The first five books of the Old Testament are commonly called the Pentateuch. They tell the story of the nation of Israel from creation to preparation for the conquest of the Promised Land. But is the Pentateuch simply the historical account of God’s chosen people, or is it something more? This FREE course explores the books of Genesis through Deuteronomy, examining why they were written, what they meant to their original audience, and how we should respond to them today. This course is based on the lecture series, The Pentateuch, produced by Third Millennium Ministries and hosted by Dr. Scott Redd with contributions from a variety of professors.

NOTE: This course includes lessons from the courses The Primeval History and Father Abraham, as well as new lessons on the Pentateuch. If you have already studied The Primeval History and/or Father Abraham, you may wish to study only the lessons that you have not completed. If so, you should ask for your grades from the other courses to be applied to this course. (See the Syllabus for further explanation.)

Christians, Muslims and Jews all look to the patriarch Abraham as the father of their faiths, but these religions draw very different conclusions from his biography. This FREE course explores the account of Abraham’s life in Genesis 11:10-25:18 from a distinctly Christian perspective in order to analyze what these stories meant for those who first received them and what they mean for us today. It is based on the lecture series, Father Abraham, produced by Third Millennium Ministries and presented by Dr. Richard L. Pratt, Jr.

Genesis 1–11 contains some of the most familiar stories in the Bible. In its ancient context, this collection was not a simple historical record. Rather, it was a forceful argument condemning Egypt and encouraging Israel to follow Moses to the Promised Land. This FREE course provides an analysis of Genesis 1:1-11:9, looking at the background, the literary structure, the original meaning, the theological purpose, and modern applications. This course is based on the lecture series, The Primeval History, produced by Third Millennium Ministries and presented by Dr. Richard L. Pratt, Jr.