Course Description:

This intense bible survey course is designed as fundamental biblical foundation for every Christian. Focused on understanding, interpreting and applying the bible, students will use this education as a apologetic back bone to build their hope. This course has two main elements namely, biblical history overview and bible interpretation. Although the text focuses strictly on methodical interpretation with the goal of understanding the bible correctly, a high value is also placed on prophetic interpretation, understanding the bible as multidimensional levels of truth that can also be interpreted allegorically or as type and shadow.

Course Objectives:

• Understand what the scripture meant in the Biblical time and context.
• Learn how to discern the differences between the biblical audience and us.
• Be able to glean the timeless theological principles from the text.
• Rightly apply what they have learned from the scriptures in their daily lives.
• Develop a lifestyle of spending time in the written word of God.
• Understand how to hear from Holy Spirit regarding scriptural readings (esp. when applied to our lives outside of its original context).
• Have a passage or series of scriptures that they have chosen and memorized.
• Have a firm grasp of the historical time line of the Bible.

Course Core Values:

• All Biblical Scripture is inspired by God. (2 Timothy 3:16)
• Nothing can be added or taken away from the Bible. (Revelation 22:18-19)
• We cannot fully grasp God’s word until Holy Spirit reveals its meaning to us, especially in regards to future events. (John 16:13)
• All “new revelation” or prophetic utterances must be tested and line up with the original cannon of scripture. (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21)
• The gray areas in scripture are places where a relationship with God is required to receive personal revelation. (i.e. in gambling, drinking alcohol, masturbation, etc.)
• There are things that are scriptural that may not directly be in the scriptures.*

*Another way to say it is “All truth is God’s truth.” An example would be that I prayed for a person and they got healed of downs syndrome. There is no case of God healing downs syndrome in the scriptures, however God calls himself “YHWH-Rapha,” the Lord who Heals, and therefore it is in his character to heal. Therefore the healing of downs syndrome can be said to be scriptural.

Course Pre-Requisites:

• Basic understanding of English Language or a Translated version of the text.
• Basic learning and communication skills.

Expectations:

• Student’s are expected to read the text and do the instructor assigned work therein.
• There is a mid-course and final theoretical evaluation of bible history and interpretation.
• Students can expect an intense, sometimes difficult learning curve in this class as we attempt to cover a lot of biblical interpretation and history in one class.

Book List

Required Book[s]:

• Grasping God’s Word – J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays

Recommended Book[s]:

• Hayford Bible Handbook – Jack Hayford

Revision Date:4/21/2009

Author: Christian Bergthold