The Old Testament 101: Audio Course & Free Study Guide
Length: 10 hours and 1 minute
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.
01 Understanding the Christian Bible: An Overview
02 The Pentateuch: Genesis 1–11
03 Genesis 1–11, continued
04 Genesis 12–25: Abraham and Sarah
05 Genesis 25–50: Jacob and His Sons
06 Exodus 1–19: Exodus as Liberation
07 Exodus 20–40: Exodus as Formation
08 Deuteronomy: Journey to the Promised Land
09 The Deuteronomistic History: The Book of Joshua to the Book of Kings
10 The First Book of Samuel: The Rise of Kingship
11 The Second Book of Samuel: David and His Family
12 1 & 2 Kings: Israel, Judah, and the Exile
13 Wisdom Literature: Proverbs and Qoheleth
14 Ancient Near Eastern Protest Literature and Job
15 Sirach and the Book of Wisdom
16 The Psalms: Inspired Prayer
17 The Psalms: Favorite Psalms
18 The Prophets: The Book of Isaiah 1–39
19 The Book of Isaiah 1–39 and 40–66
20 The Book of Isaiah 40–66
21 The Prophet Jeremiah
22 The Prophet Ezekiel
23 The Rise of an Apocalyptic Worldview: The Book of Daniel
24 How the Old Testament Shaped the Four Gospels
The Old Testament 101 Guide