Prepared by Tom Thorpe, December 2008

This course explores the Gospels, Letters and other writings that make up the Christian Scriptures, also known as the New Testament, from the perspective that these writings are the sacred record of the earliest experience of both God and Jesus Christ. Overview of the Christian Scriptures offers the student a cultural and historical understanding of the Christian Scriptures. Although it is not a course in metaphysical interpretation of scripture, Overview of the Christian Scriptures does provide a foundation for interpretive study of the Scriptures.

On completion of the course students will be able to:

• Describe and explain the four major divisions of the Christian Scripture.
  • Gospels
  • Letters
  • History
  • Apocryphal literature
• Briefly explain the process of canonization as it applies to the Christian Scriptures.
• For each of the four canonical Gospels, describe the view of Jesus the writer presents.
• Trace the emergence of the Christian church as an organization separate from Judaism.
• Describe the essential elements of the apostle Paul's theology.
• Describe the significance and major themes of the Book of Revelation.

Overview of the Christian Scriptures is designed to be completed at the student's own pace. Students may begin course work at any time and take as long as six months to complete the course. Each of the eight lessons begins with a Learning Guide explaining the main themes of the lesson, assigning readings from the texts and from the Hebrew Scriptures, and posing questions for reflection. A video message from the instructor will accompany each lesson's Learning Guide. An optional discussion forum will be available for students who wish to engage in conversation about their learning experience with others in the course. Learners may communicate with the instructor by e-mail or telephone.

Each lesson will include a multiple-choice quiz. At the conclusion of the course, learners will be required to pass a final multiple-choice examination and submit a short essay.

As with all SEE courses, Overview of the Christian Scriptures will be graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory/Incomplete basis. Grading will be based on successful completion of all quizzes and the final essay.

• Bible (New Revised Standard Version required. New Interpreter's Study Bible, published by Abingdon, highly recommended.)
• Reading the Bible Again for the First Time, by Marcus J. Borg, published by Harper San Francsico

• Don't Know Much About the Bible, by Kenneth C. Davis, published by Perennial, a division of Harper Collins

• Lesson 1
  Introducing the Christian Scriptures
  • Biblical Lenses
  • Gospels, History, Letters and an Apocalypse
  • Why the delay between the events of Jesus' ministry and the writing of the Christian Scriptures?
  • A look at the first writing of the Christian Scriptures
• Lesson 2
  The Good News (Part 1)
  • Four Gospels, four views of Jesus
  • What is a "Harmony of the Gospels"?
  • Who wrote the Gospels?
  • Source material for the Gospels
• Lesson 3
  The Good News (Part 2)
  • What about those "other" (Apocryphal) Gospels?
  • The ministry of John the Baptizer
  • The Baptism of Jesus
  • Jesus is tempted
  • The Sermon on the Mount or was it the Plain?
• Lesson 4
  The Good News (Part 3)
  • Feeding 5,000
  • His mother and his brethren
  • Peter's profession of faith
  • Demoniacs in the land of the Gadarenes
  • Peace or a Sword?
  • The second coming of Jesus
• Lesson 5
  Landmark Events in the Early Church
  • Jesus' Ascension (Acts 1)
  • The Pentecost experience and what followed (Acts 2, 3)
  • Internal challenges in the early church (Acts 5)
  • The conversion of Saul (Acts 9)
  • God shows no partiality (Acts 10)
  • The Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15)
• Lesson 6
  Saul of Tarsus becomes the Apostle Paul
  • The early life of Saul
  • The Damascus Road Conversion Experience
  • A Jewish-Christ Mystic
  • An Apostle and Missionary of Jesus
  • Christ Communities
  • Paul's Letters
• Lesson 7
  Pauline Theology and a Contrasting View
  • Jesus is Lord
  • Life in Adam/Life in Christ
  • The Way
  • Neither Jew nor Greek
  • Justification by Grace through Faith
  • Christ Crucified
  • -------------------------------------
  • Faith without works is dead. The contrasting view.
• Lesson 8
  The Book of Revelation – a Blessing and a Challenge
  • The Presence of the Risen Christ 1:9-20
  • Messages to the Seven Churches 2:1-3:22
  • Heavenly Worship, Sounding the Seven Trumpets 8:1-11:19
  • The Holy City 21

More Information
See class schedule or register now.
Tuition is moderately priced.

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We invite you to explore our other study programs, including online self-study or the Spiritual Education and Enrichment (SEE) programs held at the Unity Village campus.