Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy is a key book in the OT as it concludes the Pentateuch, but introduces theological themes that continue through the historical books that follow as well as in the prophetic books, especially Jeremiah. It is also an important source for the New Testament—only Psalms and Isaiah are quoted more frequently. Quite significantly, Jesus used passages from Deuteronomy when responding to Satan’s temptations in the wilderness and also in response to the question about the greatest commandment. Deuteronomy also featured prominently in theological studies from the early church right up to the present. The purpose of the course is to provide you with a solid foundation in Old Testament studies. It will guide you to engage the biblical text with appropriate methods and tools so that you can read, interpret and responsibly apply passages from the Old Testament. By the end of this course you should be able to:

• Explain key literary features of the book of Deuteronomy
• Implement an appropriate exegetical methodology in reading and interpreting selected passages from Deuteronomy 
• Describe the meaning of selected passages from the book of Deuteronomy in its original context(s) as well as for a contemporary Christian community
• Outline the general message and theological significance of the book of Deuteronomy