BIB542 The Epistle to the Hebrews

This letter is one of the two greatest theological treatises of the New Testament. It is the “Leviticus” of the New Testament, detailing how the Lord Jesus Christ is both the fulfillment and the successor to all that had gone on before.

The extreme dilemma of the Jewish Christians—especially while the Temple was still standing—was that they had come from a divinely appointed religion, with divinely appointed priests officiating in a divinely appointed Temple, accomplishing a divinely ordered service, all of which had been conferred upon them throughout their entire history.

This study will contrast conditional promises of the past with unconditional promises of the New Covenant: exchanging the shadows for substance. The Calvinist and Arminian viewpoints will be explored. This third of the trilogy on Habakkuk 2:4, “The Just shall live by faith,” addresses profound aspects of “faith” which challenge even the most diligent student.

Course Objectives:

• Discover conditional promises of the past with unconditional promises of the New Covenant
• Explore the difference between Calvinist and Arminian viewpoints
• Address profound aspects of “faith” based on the third trilogy of Habakkuk 2:4

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on The Epistle to the Hebrews (MP3 CD-ROM or DVD is recommended as they include computer-aided visuals)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 16 sessions
Credit: 4 credit hours       REGISTER HERE 

BIB543 The Epistle of James

This widely misunderstood epistle was written by James to the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Pseudo-scholastic revisionism surrounds James, damaging the faith of those who lack depth of background or sound Scriptural grounding.

Raised as the half-brother of the Messiah Himself, James ultimately emerges as the leader of the church in Jerusalem, presiding over the pivotal council in Acts 15. The execution of the popular James (known as “old camel knees” due to his habit of prayer) may have been a key event in the circumstances that led up to the rebellion and its subsequent squelching by the Romans in 66-70 A.D. 

It bears a closer comparison to the Sermon on the Mount than any other New Testament letter, with more imperatives than any other New Testament book. The ostensible differences with Paul’s epistles are essential to understand: Paul focused on our justification before God; James focuses on the believer’s justification before men. Faith is not “believing in spite of the evidence”; faith is “obeying in spite of the consequences.”

Course Objectives:

• Explore the nature of faith, the nature and character of God and day-to-day behavior as Christians
• Examine the closer comparison to the Sermon on the Mount than any other New Testament letter
• Study 60 imperatives in 108 verses seen in James more than any other New Testament book

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on the Book of James (MP3 CD-ROM)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 8 sessions
Credit: 2 credit hours        REGISTER HERE 

BIB544 The Epistles of Peter

As a member of the Inner Circle, Peter was present at the Transfiguration, the raising of Jairus’ daughter, and the closer circle at Gethsemane. This most vibrant personality’s letters are rich in theology as well as practical exhortation, dealing with our living hope, suffering persecution for righteousness’ sake, the use of heavenly gifts, patience in suffering, fidelity in service, and humility in ministering to one another.

Peter’s letters also have a clear eschatological orientation, focusing on the Lord’s coming and the end of the world, with warnings against false teachers—foreseeing the apostasy in which the professing church will end.

Written by one of the most colorful personalities who participated in the greatest adventures of human history, a careful study of these letters is a certain treat to the diligent student.

Course Objectives:

• Examine Peter’s letters that have a clear eschatological orientation, focusing on the Lord’s coming and the end of the world
• Understand warnings against false teachers-foreseeing the apostasy in which the professing church will end

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on The Epistles of Peter (MP3 CD-ROM or DVD is recommended as they include computer-aided visuals)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 8 sessions
Credit: 2 credit hours       REGISTER HERE 

BIB545 The Epistles of John

Of John’s five New Testament books, these three include a sermon and two personal letters, one of which may have been written to Mary, the mother of our Lord.

His Gospel deals with our past: Salvation. Revelation deals with our future: His Glorious Appearing. John’s First Epistle deals with our present: Sanctification, and it has been called the New Testament sanctum sanctorum. It takes God’s child into the fellowship of the Father’s home. John’s bandwidth extends from the practical, the “Christian’s Bar of Soap” (1 John 1:9), to the hyperspace of our resurrection body (1 John 3:2)!

John’s second epistle appears to have been a personal letter to Mary, having been given into his responsibility at the Cross and having ultimately retired with him at Ephesus. If so, it has a number of profound implications.

John’s third, very brief, note deals with three people, all Christians: Gaius, the encourager; Diotrephes, a gossip; and Demetrius, an example to be imitated.

Course Objectives:

• Explore the various contrasts found throughout John’s books
• Examine heretical attacks and false teachers, more specifically, the Stoics; the Epicureans; and the Gnostics
• Understand with confidence the basic tenets of faith in Christ

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on The Epistles of John (MP3 CD-ROM or DVD is recommended as they include computer-aided visuals)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 8 sessions
Credit: 2 credit hours       REGISTER HERE 

BIB546 The Epistle of Jude

The smallest book of the New Testament was written by one of the four brothers of Jesus Himself, and is full of unique allusions and insights from the Old Testament: lessons from Israel in the Wilderness; the angels that sinned; the strange events in Sodom and Gomorrah; Michael and Satan’s contention over the body of Moses; and, other insights from Cain, Balaam, Korah, as well as the mysterious person known as Enoch.

Jude is the “vestibule” to the book of Revelation. It includes the oldest prophecy uttered by a prophet of the Second Coming of Christ, declared before the flood of Noah. This unique epistle was written for us today: it is the only book of the New Testament devoted entirely to apostasy. Full of surprises for the diligent student, it is a unique pleasure as well as an essential equipping.

Course Objectives:

• Explore the oldest prophecy uttered by a prophet of the Second Coming of Christ, declared before the flood of Noah
• Understand how this unique epistle was written for us today and how it is the only book of the New Testament devoted entirely to apostasy
• Discover surprises for the diligent student

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on The Epistle of Jude (MP3 CD-ROM)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 8 sessions
Credit: 2 credit hours    REGISTER HERE