Can anyone help me with this. How does The Old Testament Today 2nd edition (480 pages) compare to A Survey of the Old Testament 4th edition (558 pages)? Both are written my Walton and Hill. What are the similarities/differences?
I have used both so here is an honest assessment. OT Today bridges the gap between the Old Testament's ancient context and contemporary relevance. It emphasizes how the message remains important for today's faith and life. Survey of the OT provides a more academic survey of the Old Testament, delving into historical, literary, and theological issues. It explores the purpose, message, structure, and major themes of each book.Old Testament Today is a bit shorter and known for its user-friendly approach. It uses full-color images and a clear structure to make the content more accessible. The Survey is considered a standard textbook for Old Testament studies. It offers a more in-depth analysis and may require a stronger academic background. Combine them with The Masters Seminary Old Testament introduction Lectures by Keith Essex, which can be found on YouTube. These are invaluable, fun and easy to consume from a pastor/scholar.
In my OT Survey class in Undergrad we used these books and articles. Our class was expansive. 15 weeks lecture and 5 weeks of research. I will try to find my graduate syllabi as it was a 3 semester program but only 10 week classes. I think the Undergraduate course was much more comprehensive and rational in nature.
Arnold, Bill T. and Bryan E. Beyer. Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian Survey. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing House, 2008
Brisco, Thomas V. Holman Bible Atlas: A Complete Guide to the Expansive Geography of the Bible. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1998.
Childs, Brevard S. "The Old Testament as Scripture of the Church." Concordia Theological Monthly 43, no. 1 (1972): 709-722.
Mathewson, Steven D. “Guidelines for Understanding and Proclaiming Old Testament Narratives.” Bibliotheca Sacra 154 (1997), 410-435 http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/article_mathewson.html
Merrill, Eugene H. An Historical Survey of the Old Testament. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1991.
Moberly, R. W. L. "Christ in All the Scriptures? The Challenge of Reading the Old Testament as Christian Scripture." The Journal of Theological Interpretation 1, no. 1 (2007): pps. 79-100.
Peake, Arthur Samuel. The Nature of Scripture. Hodder & Stoughton, 1922.
Smith, Marsha A. Ellis, ed. Holman Book of Biblical Charts, Maps, and Reconstructions. Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1993.
Walton, John H. Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group, 2006.
I hope this does not go out of bounds within the scope of your question. I am not sure what your aims are in covering the two original textbooks in question. I hope this is of help to you in whatever you are working on.
Thanks Christian. Much appreciated.
Michael
If you do not mind me asking I have a question. What is your goal here in using these books?
Michael If you do not mind me asking I have a question. What is your goal here in using these books?
Sure Christian. I have studied the old testament many times. But now I want to take a deeper dive into the old testament focusing more on the structure and organization to see how the different stories in the old testament flow together in God's narrative.
Then I would suggest the Survey of OT because it is deeper and complex in its study.
Thanks Christian.
