INSTITUTE FOR BIBLICAL EDUCATION AND SPIRITUAL INSPIRATION I
COURSE
WHAT IS IT?
DURATION: FACILITATOR: REQUIRED TEXTS:
12 WEEKS PHYLLIS A. GREEN THE HOLY BIBLE (PREFERABLY NRSV) DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE BIBLE (DAVIS) THE HIDDEN POWER OF THE BIBLE (HOLMES) WHO WROTE THE BIBLE? (FRIEDMAN) WISDOM FOR A LIFETIME (STUDEBAKER)
RECOMMENDED TEXTS:
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SUMMARY This 12-week course is a survey course that will introduce students to the basic approaches to the study of the Bible and will seek to answer ‘inter alia’ the following questions:
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What is Scripture and what is its purpose? What is the Bible? Who wrote it and when was it written? Who reads it and why? Why is so much of it boring and unintelligible? What value does it have in the 21st century? What is the canon and which are the canonical books? What are deutero-canonical books and what purpose do they serve?
METHODOLOGY The Webinar format using Webex will be used for:
Individual and group presentations Class discussions Review sessions One-on-one discussions
For the purposes of group work, students will be divided into groups, the number of which will be determined by the number of persons registered for the course and be given group assignments. Each student is encouraged to pursue individual research via the Internet and other means to supplement prescribed reading
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ASSIGNMENTS
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In-class individual and group oral presentations Individual assignments Group assignments Class evaluation by each student
COURSE OUTLINE AND SCHEDULE WEEK 1
INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
WEEK 2
WHAT IS SCRIPTURE? -
WEEK 3
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE BIBLE? -
WEEK 4
What is its purpose? What are the main Scriptures of the world? The Bible as Scripture
The Emergence Of The Bible Who Wrote It? When Was It Written? How Was It Written? Why Was It Written? Approaches To The Study Of The Bible
WHY ARE THERE DIFFERENT DEPICTIONS OF GOD IN THE BIBLE? - A vengeful Deity - A loving Father - Why Are There Contradictions In It? Can We Identify Themes In The Bible?
- What Are The Main Themes Of The Hebrew Scriptures? - What Are The Main Themes Of The Christian Scriptures? - Are These Two Sets Of Themes Related? WEEK 5
What Is “Holy” About The Bible? - Why Is There So Much Violence In It? - Why Is It Used To Justify “Unholy Acts”?
Are The Major Events Described In The Bible Historically Accurate? -
The Crossing Of The Red Sea The Assyrian Invasion The Babylonian Captivity The Ministry, Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth - Paul’s Missionary Journeys - The Rise of Christianity As A Separate Religion WEEK 6
Why Are All Bibles Not Identical? -
WEEK 7
What Is the Apocrypha? Are There Any Additional Gospels? Why Are There Different Versions? Are The Dead Sea Scrolls Relevant?
The TANAK - The Torah - The Nevi’im - The Ketubim
WEEK 8
The Good News -
WEEK 9
The Gospels The End Or The Beginning? A Man Called Paul The Catholic Letters The Apocalypse
What Are The Canonical Gospels And How Do They Differ? - What Is The canon? - Why Are There Different Accounts Of The Same Event? - In What Way Does The Gospel Of John Differ Significantly From The Canonical Gospels? - Are The Gospels of Thomas, Mary and Judas Authentic?
WEEK 10
Does the Bible Have A Relationship To Other Sacred Writings? -
The Bhagavad Gita The Tripikata (Buddh ism) The Koran (Islam)
Why Is There No Sequel To The Bible?