Join this engaging high school Old Testament course and learn how to interpret and look at Scripture in a way that aligns with the Church Fathers -- and gets you to a deeper understanding that matters in your everyday life!

How to get the most out of this course:

• First, read the course description and obtain all required materials listed below before the first class session.

• Have a notebook ready and available for class notes while you watch each recorded class session.

• Complete assigned readings before the class session for which they are intended.

• After watching the class recording, feel free to review the PowerPoint slides for that session as needed.

• Complete assignments, quizzes, and any extra work assigned according to the instructions provided.

• Once the course is completed to the parent's and instructor’s satisfaction, there is a Certificate of Completion at the end to be filled in for your records.

Total class meetings: 8

Duration: 55 minutes per class

Prerequisite: None

Suggested grade level: 9th - 12th grade

Suggested credit: ½ semester Theology

Instructor: Mike Creavey, MA

Course Description: Welcome to Mr. Creavey’s crash course on how Catholics approach the interpretation of Sacred Scripture! We’ll begin by briefly exploring basic principles of biblical interpretation and the traditional “senses of scripture” as described by the Church Fathers and the Catechism. Then we will put those principles into practice through the remaining sessions as we apply them to some key events in both the Old and New Testaments. Students will thus better understand how the various phases of salvation history build upon what came before while also hinting at their ultimate fulfillment, achieved by Jesus through the ministry of His Church.

Course outline:

Class 1 – Intro to Catholic Biblical Interpretation
Class 2 – The Senses of Scripture
Class 3 – Creation & The Fall
Class 4 – The Flood & The New Creation
Class 5 – The Family of God
Class 6 – Exodus & the Promise Land
Class 7 – Kingdom & Catastrophe
Class 8 – Awaiting the Messiah

Required Course Materials:

1. The Holy Bible, preferably the Revised Standard Version 2nd Catholic Edition (RSV-2CE) or the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE). Note that Both translations can be found for free at biblegateway.com in the dropdown translation selection box. The YouVersion Bible app and its corresponding website, bible.com is also useful.

2. Catechism of the Catholic Church: 2nd Edition (ISBN-13: 978-0385508193). The CCC is also free online at http://ccc.usccb.org/flipbooks/catechism/index.html.

Other Great Resources (i.e., NOT required or expected, but all are insightful for the student--or parent!--who would like to go deeper into the subject):

1. Bible Basics for Catholics: A New Picture of Salvation History by Dr. John Bergsma, ISBN-13: 978-1594713477 (https://amzn.to/3ptf3CP)

2. A Father Who Keeps His Promises: God's Covenant Love in Scripture by Dr. Scott Hahn, ISBN-13: 978-0892838295 (https://amzn.to/2KUkDPA)

3. Ascension Press’ “The Great Adventure” Bible and related bible study resources which can be found at ascensionpress.com/pages/the-great-adventure

Homework: Various passage selections from Scripture, as well as relevant sections of Dr. Bergsma’s book (optional list above), will form the basis for most of the lecture material. Due to the abbreviated scope of this overview course, however, only the assigned portions of Scripture and occasional brief PDF articles will be required reading. Assessments are based on class lecture content and will consist of two online quizzes, one covering classes 1-4 and the other covering classes 5-8.

Technical Help: If you have any technical trouble or questions about course content, please email us at homeschoolconnections@gmail.com.

©2021 Homeschool Connections and Mike Creavey, MA.  All rights reserved. This course is designed by Mike Creavey, MA.

• This material is only to be used for its intended purpose by active subscribers of Homeschool Connections. Any other use without explicit permission is in violation of the seventh commandment (yes, the 7th commandment) and in violation of US and International copyright laws.

• You may print or download to local hard disk extracts for your personal homeschool and non-commercial use only. This is not to be used for homeschool co-ops without express written permission from Homeschool Connections.