Course Overview
Examine difficult moral passages in the Old Testament and learn how to answer objections about violence, slavery, law, punishment, and salvation history with confidence.
Topics covered:
This course focuses on Old Testament moral difficulties, covering laws, punishments, slavery, warfare, polygamy, forced marriage, and how to answer common biblical objections. You'll learn about:
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How to interpret "dark passages" in Scripture
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Old Testament laws, punishments, and divine pedagogy
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Polygamy, forced marriage, and sexual assault passages
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Slavery in the Old Testament
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Divine killing, Cannan, and ancient warfare objections
Watch a Free Sample Lesson
Why does the Bible include disturbing stories of violence, sin, and moral failure? In this free sample lesson, Trent Horn explains how Scripture can record evil without recommending it, giving students a key principle for answering some of the most common objections to the Old Testament.
Meet your Instructor
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Instructor
Trent Horn
After his conversion to the Catholic faith, Trent Horn earned master’s degrees in the fields of theology, philosophy, and bioethics. He serves as a staff apologist for Catholic Answers, where he specializes in teaching Catholics to graciously and persuasively engage those who disagree with them.
Course Curriculum
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1
Bible Difficulties 2
- Introduction: Old Testament Moral Difficulties
- Download the Course Study Guide
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2
Bible Difficulties 2 - Lessons 1-5
- Lesson 1: Pope Benedict XVI and the Old Testament
- Lesson 2: Recording Evil vs Recommending Evil FREE PREVIEW
- Lesson 3: Bad Biblical Role Models
- Lesson 4: Graphic Descriptions in Scripture
- Lesson 5: Old Testament Laws
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3
Bible Difficulties 2 - Lessons 6-10
- Lesson 6: Old Testament Punishments
- Lesson 7: Polygamy
- Lesson 8: Forced Marriages
- Lesson 9: Old Testament Law and Sexual Assault
- Lesson 10: Slavery and the Old Testament I
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4
Bible Difficulties 2 - Lessons 11-15
- Lesson 11: Slavery and the Old Testament II
- Lesson 12: Slavery and the Old Testament III
- Lesson 13: Divine Killing I
- Lesson 14: Divine Killing II
- Lesson 15: Abraham and Isaac
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5
Bible Difficulties - Lessons 16-18
- Lesson 16: Israel, Canaan, and Ancient Warfare
- Lesson 17: The Canaanites and Total Warfare
- Lesson 18: The Canaanites and Ancient Warfare Rhetoric
- Lesson 19: Conclusion
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6
Next Steps
- List of Recommended Reading
- Before you go...
FAQs
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How long will I have access to the course?
You’ll have access to the course for one year from the date you enroll, so you can work through the lessons at your own pace and revisit the material as needed.
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Is this course self-paced?
Yes. You can begin whenever you’re ready and move through the lessons on your own schedule.
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How do I access the course after purchase?
After enrolling, you’ll receive instructions by email for accessing the course through our online learning platform.