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The BIBAL Study Program |
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The BIBAL Study Program is designed to help students achieve fluency in the use of the Bible. The program operates on two levels: For members of Christian churches, Jewish communities, and the general public who want to improve their understanding of the Bible for ministry and/or personal spiritual growth For students in the academic community who wish to earn credit toward the completion of an undergraduate degree The eight courses in the BIBAL Study Program are offered in weekend seminars at various locations throughout the year, and on a continuing basis as directed studies. For further information contact Professor Duane L. Christensen directly: BIBAL Study Program For information on BIBAL Press publications, click here, or visit:
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Certificate of Basic Bible Knowledge Those who complete the two foundational seminars and six core courses (for a total of 24 units) in the BIBAL Study Program will earn the Certificate of Basic Bible Knowledge. Two Foundational Seminars Bible 101: Introduction to the Bible (3 units) An introduction to the Bible which includes 1) a summary of the content of the Bible in its historical and geographical context; 2) the Bible's development from ancient manuscripts to modern translations; 3) analysis of various Bible study tools and methods; and 4) the nature of revelation and inspiration. Bible 102: The Bible as a Whole (3 units) An historical study of the development of the canon of sacred Scripture from the time of Moses and the Ten Commandments, to the death of John (96 CE), the last of the twelve disciples of Yeshua (Jesus). The structure, content and unity of the Bible are shown in terms of the ancient Jewish concept of Tanakh (= Torah + Prophets + Writings), with the Christian Bible emerging in the hands of John as the “Completed Tanakh”. Six Core Courses Bible 110: Bible Survey— Old and New Testament (3 units for each course = 18 units) A survey of the First and Second Testaments in six parts (see description of these six courses below). Emphasis is placed on literary structure and the content of each book in the Bible, with emphasis on major themes, broad divisions, key scriptures, and major personalities. The historical and literary backgrounds of all the books in the Bible are covered 1. The Torah (3 units) When Yeshua (Jesus) said he “did not come to destroy the Law (Torah) and the Prophets”, he was referring to the foundational Scriptures of God's chosen people. This course shows how important The Torah (i.e., the “Five Books of Moses,” sometimes called the Pentateuch or the Chumash) is for the values and hopes Christians and Jews have in common. 2. The Former Prophets (3 units) The Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, 1-2 Samuel and 1-2 Kings) are usually called the “Historical Books” by most Christians. Learn why Yeshua (Jesus) and the first generation of Christians considered these books to be the “Former Prophets” and how they relate to the “Latter Prophets”— Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve Minor Prophets. 3. The Latter Prophets (3 units) The Latter Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve Minor Prophets) stand at the structural center of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), which Yeshua (Jesus) and the early Christian Church read and interpreted in terms of God's mission to the nations through his chosen people. This course covers a major part of the First Testament. 4. The Writings in the Tanakh (3 units) The Writings make up a third collection of books, which was added to the Torah and the Prophets. This course shows how important these books are for understanding the Second Testament and for strengthening faith and hope in difficult times. 5. Apostolic Writings I— The Gospels and Acts (3 units) How does the story of the Gospels and Acts relate to the Torah, Prophets, and Writings (“Tanakh”)? This course reveals how Israel's hopes for the future were renewed and reinterpreted through the advent of Yeshua (Jesus) and the Spirit-inspired mission of His followers. 6. Apostolic Writings II— New Testament Epistles and Revelation to John (3 units) How do Paul's letters and those of James, Peter, John, and Jude relate to each other and to the story told in the Gospels and Acts? What is the message of the Revelation to John? This course highlights how this literature enriches the lives of those who seek to live in the light of the biblical story. |
Requirements and Procedures There are five lessons in each of the six Core Courses of the BIBAL Study Program. Each lesson consists of a chapter on that topic with concept checks and study questions. The introduction states the objectives, lists the assignments, and gives an outline of the lesson. The individual chapters, with concept checks develop the lesson content. The study questions are optional and designed for the student who wishes to go beyond what is required. Reading the Bible Reading the entire Bible through is an essential part of the BIBAL Study Program. The student is required to sign a Reading Report after completing each of the six Core Courses in order to verify the accomplishment of this assignment. The purpose of the reading is to obtain overall comprehension of the contents. Read rapidly. Do not slow down and get involved in the details. Skimming through sections of detail (in Exodus, Leviticus, etc.) is expected. Try to read as rapidly as possible while still maintaining the sense of what you are reading. Study Questions At the end of each lesson in the six Core Courses of the BIBAL Study Program, you will find a list of Study Questions. The questions are intended to help you interact with the material as you read it. You may want to read through the discussion questions before you begin your reading in the Bible. Do not send your responses to these questions to the Institute of International Studies (IIS) for evaluation, because they do not comprise any portion of your grade. The Exams (optional) There are eight exams in the BIBAL Study Program, one after each of the eight individual courses. The exams are made up of 100 questions each (true/false and multiple choice). The exams are open-book. Students are expected to make use of their Bibles and the course texts in answering the exam questions. Graduating with Honors The exams and grading in the BIBAL Study Program are optional. The exams are designed to assist you in the learning process of the material covered. You may earn the Certificate of Basic Bible Knowledge without taking the exams, if you so choose, by simply attending the eight seminars and submitting the required Reading Reports upon completion of each course. It is highly recommended, however, that you decide to take the exams and earn the Certificate of Basic Bible Knowledge “with honors”, as follows: Summa cum laude Magna cum laude Cum laude With honors For further information about the BIBAL Study Program, please contact Professor Duane L. Christensen at .
Available textbooks:Reading Jonah in Hebrew: This brief course takes the student through the 48 verses of Jonah, which include a total of 688 Hebrew words—but only 272 different lexical items. We go through this delightful narrative poem several times, each time with different goals in mind. And at the end of the journey we will have a deeper knowledge of the language of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible).
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