Biblical Perspectives course

Open Educational Resources

This page and the resources linked from it are Open Educational Resources (OER)

This adult studies module gives students an overview of the Bible. We'll see the story that starts at the beginning of the Old Testament and runs to the end of the New Testament. We'll consider some of the major issues in Biblical understanding and interpretation. In essence, this course is "how to understand the Bible for beginners." By the end of the module, we're writing the entire story of the Bible in one page.

Bound Lamb (Agnus Dei) by Francisco de Zurbaran, Museo del Prado, Madrid

Class resources, including assignments and due dates

• News story: Bible literacy slipping
• Key principles of Bible study
• Handout on 15 key chapters of the Bible
• Would you like to try writing the story of the entire Bible in one page or less?
  • Here's a listing of the big Biblical events that need to be in that story.
  • Bible story in pictures
• Written assignments
  • Integrative, end-of-the-module summary/reflection paper
    • Need some suggestions to get started writing your end-of-the-module integrative paper? See the instructions at the bottom of this page.
• Bible at a glance
• Questions raised and answered in the Old Testament
• Need a study break? Pass a few minutes with this a hidden Bible book names puzzle
• Canaan: historic land bridge
• PowerPoint presentations
  • Seven ideas for enriching Bible understanding [ view as PowerPoint ]
  • Seven common errors of Biblical interpretation | view as PowerPoint
  • Why I accept the Bible as authoritative | view as PowerPoint
  • Inadequate uses of the Bible | view as PowerPoint
  • Key Biblical themes | view as PowerPoint
  • Church history: On whose shoulders do we stand? | view as PowerPoint
  • Other PowerPoint presentations
• Audio
  • Bible book names rap
• Puzzles
• Hidden Bible book names
• Crossword puzzles
  • Three dozen women of the Bible
  • Chapters 6-9 of textbook
• Humor
  • Bible humor, trivia and jokes
  • Cliff's Notes on the Bible: The Bible in 50 words

External Links

• Overview of Bible translations in various languages, including several in English

Concordances help you find Bible passages when you know at least one word used in that passage. The three listed below index the King James, New American Standard Version, Darby, World English and Young's Literal translations in addition to those listed:

• Bible Gateway (Gospel Films — GospelCom)
  — Versions listed above, plus: NIV and RSV
  — Other language versions including German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
• Crosswalk
  - Versions listed above, plus: New Living Translation, ASV, New King James, NRSV, RSV, Today's English Version, New American Bible, Douay-Rheims, Bible in Basic English
  - Other Bible study tools
• Unbound Bible (Biola)
  - Versions listed above, plus: ASV, Basic English, Douay-Rheims, Webster's Bible
  - Greek, Hebrew and 28 other languages
  - Easton's Bible dictionary
  - Brief histories of several Bible translations

Other concordances:    Bibles.Net

I'm ready to get started!

Ready to get started looking at the Bible? Before you jump in, let's start with some very basic principles. [ more ]

Tempted to cheat on schoolwork? Before you do, read SNU's academic integrity policy

End-of-module integrative paper for this introduction to the Bible course

From the syllabus: "A 6-8 page reflective paper describing areas of insights from this course that were new to you, how you respond to those new insights, and possible ways those new areas of insight might impact your life in future days. Due: two weeks after final class session"

Need a question to get you started?

1. Have you successfully combined new material from the assignments and classroom lectures and discussions with what you already knew?
2. Have some of your previously-held ideas and positions been challenged?
3. Can you identify some changes in you because of your participation in this learning experience?
4. What new avenues of investigation have you become curious about following up on?
5. In what ways are your understandings different now than before the module started?
6. At what points were you challenged to think and reflect?
7. Did you find yourself discussing material from this module with friends and family during the five weeks?
8. Did you find yourself going beyond the work assigned to read more and to pursue some question?

• Your paper need not answer all or even any of these questions. They are offered merely as idea starters.
• Appearance, grammar usage and clearness of writing will help determine the final grade on this paper.

Ready for some humor? See my writing checklist.

    -- Howard Culbertson,

 

Way to fix writing problems    Documenting quotes

Scripture index: Bible passages used on this site     Listening to a boring lecture     Want to get good grades?

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