Course Essential Question: How does the scriptural covenant define our
relationship with God?
Chapter 1 Essential Question(s):
(1)Why is the Old Testament an integral part of the Church's prayer,
liturgy, history, and theology?
(2)What Bible skills are needed to understand the Old Testament?
(3)What is the Basic Story Line?
(4)What is the role of the Magisterium when interpreting the Old
Testament?
Chapter 2 Essential Question(s):
(1)How important is Archaeology to Bible Study?
(2)What is the Basic Story Line?
Chapter 3 Essential Question (s):
(1) Why do we have to study the various context such as geography, history,
and literature to understand the people of the Biblical period?
(2) Why do we need to account for the conditions of biblical times and
culture, its literary genres, modes of feeling, speaking, and narrating
to understand the sacred authors intention?
Chapter 4 Essential Question (s):
(1) How does the Book of Genesis help us to understand how the world came to
be?
(2) How does Gods saving action of the Israelites in Genesis apply to all
humanity?
Chapter 5 Essential Question (s):
(1) As a people of faith, why was it important for the Israelites to know
not just his name, but also how God is known, what he has done and will
do?
(2) What is the significance of the Exodus event to us today?
(3) What was the significance of the Sinai Covenant?
Chapter 6 Essential Question (s):
(1) Why are the Biblical books such as Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and
2 Kings, and Ruth, based on the Book of Deuteronomy so significant to
Israelite History?
(2) How did the Just War theory of St. Augustine shed light on miracle
warfare and peacemaking and what are the implications?
Chapter 7 Essential Question (s):
(1) How are the emergence of the Monarchy change the direction of Israelite
history?
(2) Looking back, would the Israelites be better off with the loose
federation of tribes than the monarchy?
Chapter 8 Essential Question (s):
(1) How did the role of prophets change during the monarchy compared to the
federation?
(2) How did the prophets in the Old Testament carry out their mission
against social injustices?
Chapter 9 Essential Question (s):
(1) How did the prophets show that suffering helps to strengthen the faith
of the Jews as well as purify their attitudes and behaviors?
(2) How does the Exile apply to us today?
Chapter 10 Essential Question (s):
(1)How does the spirituality of the Wisdom books differ from other books in
the Bible?
(2)Why should we be interested in Apocalyptic Literature?
