An Introduction to Themes in the Old Testament

What An Introduction to Themes in the Old Testament covers

An Introduction to Themes in the Old Testament is examined in AS 3, one of the two AS units chosen — area of study: Textual Studies. Worth 20% of the A level. A student may not take two units from the same area of study.. It covers covenant: the concept, the Noahic and Abrahamic covenants, the Mosaic covenant and the Decalogue, covenant failure and the call of Isaiah, the rib: the covenant lawsuit as a literary device, post-exilic exclusion: Ezra and Nehemiah, election, inclusion and the reign of God, the rise and reign of David, the Davidic covenant and Deuteronomistic kingship, the purpose of the Davidic narratives, the monarchy, the role of the king and royal propaganda, Elijah, Elisha and the challenge to royal power, true and false prophecy, Amos: call, visions and the nature of God, Amos, social justice and the Day of the Lord and human experience: exclusivity, leadership and the prophetic voice.

The 15 subtopics

Each one has its own page. CCEA AS Religious Studies students sit this topic in the first year.

• Covenant: the concept, the Noahic and Abrahamic covenantsHebrew term berit, difference between a conditional and an unconditional covenant and election of Israel.Open →
• The Mosaic covenant and the DecalogueSinai and the covenant form, the Ten Commandments and their Jewish and Christian numbering, and covenant as relationship rather than contract.Open →
• Covenant failure and the call of IsaiahWoe against those who call evil good and good evil and cry of the seraphim.Open →
• The rib: the covenant lawsuit as a literary deviceRib in prophetic literature and usual elements of the rib form.Open →
• Post-exilic exclusion: Ezra and NehemiahThe return from exile, the rebuilding of the community, and the measures on mixed marriage and their justification.Open →
• Election, inclusion and the reign of GodWhat it means for Israel to be chosen, the responsibility election carries, and the passages that widen the circle beyond Israel.Open →
• The rise and reign of DavidThe anointing, the rise to power, the Davidic covenant, and the Bathsheba narrative and its consequences.Open →
• The Davidic covenant and Deuteronomistic kingshipDavidic covenant and deuteronomistic History.Open →
• The purpose of the Davidic narrativesTel Dan stele and history of David's Rise.Open →
• The monarchy, the role of the king and royal propagandaMas in Solomon's kingdom, northern response to Rehoboam and describing the emergence of kingship as royal propaganda.Open →
• Elijah, Elisha and the challenge to royal powerCarmel and the contest with the prophets of Baal, Naboth's vineyard, and the prophet as a check on the king.Open →
• True and false prophecyThe tests the Old Testament offers for a genuine prophet, the clashes between rival prophets, and the problem of discernment in any age.Open →
• Amos: call, visions and the nature of GodThird vision, vision of the basket of summer fruit and fifth vision of Amos.Open →
• Amos, social justice and the Day of the LordAmos's criticism of the worship at Bethel and Gilgal and promised in the closing verses of the book of Amos.Open →
• Human experience: exclusivity, leadership and the prophetic voiceReligious exclusivism, religious inclusivism and relativistic age.Open →

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Take An Introduction to Themes in the Old Testament further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

• In the Old Testament, election vs In the Old Testament, privilege

  In the Old Testament, election: being chosen for a task and held to a higher account. In the Old Testament, privilege: it means exemption from the consequences that fall on others.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What does the Hebrew term berit mean?

   Model answer

   Berit is the Hebrew word for covenant, meaning a binding agreement or treaty. In the Hebrew Bible it describes the formal, obligated relationship between God and a people.

2. 2

   Explain the difference between a conditional and an unconditional covenant.

   Model answer

   A conditional covenant lays obligations on the human partner, so its benefits depend on obedience. An unconditional covenant rests on God's promise alone and is not forfeited by human failure.

3. 3

   Which ancient parallel have scholars used to explain the form of Israel's covenants?

   Model answer

   George Mendenhall and Klaus Baltzer argued that the Sinai covenant follows the shape of Hittite suzerain-vassal treaties, with a historical prologue, stipulations, witnesses, blessings and curses.

4. 4

   What is meant by the election of Israel?

   Model answer

   Election is the belief that God freely chose Israel out of all the nations for a special covenant relationship. Jewish tradition understands that choice as a call to obedience and service rather than a grant of privilege.

5. 5

   With whom is the covenant of Genesis 9:1-17 made?

   Model answer

   The Noahic covenant is made with Noah, his descendants after him and every living creature that came out of the ark. Its scope is the whole of humanity and all flesh.

6. 6

   State the sign of the Noahic covenant and what it signifies.

   Model answer

   The sign is the bow set in the clouds. The rainbow serves as a reminder that God will never again destroy all flesh by a flood.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

An Introduction to Themes in the Old Testament revision questions

Is An Introduction to Themes in the Old Testament examined at AS in CCEA Religious Studies?

Yes. It sits in AS, which you take in the first year, so it is on the AS paper as well as counting towards the full A level.

What does An Introduction to Themes in the Old Testament cover in CCEA AS-Level Religious Studies?

15 subtopics: covenant: the concept, the noahic and abrahamic covenants, the mosaic covenant and the decalogue, covenant failure and the call of isaiah, the rib: the covenant lawsuit as a literary device, post-exilic exclusion: ezra and nehemiah, election, inclusion and the reign of god, the rise and reign of david, the davidic covenant and deuteronomistic kingship, the purpose of the davidic narratives, the monarchy, the role of the king and royal propaganda, elijah, elisha and the challenge to royal power, true and false prophecy, amos: call, visions and the nature of god, amos, social justice and the day of the lord and human experience: exclusivity, leadership and the prophetic voice. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.

How is An Introduction to Themes in the Old Testament organised?

By the CCEA 4610 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.