Old Testament Chronology Lecture 1

SHEPHERDS COLLEGE SHORT COURSE: OLD TESTAMENT CHRONOLOGY 17 MARCH 2025, LECTURE 1 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES As a result of participation in this course, the student will: 1. Be able to identify and locate the major events and persons in the Old Testament 2. Be able to state the time, place, and primary audience of each Old Testament prophet. 3. Be aware of modern challenges to the usefulness and veracity Old Testament history. SUGGESTED RESOURCES • Jordan, James B. Biblical Chronology. Birmingham, AL: Theopolis Books, 2022. • Answers in Genesis: https://answersingenesis.org/ THE ORIGINAL ASSUMPTIONS COURSE OUTLINE 1. Introduction and the beginning 2. Abraham to Joseph 3. Egypt to the wilderness 4. Joshua to the Judges 5. Samuel to Solomon 6. Israel vs. Judah 7. Exile to the return 8. Between the Testaments TERMINOLOGY • BC, AD, BCE, CE • AM ANNU MUNDI “YEAR OF THE WORLD” • DISPENSATION • DISPENSATIONALISM • COVENANT • COVENANT THEOLOGY • COVENANT OF WORKS • COVENANT OF GRACE • Progressive Revelation THE PROBLEM OF CHRONOLOGY “Chronology is the backbone of history. This is rather obvious and no one would question it. When we look into the matter, however, we are confronted with the question: What in fact is the chronology of events in the ancient near east? What is the chronology that forms the backbone for our understanding of the events we know happened during the millennia before Christ?” “The problem arises from the fact that if the Bible is inerrant, then its chronology is inerrant. If the Bible’s chronology is inerrant, then a great deal of secularist speculation about the ancient near east is in error. If this is true, the Bible-believing community is confronted with a massive revisionist project. The entire history of the ancient near east will have to be reassessed. This will not be acceptable to the secularists, and Christianity will lose even more academic respectability. Six-day creationism is bad enough; Biblical chronology is impossible-such is the attitude pervasive in Bible-believing circles.” James B. Jordan, Biblical Chronology (Birmingham, AL: Theopolis Books, 2022), 11. CHALLENGES TO A BIBLICAL CHRONOLOGY • Key texts: Genesis 5 & 11 • Evolutionary theories • Cosmology • Geology • Biology • Archaeology ATTEMPTS AT SOLUTIONS: GAPS • Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2 • Genesis 5 and 11 • Daniel’s 69th and 70th year THE METANARRATIVE 10 HISTORY Include text explaining the actions, or background, leading up to the historical event. A timeline of the actions leading up to the famous event [YEAR] Action [YEAR] Action [YEAR] Action [YEAR] Action [YEAR] Famous Event NAME OF IMPORTANT PERSON FOR THE HISTORICAL EVENT Explain this person’s role or involvement in the event. TITLE FOR THE PHOTO GOES HERE Insert photo (in the box to the right) supporting your thesis or claim sentence. Explain how this photo supports your thesis or claim sentence. “ FAMOUS QUOTE FROM THE EVENT, OR A GENERAL QUOTE SUPPORTING YOUR THESIS OR CLAIM SENTENCE. Author / Writer Evidence supporting this quote or an explanation as to why this quote is important. ” TITLE CONNECTING THE VISUALS BELOW Title goes here for the chart, graphic, or video you insert below. The chart, graphic, or video supports your thesis or claim sentence. Title goes here for the chart, graphic, or video you insert below. The chart, graphic, or video supports your thesis or claim sentence. ADD YOUR FINDINGS HERE • Explain what has been learned from this historical event and how that impacts or connects to you. INFLUENCE & CONCLUSION • Explain to your audience the influence this historical event had on the world • Restate your thesis or claim sentence. CUSTOMIZE THIS TEMPLATE Template Editing Instructions and Feedback