Reading Biblical Literature: Genesis to Revelation

Start your immersive journey into the books of the Old and New Testaments with this illuminating introductory lecture. By breaking down the Bible into its different books and narrative styles, you’ll start to think of it not as a single book-but rather as a fascinating dialogue spanning centuries.

[Genesis 1-11] Travel back to biblical accounts of the dawn of time in Genesis and start to think critically about how its stories work as a narrative. By unpacking familiar tales from the book’s first 11 chapters, you’ll gain a fresh perspective on how God creates, destroys, confuses, and renews.

[Genesis 12-25] Abraham’s spiritual legacy is nothing short of profound-yet his story also includes some little-appreciated humor. Delve into the biblical text and consider how Israel’s patriarch is portrayed in Genesis 1225. How is the theme of promises reflected in his relationships with Sarah, Isaac, and God? Get to know Abraham as a much more relatable and well-rounded figure.

[Genesis 25-50] According to Professor Koester, the biblical stories of Jacob and Joseph are rooted in perennial themes of familial conflict and reconciliation. In this lecture, ponder the significance of disguises and dreams: how they propel the narrative forward and how they reflect the underlying mystery of God’s will.

[Exodus 1-15] Both encouraging and threatening, Exodus 1 15 is one of the Bible’s most thrilling stories. First, consider the story’s literary setting (and its surprising humor). Then, discover its focus on two different forms of power: God’s and pharaoh’s. Finally, see how the events in Exodus have resonated throughout subsequent history.

[Exodus 16-40] What happens after an enslaved people are set free? How is freedom lived out? Continue exploring Exodus with chapters 16 40, in which ancient laws and ideas of freedom begin to take root. Along the way, you’ll study different interpretations of “manna” and break down the different groupings of the Ten Commandments.