This course is a survey of the Old and New Testaments giving a general and comprehensive picture of each book from Genesis to Revelation. During the first semester, students will be introduced to the purpose and message of each Old Testament book and will study them within the historical and cultural framework of the Ancient Near East. The second semester begins with a look at the period between the close of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament. Then students will study each New Testament book within the historical and cultural framework of second temple Judaism and the Greco-Roman world. Upon completing the course students should be able to place each book in its proper historical setting, explain the fundamental message of each book and summarize its contents, and relate the spiritual principles found in each book to practical Christian living. The course is taught from a conservative theological perspective, but engages critical perspectives that students are likely to encounter in later reading and study. An emphasis in this course will be that students see how both the Old and New Testaments have practical relevance for their own lives and the lives of others. Therefore, in addition to teaching content, the course offers students a conceptual, philosophical, and spiritually practical learning experience. The goal is not merely for students to be able to remember or recite Bible knowledge, but to invite and encourage them to grow in personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to establish both an academic and devotional foundation for a lifetime of study in the Word of God. The textbook for this course is The Promise and the Blessing by Michael Harbin.
Bible Survey
Description
Prerequisites
“This course was amazing. I learned so much about the Bible in a historical sense as well as how to interpret and apply it today. The class was super spiritually encouraging and the projects and assignments we had always advanced my faith. When I started this year, I was struggling in my faith; this class completely changed how I thought my year was going to go. Amazing class and I would definitely recommend to anyone who wants to deepen or even start their journey with Christ.”
“This has been one of my favorite classes I’ve had so far. Before I started the class, I had a fractured understanding of most of the Bible; this class strung all the pieces together.”
“This course gives a WONDERFUL overview of the Bible. You get to see how the prophesies of the Old Testament are fulfilled in the New Testament, and you find out how to apply what you’re learning to your life today. I know that my life has definitely changed from the beginning of the school year. I will take the ideas and skills I’ve developed through the semester Bible studies and use them for the rest of my life.”
“Getting the chance to deeply delve into God’s word with the guidance from someone so knowledgeable has helped me further my walk with Christ. This class is such a blessing.”
“This class was quite an experience in Scriptural study. Not only did I learn volumes on the Bible itself with enlightening context, but the class also taught me how to look for resolutions in other parts of Scripture. The teacher walked us through how to think critically and ask questions while studying the Bible. It is quite a privilege to take the class and I highly recommend it, not just for teaching students for a semester, but for equipping children of God for the rest of their lives.”
“I have never had such an in-depth survey of the Bible. I especially enjoyed learning about the Old Testament, as so many courses gloss over the more tedious books such as Leviticus and Numbers. This course did not shy away from tackling books such as these, and I love what we have discovered in them. I absolutely love this course and highly recommend it.”
“My older sister took Bible Survey last year and was always raving about it to me, telling me how much she was learning and what a fabulous teacher she had. Because of her positive experience with it, my mom signed me up for the class. I can honestly say it has changed my life. The textbook used for this class offers interesting and easy-to-understand information about the Bible, and the teacher’s instruction makes Scripture come alive in an interesting and personal way. One of my favorite things about the class is how we don’t just learn about the Bible, we learn how it applies to us and how we can use what we learn to glorify God, love others, and become more mature in Christ.”