Preface
This material is intended to enhance your understanding of several “foundational” subjects of Christianity. It is not intended, nor can it be, all-encompassing in it’s scope. Just as the apostle John, who walked with Jesus here on Earth, said, “I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written” if we tried to cover everything about God.
On the other hand, it is entirely possible that, due to class discussion time and other factors, the material contained herein may not be covered in the depth we would prefer, and some parts may not be mentioned at all. Every attempt will be made to cover the major points of the lessons, but you are highly encouraged to read the entire text of each week’s lesson during the week, to include the scripture references. In doing this, you will be fully prepared to offer your own insights during class discussion, and will be able to ask questions during the class that may benefit you and others.
In the course of this study, you may encounter terms unfamiliar to you. You are encouraged to ask questions so that you can better understand the material, but keep in mind that some of your questions may be answered in later lessons. This course has been designed so that the lessons flow in a particular order, with previous ones complementing future ones. However, because so many themes throughout the Bible are related to so many other themes, the challenge is a daunting one.
Aids to Learning
While we hope that all of the material in this booklet will be useful to you, we have attempted to focus on key ideas, concepts and references. Words that are in bold type are of special significance (due to their importance, their interrelatedness to other topics, or simply because it is a “key term” in Christian discussion); understanding the meaning of these words will prove helpful in understanding the entire lesson. Scripture references (passages in the Bible that contain the reference or authority for the material) are in italicized type. You are encouraged to look up what the Bible says in these references, either during the class or later. This is especially important because the Bible is the ultimate authority for this material and all truth
Course Goals for Foundations
- That the class members would gain a better understanding of God, so that they would come to know him in a more personal, intimate way
John 17:25 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."
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Jeremiah 31:33, "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, `Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD
- That the class members would know the Bible, to rely on it for problems and decisions
Deuteronomy 6:6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans… received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
- That the class members would gain a better understanding of God’s plan for creation, and how they personally fit into that great plan
Genesis 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
- That the class members would have a better grasp of why South Canyon Baptist Church exists, and how they might fit in here, if God leads them to this place as a church home
Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another
Matthew 16:18 I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
- That the class members would know for certain if they are destined to spend eternity with God, and how they can best live to please him
1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
- That the class members would develop greater confidence and ability to share their faith with others
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1 Peter 3:15 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
Matthew 28:19 go and make disciples of all nations
FOUNDATIONS
Course Outline
The Bible 5
God the Father 17
God the Son 23
God the Holy Spirit 33
Genesis and Creation 39
Satan and Sin 49
Abraham – Father of Faith 55
God Chooses a People 63
Journey to the Promised Land 71
Holiness 81
A Brief History Of Israel 89
God and Finances 99
Why Bad Things Happen to Good People 105
Jesus – His Birth and Choosing of the Twelve 113
Jesus – Parables and Miracles 119
Jesus With the Sinners 125
Jesus - Crucifixion and Resurrection 129
The New Birth 137
Faith 143
Prayer 149
Marriage 155
God’s Promises 161
The Early Church 167
Paul – Founder of Churches 177
Church History A.D. 95 to Present 185
End Times and Christ’s Return 195
The Bible
v Central Truth: the Bible is God’s Word, infallible and applicable to all persons
v Lesson Goal: To assist the student in understanding:
Ø How God revealed his message to chosen persons and inspired them to speak or write that message accurately
Ø Why we can and should believe the Bible
Ø How the Bible was preserved
Ø Translations of the Bible
Ø How to study, understand and be changed by the Bible
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness – 2 Timothy 3:16
Evidences for a personal Creator are all around us. Even the eyes you use to read these words reveal the wonderful creative genius of God. Such a God would certainly desire to communicate with the beings he created. There is evidence from the effects of it’s message, it’s historical accuracy, and fulfilled prophecy that the Bible alone is that communication between God and man.
The word "Bible" is from Greek biblia, plural of biblion, diminutive of biblos (book), from byblos (papyrus). In ancient times papyrus was used in making the paper from which books were manufactured. . The words biblion and biblia are used in the Old Testament for the Scriptures. By about the fifth century A.D. the Greek church fathers applied the term biblia to the whole Christian Scriptures.
The Bible was given to man by God as his love-letter to us, and to reveal himself to us. It is useful in helping us understand the correct way we should live; 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” We believe the Bible to be completely true, factually and historically accurate, and without error. It is also an eternal book, one that has been true for all people for all times, and will always be true. Jesus says of his Word in Mark 13:31, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. “
The message of the Bible is the same in both Testaments, the redemption of man. The Old Testament tells about the origin of man's sin and the preparation God made for the solution of this problem through his own Son, the Messiah (or Savior). The New Testament describes the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan; the four Gospels telling about the Messiah's coming; Acts describing the origin and growth of the church, God's redeemed people; the Epistles (letters) giving the meaning and implication of the Incarnation (Jesus God taking human form); and the Book of Revelation showing how some day all of history will be consummated in Jesus Christ.
The following are a few examples where men were instructed by God to write books of the Bible:
Exodus 34:27 (Moses) - Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel."
Jeremiah 30:2 (Jeremiah) - This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: `Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you.”
Revelation 1:11 (John) - Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."
Revelation 21:5 (John) Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
The Origins of the Bible
The Bible can be defined as the sacred book, or collection of books, accepted by the Christian church as uniquely inspired by God, and thus authoritative, providing guidelines for belief and behavior. The Bible contains two major sections known as the Old Testament and the New Testament.
In the original Hebrew, the language in which the Old Testament was written, the word “testament” means “settlement,” “treaty,” or “covenant.” A covenant is an agreement between two people or groups that involves promises on the part of each to the other. [1]The books of the Old Testament were written over a period of about 1000 years, starting at approximately 1300 B.C. to approximately 432 B.C. The arrangement of the books in the Old Testament has come from a pre-Christian Greek translation of the documents, called the Septuagint, and was also followed by a later Latin translation called the Vulgate. This arrangement has four divisions: the Pentateuch, the historical books, poetry, and prophecy.
The Bible originally had no chapters or verses. For convenience of reference, Jews of pre-Talmudic times divided the Old Testament into sections like our chapters and verses. The chapter divisions we use today were made by Stephen Langton, archbishop of Canterbury, who died in 1228. The division of the New Testament into its present verses is found for the first time in an edition of the Greek New Testament published in 1551 by a printer in Paris, Robert Stephens, who in 1555 also brought out an edition of the Vulgate that was the first edition of the entire Bible to appear with our present chapters and verses. The first English Bible to be so divided was the Genevan edition of 1560.
Glance at the Major Divisions
And Individual Books of the…
Old Testament
Books of the Pentateuch, or the Law
Book / SummaryGenesis / Creation and the establishment of the covenant relationship
Exodus / Deliverance of the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt
Leviticus / The ceremonial law
Numbers / Wandering of God’s people in the wilderness
Deuteronomy / The second giving of the law by Moses before the people occupy the Promised Land
Books about the History of Israel
Book / SummaryJoshua / The capture and settlement of the Promised Land
Judges / The nation of Israel is rescued by a series of judges, or military leaders
Ruth / A beautiful story of God’s love and care
1 and 2 Samuel / The early history of Israel, including the reigns of Saul and David
1 and 2 Kings / A political history of Israel, focusing on the reigns of selected kings from the time of Solomon to the captivity of the Jewish people by Babylon
1 and 2 Chronicles / A religious history of Israel, covering the same period of time as 2 Samuel and 1 and 1 and 2 Kings
Ezra / The return of the Jewish people from captivity in Babylon
Nehemiah / The rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem after the exiles returned from Babylon
Esther / God’s care for his people under Gentile rule
Books of Wisdom/Poetry
Book / SummaryJob / An examination of the problems of evil and human suffering
Psalms / The song book or hymnal of ancient Israel
Proverbs / Wise sayings and observations designed to develop proper attitudes and behavior
Ecclesiastes / A philosophical description of the emptiness of life without God
Song of Solomon / A love song portraying the beauty of a human love relationship as a symbol of divine love
Books of the Major Prophets
Book / SummaryIsaiah / The outstanding prophet of condemnation and Messianic consolation
Jeremiah / A message of judgment against Judah’s moral and spiritual decay
Lamentations / Jeremiah’s five poems of lamentation over fallen Jerusalem
Ezekiel / A prophecy of judgment during the Babylonian Captivity
Daniel / A book of prophecy about the time
Books of the Minor Prophets
Book / SummaryHosea / A message of Israel’s condemnation followed by God’s forgiveness
Joel / A prediction of foreign invasion as a form of judgment by God
Amos / A prophecy of eight pronouncements of judgment against Israel
Obadiah / A book prophesying the total destruction of Edom
Jonah / A reluctant prophet who led Nineveh to repentance
Micah / A prediction of judgment and a promise of Messianic restoration
Nahum / A prophecy of the destruction of Nineveh
Habakkuk / A prophet who questioned God and praised his approaching judgment against Judah
Zephaniah / A prediction of destructive judgment followed by tremendous blessing
Haggai / After the return from Babylon, a call to rebuild the Temple
Zechariah / A Messianic prophecy calling for the completion of construction on the Temple
Malachi / A prophecy of destruction followed by Messianic blessing
The books of the New Testament cover the life of Jesus from approximately 5 B.C. and the years of the early church to approximately 95 A.D.; they were written during the years approximately 64 A.D. to 95 A.D. The 27 books of the New Testament were formally adopted as the New Testament canon by the Synod of Carthage in A.D. 397, after having been used by the church for 300 years.