2018 General Biblical Introduction Class

General Biblical Introduction, Graham Bible College

Textbooks:

• Norman Geisler & William Nix, From God to Us: How We Got Our Bible, Moody, 2012 (ISBN 978-0802428820, List price $21.99) – check with local and/or online retailers for print version. Print: Amazon - Addall.com Digital: Amazon Kindle - Google Books
• James R. White, The King James Only Controversy: Can We Trust the Modern Translations? Bethany House, 2009 (ISBN 978-0764206054, List price $19.99) – older 1995 edition is fine as well. Available in print only; check with local and/or online retailers. Amazon - Addall.com
• Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy online at http://www.bible-researcher.com/chicago1.html (free)

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UNIT 1 (Aug 20-24) - click the links below to...

• Download syllabus (if you have not already done so from email)
• Complete the Pre-Test (due by 5:00 p.m., Fri. 8/24)
• Submit the Syllabus verification (due by 5:00 p.m., Fri. 8/24)
• Complete Discussion 1: Introduce Yourself (available now) - post by 5:00 p.m. Fri. 8/24
• Unit 1 Videos:
  • Watch: "Course Overview"
  • Watch: "What Is the Best English Bible Translation?"

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UNIT 2 (Aug 27-31)

• Reading: Geisler/Nix, Ch 1 (Character of the Bible) and Ch 2 (Nature of Inspiration)
• Quizlet vocabulary study set (PDF) (link to site for studying on computer in mobile app)
• Unit 2 Videos (unless otherwise noted, audio/video files I post may be downloaded for offline use):
  • Unit 2 Lecture: The Inspiration of the Bible (30 minutes)
• Discussion 2: Encountering Other Views of Inspiration (initial post by 11:59pm Tues., 8/28, responses by 5pm Fri. 8/31)
• Quiz 1 (Due by 5pm, Thurs., 8/30) - be sure to enter your name and email address as it will send you a copy of the completed quiz, which you can use in studying for the midterm and final exams. Time limit: 10 minutes. May be taken on computer or mobile device.

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UNIT 3 (Sept 3-7)

• Reading: Geisler/Nix, Ch 3 (Inspiration of OT)
• Quizlet vocabulary study set (PDF) (link to site for studying on computer in mobile app)
• Online Lecture Video (WATCH BEFORE POSTING DISCUSSION POST ON TUESDAY):
  • Watch or Listen to Sermon by Kevin DeYoung, "Christ's Unbreakable Bible" (John 10:35): Download Audio or Stream Audio or Video here OR Download or Stream the Video here
• Discussion 3 (initial post by 11:59pm Tues., 9/4, responses by 11:59 pm Tues., 9/11)
• Quiz 2 (Due by 5pm, Thurs., 9/6)

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UNIT 4 (Sept 10-14) - Links to video, discussion, quiz to be posted at beginning of the Unit Week

• Check email for instructions on position paper on doctrine of Scripture
• Reading: Geisler/Nix, Ch 4 (Inspiration of NT)
• Online Lecture Video
  • Watch or Listen to Sermon by John MacArthur, "The Authenticator of Scripture" (John 16:12-15): Stream from the website here OR download video and watch at home (right-click to download, or left-click to watch in web browser) OR download audio and watch at home (right-click to download, or left-click to listen in web browser) - the website also includes a transcript you can use to follow along.
• Response to Discussion 3 by 11:59 pm Tues., 9/11
• No Quiz this week
• PAPER 1 (Position Paper on Doctrine of Scripture) due by 5pm, Fri., 9/14 - email Word Document or PDF to professor

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UNIT 5 (Sept 17-21)

• Reading: Geisler/Nix, Ch 5 (Evidences for Inspiration), Ch 6 (Characteristics of Canonicity)
• No Lecture Video this week
• Quiz 3 over Geisler/Nix Chapters 4-6 (Due by 5pm, Thurs., 9/20)

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UNIT 6 (Sept 24-28)

• Reading: Geisler/Nix, Ch 7 (Development of OT Canon), Ch 8 (Extent of OT Canon)
• No Lecture Video this week
• Discussion 4 (due by 11:59pm Tues., 10/2 if you need longer - same link & assignment as in Unit 7, which originally had no discussion due)
• Quiz 4 (Due by 5pm, Thurs., 9/27)

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UNIT 7 (Oct 1-5)

• Discussion 4 (due by 11:59pm Tues., 10/2)
• Reading: Geisler/Nix, Ch 9 (Development of NT Canon), Ch 10 (Extent of NT Canon)
• Online Lecture Video: Brian Edwards on Canon of Scripture (54 minutes; WATCH BEFORE THURS. 10/2 QUIZ)
• Quiz 5 (Due by 5pm, Thurs., 10/4)
• PAPER 2 (KJV Reference Paper) due by 5pm, Fri., 10/5

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UNIT 8 (Oct 8-19) MIDTERM & BREAK

• Revise and resubmit KJV Only Reference Sheet
• Plan for proctored midterm (paper test) with Prof. or other GBC staff. Prof can come Monday night Oct. 8 or Monday night Oct. 15, but needs 24 hrs notice. Please give other staff at least 2 days’ notice. It is your responsibility to arrange the proctor and let me know those arrangements. MIDTERM must be completed submitted by 5pm, Fri., 10/19.
• STUDY TIPS: Study your old quizzes which I sent you. Also, be prepared to identify the major terms from your first paper and to explain the KJV only idea and your position on it. As for old quiz questions, you should be so prepared that I could pull any single question from the quiz and expect you to know the answer, whether by T/F, fill in the blank, matching, or multiple choice. Some questions will be reused as they are, while some will be adapted a bit, but assessing for the same knowledge.
• When you’ve completed all this, enjoy a little break until Oct. 22!
• Thanks for your hard work in this course.

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UNIT 9 (Oct 22-26)

• Reading: Geisler/Nix, Ch 11 (Languages & Materials), Ch 12 (Major Manuscripts)
• WATCH VIDEO: The Transmission and Preservation of the Bible
• Discussion 5 (post by 11:59pm Tues., 10/23)
• Submit PAPER 3 Topic for approval to instructor by 11:59pm, Tues., 10/23
  • Email the professor with 3 possible topics of interest related to canon, transmission of Scripture, history of English Bible translators/translations
• Unit 9 Quizlet set (review terms) PDF - link for online practice
• Quiz 6 over Quizlet terms and Reading - 10 minute time limit (Due by 5pm, Thurs., 10/25)

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UNIT 10 (Oct 29-Nov 2)

• Reading: Geisler/Nix, Ch 13 (Additional Witnesses), Ch 14 (Textual Criticism)
• No lecture or discussion this week
• Quiz 7 (now available) - (Due by 5pm, Thurs., 11/1)
• Submit PAPER 3 Bibliography by 5pm, Fri., 11/2
  • Email the professor with this bibliography. You may use some electronic resources, but make sure they are reputable. Please include print books as well. Some good sources to consult:
    • www.monergism.com
    • Footnotes and endnotes at the end of overview articles on your topic may list resources for further study, which may be worth finding.
    • HAL (King and others): http://innopac.hal.org/
    • www.worldcat.org (after you have a list of specific books; this will let you put in zip code and see what's available locally)
      • Example: http://www.worldcat.org/title/william-tyndale-a-biography/oclc/1015508024&referer=brief_results - put in your zip code and you should see that King, NE State, and ETSU all have this book.

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UNIT 11 (Nov 5-9)

• Reading: Geisler/Nix, Ch 15 (Restoration), Ch 16 (Aramaic, Syriac, & Related Translations)
• No lecture this week
• Discussion 6: Paper Sources (initial post by 11:59pm Tues., 11/6)
• Quiz 8 (Due by 5pm, Thurs., 11/8; now available)
• Submit PAPER 3 Revised Bibliography & Outline (Word document or PDF file via email to instructor) by 5pm, Fri., 11/9 (BE SURE TO READ AND INCORPORATE FEEDBACK FROM INSTRUCTOR EMAIL)

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UNIT 12 (Nov 12-16)

• Reading: Geisler/Nix, Ch 17 (Greek & Related Translations), Ch 18 (Latin & Related Trans.)
• No Lecture video this week
• No Quiz this week
• Submit PAPER 3 Revised Bibliography & Outline (Word document or PDF file via email to instructor) by 5pm, Tues., 11/13
  • Use one of the following styles:
    • Turabian/Chicago: https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/turabian/turabian-notes-and-bibliography-citation-quick-guide.html
    • MLA: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_sample_works_cited_page.html
• Submit PAPER 3 Rough Draft by 5pm, Fri. 11/16

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UNIT 13 (Nov 19-23)

• Reading: Geisler/Nix, Ch 19 (Early English Translations)
• No lecture video this week
• No discussion post this week
• No quiz this week
• I should have feedback on your rough draft back by Wednesday.
• I encourage you to read ahead if you are able (Geisler/Nix Ch's 20-21) and watch the Tyndale documentary listed in Unit 14; otherwise, we will plan to do these in our normal schedule.
• Happy Thanksgiving!

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UNIT 14 (Nov 26-30)

• Reading: Geisler/Nix, Ch 20 (Modern English Translations) - make sure you have also read the chapters from the previous units without quizzes, since your quiz will cover 17-20.
• Watch William Tyndale: A Man with a Mission (extra feature in Torchlighters DVD in GBC Library; we may schedule a “movie night” or let you arrange a check-out schedule); next week's quiz will ask if you have watched it and may contain basic questions about it.
• Discussion 7 (initial post by 11:59pm Tues., 11/27)
• Quiz 9 (Due by 5pm, Thurs., 11/8)

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UNIT 15 (Dec 3-7)

• Reading: Geisler/Nix, Ch 21 (New Millennium) and "In Conclusion"
• Online Lecture Video - Bible Translations (now available) - PDF of lecture notes here
• Quiz 10 (Due by 5pm, Thurs., 12/6) - covers Ch 21, Conclusion, and Tyndale documentary from Unit 14
• Submit PAPER 3 Final Draft by 5pm, Fri., 12/7 (email to professor, following revision instructions previously communicated)
• Discussion 8 (initial post by 5 pm Tues., 12/11)

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UNIT 16 (Dec 10-13) FINAL

• Review Tips: Study Old Quizzes (emailed to you) and any PDFs of lecture notes.
• FINAL AVAILABLE AT THIS LINK FROM Dec 10-13. Must be submitted by Thurs. Dec 13 at 11:59pm.