We come to the biblical text as outsiders. God communicated to and through the Bible's authors, and into their context. We need to recover the ancient ways of thinking, the ancient culture in order to read our biblical text well. Background studies can give us better access to the intentions of the authors.

This course provides historical, social and cultural background for understanding the Old Testament. Expert scholar and Old Testament professor John Walton makes the Old Testament more accessible for ordinary readers.

Preview also the companion course on New Testament Backgrounds taught by Craig Keener (coming in May)

The course is based on the book The IVP Background Bible Commentary: Old Testament (InterVarsity Press) available for purchase at ivpress.com or at Amazon.com.