Introduction to Reading the Bible 1 - RPT100

• Title: Introduction to Reading the Bible 1
• Form of teaching: lecture
• Guaranteed by: Katedra biblických studií (27-BS)
• Faculty: Faculty of Protestant Theology
• Actual: from 2026
• Duration in semesters: 1
• Semester: winter
• Points: 4
• E-Credits: 4
• Examination process: winter s.:
• Hours per week, examination: winter s.:2/0, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: unlimited / unknown (unknown)
• Maximum number of enrolled students: unlimited
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Repeated enrollment: 5 / 5 / 5 / 5
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment
• Guarantor: doc. Mgr. Jan Rückl, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): doc. Mgr. Jan Rückl, Ph.D.
• Class: obligatory

Annotation

The course is taught in a lecture format and is always taken in the first year. It introduces students to the critical study
of the Bible by providing basic information about the structure, content, and literary characteristics of individual Old
Testament writings. Students are expected to continuously prepare for the lectures and complete independent work,
especially reading the biblical texts (translated into the vernacular) and studying the assigned literature. Students
are expected to read the entire Old Testament independently during the course and discuss their findings in class.
This course lays the foundation for further courses in Old Testament studies. It provides a working knowledge of
biblical texts and an understanding of their types, literary forms, and content. The course is organized according to
the basic divisions of the Old Testament: The Pentateuch (Torah), the Former and Latter Prophets, the Writings
(Ketuvim), and the Deuterocanonical books. The final evaluation is an oral exam at the end of the semester.

Last update: Gallus Petr, doc., Ph.D. (17.10.2025)

Literature

BIBLE in English translation - recommended translations are New Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, New American Bible Revised Edition, Revised New Jerusalem Bible, New Oxford Annotated Bible.

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. A History of the Bible: The Book and Its Faiths, London: Penguin Books, 2019. 640 p. ISBN 978-0141978505.

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.

HILLYER, Norman - James Dixon DOUGLAS (eds.): New Bible Dictionary. Leicester: Tyndale Press, 1982

SCHMIDT, Konrad - SCHRÖTER, Jens. The Making of the Bible: From the First Fragments to Sacred Scripture, Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press, 2021. 448 p. ISBN 978-0-674-24838-0.

Last update: Gallus Petr, doc., Ph.D. (17.10.2025)

Syllabus

General Introduction to the Old Testament (Tenakh, Septuagint, the Old Testament)

Pentateuch

Former Prophets

Latter Prophets

The Writings

The Deuterocanonical books

Last update: Beneš Ladislav, Mgr., Dr. (11.07.2025)

Learning outcomes

The student is oriented to the structure of the Bible.

The student names basic literary types of the Old Testament.

The student characterizes various writings of the Old Testament.

Last update: Beneš Ladislav, Mgr., Dr. (15.07.2025)