Taught by acclaimed Old Testament scholar Richard Clifford, essential listening for the inquisitive. 

Join Fr. Richard Clifford, celebrated Harvard-educated scripture scholar, on a journey through the 46 books of the Old Testament. The Old Testament contains a wealth of wisdom, spiritual insights, and timeless stories. In this expansive course, you will explore the Garden of Eden, the reigns of King David and King Solomon, beautiful poetry, the wisdom of the prophets, and much more. Your guide, Professor Richard Clifford, SJ, a world-renowned and widely published scriptural scholar.

The Old Testament can sometimes prove challenging to modern listeners. With Fr. Clifford as your personal professor, you will understand the fascinating historical and societal milieu of the Old Testament. You will examine the biblical books in the order in which they appear in the Christian Bible, looking at the Pentateuch (or Torah), the historical books, the wisdom literature (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Sirach, Wisdom, and Psalms), and the prophets.

You will come to see how the Old Testament prefigures and lends meaning to the New Testament. Along the way you will examine and appreciate the content of each book, looking at its relation to other biblical books and how it has been read throughout history.

This is more than a Bible study: it is a profound program that will lead you to discover valuable insights into your own life and faith.

Course curriculum

    1. 01 Understanding the Christian Bible: An Overview

    2. 02 The Pentateuch: Genesis 1–11

    3. 03 Genesis 1–11, continued

    4. 04 Genesis 12–25: Abraham and Sarah

    5. 05 Genesis 25–50: Jacob and His Sons

    6. 06 Exodus 1–19: Exodus as Liberation

    7. 07 Exodus 20–40: Exodus as Formation

    8. 08 Deuteronomy: Journey to the Promised Land

    9. 09 The Deuteronomistic History: The Book of Joshua to the Book of Kings

    10. 10 The First Book of Samuel: The Rise of Kingship

    11. 11 The Second Book of Samuel: David and His Family

    12. 12 1 & 2 Kings: Israel, Judah, and the Exile

    13. 13 Wisdom Literature: Proverbs and Qoheleth

    14. 14 Ancient Near Eastern Protest Literature and Job

    15. 15 Sirach and the Book of Wisdom

    16. 16 The Psalms: Inspired Prayer

    17. 17 The Psalms: Favorite Psalms

    18. 18 The Prophets: The Book of Isaiah 1–39

    19. 19 The Book of Isaiah 1–39 and 40–66

    20. 20 The Book of Isaiah 40–66

    21. 21 The Prophet Jeremiah

    22. 22 The Prophet Ezekiel

    23. 23 The Rise of an Apocalyptic Worldview: The Book of Daniel

    24. 24 How the Old Testament Shaped the Four Gospels

    25. The Old Testament 101 Guide

About this course

  • Free
  • 25 lessons
  • 10 hours of video content