodle website of this course.

Both semesters are assessed by credit points.
After the second semester an examination takes place before a commission, in which students are examined jointly on their knowledge of the material covered in this course, together with the courses Introduction to New Testament Studies and Introduction to the Study of Theology.

Last update: Prudký Martin, prof., Dr. (26.09.2025)

Course completion requirements

In order to pass the course, students must elaborate all the tasks which are part of the lessons at the moodle website of this course.

Both semesters are assessed by credit points.

After the second semester an examination takes place before a commission, in which students are examined jointly on their knowledge of the material covered in this course, together with the courses Introduction to New Testament Studies and Introduction to the Study of Theology.

Last update: Prudký Martin, prof., Dr. (26.09.2025)

Literature

BIBLE – The Holy Scripture containing the Old and New Testamens and Pseudepigrapha

ARNOLD, Bill T. Introduction to the Old Testament (Introduction to Religion), 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020. 436 p. ISBN 978-0521705479.
BARTON, John. The Cambridge Companion to Biblical Interpretation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1998. ISBN: 978-0-521-48144-9.
BARTON, John (ed.). The Hebrew Bible: A Critical Companion. Princeton / Oxford: Princeton University Press 2016. ISBN: 978-0-691-15471-8.
BRUEGGEMANN, Walter & LINAFELT, Tod. An Introduction to the Old Testament: The Canon and Christian Imagination (2nd ed.), Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press 2012. ISBN: 978-0-664-23458-4.
COLLINS, John J. A Short Introduction to the Hebrew Bible, Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2018 (3rd ed.). 376 p. ISBN 9781506445991.
COLLINS, John J. Introduction to the Hebrew Bible , 3rd ed. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2018. 622 s. ISBN 9781506445984.
GOLDINGAY, John. An Introduction to the Old Testament: Exploring Text, Approaches and Issues, London: SPCK Publishing, 2016 (3rd ed.). 400 p. ISBN 9780281075355.
RENDTORFF, Rolf. The Old Testament. An introduction. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1991. 320 p. ISBN 9780800625443.
SCHMID, Konrad, The Old Testament: A Literary History, Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2012. ISBN : 978-0-8006-9775-4.

PRITCHARD, James B., The Harper Atlas of the Bible. Harper Collins, 1987. ISBN: 978-0061818837
KEEL, Othmar a Max B. KUCHLER. Herders groser Bibel Atlas. Basel: Herder, 1989, ISBN 3-451-21275-7.
RASMUSSEN, Carl G. Zondervan Atlas of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2010. 304 p. ISBN 978-0310270508. 

Last update: Prudký Martin, prof., Dr. (26.09.2025)

Learning resources

Informations, texts and materials of this lecture are available in the e-learning system MOODLE
-- course: https://moodle.etf.cuni.cz/moodle/course/view.php?id=1091

Students can register this course using their students ID (login = ID number) and the password, which is communicated during the first lesson in presence.

Guests can visit the course and use the materials with the teachers permission.

Last update: Prudký Martin, prof., Dr. (26.09.2025)