1. Introduction to the Bible

2. Basic Resources Study Bible Translations: – NASB-word for word – NIV-thought for thought – NLT-same as NIV but with a little more theology built in Cross References, Text Notes Concordance Study Center Bible Study Tools DA Carson, The God Who Is There Fee and Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth

3. Course Goals You will learn to: 1.Study the Bible 2.Apply the Bible (Cf. Matt 7:24-27) 3.Love the Bible! In class, we will largely be camping out on (1.). Hopefully, (2.) and (3.) will develop while working on your assignments.

4. Course Goals Love the Bible! Psalm 1:1-3 --How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.

5. What Is The Bible? What the Bible is not- disconnected fables moral tales myths designed to explain human experience What the Bible is- The Living God’s unified verbal self-disclosure that culminates in his direct self-disclosure, Jesus Christ.

6. Why Believe the Bible? That’s a very strong claim to make about the Bible. Why believe it? 1.It’s how the Bible views itself. 2 Tim 3:16,17- All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2.There is good independent reason to trust the Bible. – See Rochford’s short essay – Keller, Reason for God – Strobel, The Case for Christ (for Faith)

7. The Unity of the Bible Christ is the culmination of God’s revelation. Even he believed this: Matt 5:17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” Luke 24:44 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Warning! Ezra 2:58 All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon’s servants were 392. This clearly has nothing to do with Jesus!

8. Story Arc 1.Creation (Exposition) 2.Fall and Human History (Rising Action) 3.Incarnation and Cross (Climax) 4.Redemption (Falling Action) 5.Restoration (Denouement) Climax Denouement Exposition Falling Action Rising Action

9. Creation 1.God made everything, and it was very good. (Gen 1:1,31) 2.Mankind was created to Relate to God, Reflect God and Rule with God (Genesis 1:26-28) 3.Mankind was given significant moral freedom (Gen 2:16-17)

10. Fall and Human History Read Genesis 3:1-7- The Fall is the initiation of the conflict between mankind and God. Consequences of the Fall, Rising Conflict abound in Scripture: First Murder (Genesis 4) David’s Adultery (2 Samuel 11) The idolatry of Israel (most of the OT)

11. Fall and Human History PROBLEM 1- Lost Relationship (Gen 3:8) Instead of eager to see God, they run away See also Habakkuk 1:13 PROBLEM 2- Lost Reflection (Gen 3:16) Instead of joyfully creating in harmony, child birth with be painful, man and woman are alienated See Psalm 14 PROBLEM 3- Lost Rulership (Gen 3:15-18) Instead of ruling the earth, Adam will suffer by it See 1 John 5:19

12. Foreshadowing The conflict rises throughout the earth and even in Israel. Meanwhile, God gives clues as to how he’ll resolve things Serpent’s Curse-Gen 3:15-And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.” Before even pronouncing judgment on Adam and Eve, God has hinted as his plan to save them!

13. Foreshadowing Abrahamic Covenant 1.Abraham's family will grow into a nation. 2. This nation will occupy the _land of Canaan. 3.All the nations of the world will be blessed through one of Abraham's descendants. The Path from Abraham to Moses

14. Foreshadowing Mosaic Covenant-The Law and Sacrifice The lesson of the Law: The death of an innocent sacrifice pays the penalty for human sin. Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:11-16) A descendant of David will rule from his throne forever.

15. The Incarnation and Cross The climax of the story is reached when God enters human history to save us from ourselves. Incarnation- Read John 1:1, 14; Mark 10:45 Death of Christ- Colossians 1:21-22- Reconciled through his death! PROBLEM 1-Lost Relationship Solved!

16. Redemption Formation of the Church- After Christ was resurrected, he commissioned the Apostles to spread this Good News to all nations (Luke 24:45-47). Why didn’t Christ establish his kingdom immediately? Otherwise, there would have been no one in it!

17. Restoration Resurrection Bodies- Most of us would rather not enter heaven in our present state. Fortunately, God provides us with new bodies like Christ’s body after he was resurrected(1 Corinthains 15:47- 49). Problem 2: Lost Reflection Solved!

18. Restoration Jesus’ Second Coming And Reign on Earth (Revelation 5:10). When Jesus returns, he will rule the earth and instate his followers as coregents. Problem 3: Lost Rulership Solved! New Heaven and New Earth (Revelation 21:1-5) Any other problems created by the Fall have been solved!