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Charles Vogan

There is a wealth of information here for those who are interested in where the Bible came from, the history of Israel, the beginnings of the Church, and even the Bible’s description of the end of time. It's a “fundamentals” survey, which means that anyone from high school level upwards will be able to benefit from it.

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There is a wealth of information here for those who are interested in where the Bible came from, the history of Israel, the beginnings of the Church, and even the Bible’s description of the end of time. It's a “fundamentals” survey, which means that anyone from high school level upwards will be able to benefit from it.

Along with the video, you can download the appropriate section of the textbook Mystery Revealed: A Beginner’s Bible Survey, the original text written by the instructor. Then each lesson provides a quiz covering the material in the video lecture, designed to help summarize and enhance your understanding of the concepts.

(The instructor's Part One and Part Two courses cover the Old Testament.)

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Identify the themes of the new testament
  • Understand how the new testament uses the old
  • Understand the real difference between the two testaments

Syllabus

Introduction to the Bible Survey
The Old Testament Themes - Continued

Glory means "who gets the credit for something." In God's case, he is responsible for everything that happens in this world except our sin -- and yet he gets almost no credit for any of it! This video shows the meaning and importance of God's glory, the ways he has broadcast his glory to the entire world, what happens when he doesn't get glory, and what the purpose of Judgment Day really is. (Part 1)

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Glory means "who gets the credit for something." In God's case, he is responsible for everything that happens in this world except our sin -- and yet he gets almost no credit for any of it! This video shows the meaning and importance of God's glory, the ways he has broadcast his glory to the entire world, what happens when he doesn't get glory, and what the purpose of Judgment Day really is. (Part 2)

The Jews were unique in history in that their God gave them their religion; he revealed himself to them, and created a system by which they could come into his presence and enjoy the benefits of life with the living God. But in 70 AD they lost everything that God had given them. In this lesson we see the four things that they received from their God that made life with God possible, how they lost each one, what they have been trying to do to make up for the loss, and how the entire system was lifted up to the spiritual level and given to Christians. (Part 1)

The Jews were unique in history in that their God gave them their religion; he revealed himself to them, and created a system by which they could come into his presence and enjoy the benefits of life with the living God. But in 70 AD they lost everything that God had given them. In this lesson we see the four things that they received from their God that made life with God possible, how they lost each one, what they have been trying to do to make up for the loss, and how the entire system was lifted up to the spiritual level and given to Christians. (Part 2)

The Apostles were eyewitnesses of the Christ; they were the first ones to see his glory, and it's their interpretation of the Christ that forms the foundation of the rest of the Church. In this video we learn what the three Synoptic Gospels show us about Jesus (the fulfillment of the Old Testament system, the Messiah), and the message of the Gospel of John -- that Jesus is the way into the presence of God in the Temple in Heaven. (Part 1)

The Apostles were eyewitnesses of the Christ; they were the first ones to see his glory, and it's their interpretation of the Christ that forms the foundation of the rest of the Church. In this video we learn what the three Synoptic Gospels show us about Jesus (the fulfillment of the Old Testament system, the Messiah), and the message of the Gospel of John -- that Jesus is the way into the presence of God in the Temple in Heaven. (Part 2)

The Holy Spirit is perhaps the least understood Person of the Trinity, simply because (as Jesus tells us) he is like the wind, known only when he passes by and moves on. Actually the Christian is filled with the Spirit upon his conversion and by that means comes into the presence of the living God, alive in Christ. This lesson examines the two functions of the Spirit, the three gifts of life that the Spirit gives to every child of God, and the fruit of the Spirit that appear in our lives as we follow him to Heaven.

When we compare what the modern church preaches as the Gospel of Christ, it doesn't resemble at all the Gospel that the Apostles preached. What we look at here is the message that they used, by examining their sermons in the book of Acts, how they pulled their sermon points from Old Testament doctrine, and then comparing that with what is preached today about Christ and why the modern church has deviated from the message. (Part 1)

When we compare what the modern church preaches as the Gospel of Christ, it doesn't resemble at all the Gospel that the Apostles preached. What we look at here is the message that they used, by examining their sermons in the book of Acts, how they pulled their sermon points from Old Testament doctrine, and then comparing that with what is preached today about Christ and why the modern church has deviated from the message. (Part 2)

Everyone experiences trials and troubles at some point in their lives. But not many people are ready to handle them successfully. Here we look at what it takes to be a spiritual survivor, no matter what the disaster or trial, and the specific things that the church should be training its members in before the disaster strikes. (Part 1)

Everyone experiences trials and troubles at some point in their lives. But not many people are ready to handle them successfully. Here we look at what it takes to be a spiritual survivor, no matter what the disaster or trial, and the specific things that the church should be training its members in before the disaster strikes. (Part 2)

The 20th century church has changed drastically from what the Apostolic Church was designed to be. Instead of a social gathering, church should be a spiritual hospital where people come to work on the Mission -- to be saved from our sin, and to get ready to live with God in Heaven. Jesus Christ has equipped each local congregation to address that specific Mission, and this video examines what he has given us to that end and our responsibilities and privileges involved. (Part 1)

The 20th century church has changed drastically from what the Apostolic Church was designed to be. Instead of a social gathering, church should be a spiritual hospital where people come to work on the Mission -- to be saved from our sin, and to get ready to live with God in Heaven. Jesus Christ has equipped each local congregation to address that specific Mission, and this video examines what he has given us to that end and our responsibilities and privileges involved. (Part 2)

John's book of the Revelation of Christ confuses most people, mainly because of its pervasive symbolism. Without solving the problems of what exactly the symbols refer to, we can still glean a great deal of benefit from the book by seeing it as John presents it at the beginning -- the "revelation of Jesus Christ." This lesson examines the rich treasure of information about Jesus that Revelation uncovers for our faith in him.

For a long time people have been taking the approach that the Gospel of Christ was only partially understood in the Old Testament, starting out as a germ and gradually getting clearer until the full statement in the New Testament. But that presents problems for interpreting the Bible -- not the least of which is that the Apostles don't agree with that assessment! This lesson focuses on a new way of interpreting the Bible -- Distributed Revelation -- that uses the Old Testament stories as pieces of the picture, complete in themselves, that finally are attributed to Jesus in the New Testament. (Part 1)

For a long time people have been taking the approach that the Gospel of Christ was only partially understood in the Old Testament, starting out as a germ and gradually getting clearer until the full statement in the New Testament. But that presents problems for interpreting the Bible -- not the least of which is that the Apostles don't agree with that assessment! This lesson focuses on a new way of interpreting the Bible -- Distributed Revelation -- that uses the Old Testament stories as pieces of the picture, complete in themselves, that finally are attributed to Jesus in the New Testament. (Part 2)

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Explores the historical context and themes of the New Testament, providing a foundational understanding of Christian scripture and its origins
Examines the unique aspects of the Jewish faith and how they relate to the Christian faith, offering insights into the historical and spiritual connections between them
Compares modern church practices with the teachings of the Apostles, encouraging critical reflection on contemporary Christian beliefs and their alignment with original doctrines
Requires learners to have access to the instructor's textbook, which may require an additional purchase beyond the course itself
Builds upon concepts introduced in Parts One and Two, which cover the Old Testament, so learners may benefit from taking those courses first
Presents a specific interpretation of biblical texts, which may not align with all theological perspectives and could be a point of consideration for some learners

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Reviews summary

New testament survey fundamentals

According to learners, this course offers a comprehensive overview of the New Testament, building on the previous parts covering the Old Testament. Students particularly appreciate the clarity of the video lectures and the instructor's ability to explain complex theological concepts in an accessible way, suitable for a fundamental survey. The inclusion of downloadable textbook sections and quizzes is noted as helpful for reinforcing learning. Some learners find the course presents unique perspectives on biblical interpretation and church history, which can be thought-provoking, though occasionally leading to disagreement on specific points.
Suitable for beginners but may lack depth for some.
"As a beginner, I found this course perfect for getting started with the New Testament."
"If you're looking for a deep, academic dive into specific books, this survey might feel too brief."
"It covers a lot of ground, which is great, but means less time spent on individual details."
Textbook and quizzes aid understanding.
"Having the textbook sections available made it easier to review the lecture content."
"The quizzes were simple but effective for checking my comprehension of each lesson."
"The combination of video, text, and quiz works well for learning."
Instructor offers unique and valuable insights.
"The instructor's insights into the history and context were eye-opening."
"I learned a lot from the way the material was presented through the instructor's view."
"His approach to explaining concepts like 'Distributed Revelation' was very interesting."
Provides a broad survey of the New Testament books.
"This course gave me a solid introduction to the key themes across the New Testament."
"I appreciate the scope, covering everything from the Gospels to Revelation in a survey format."
"It connects the dots between different NT books effectively."
Lectures explain complex topics simply for beginners.
"The explanations in the videos are very clear and easy to follow, even for someone new to this."
"I found the way the instructor broke down theological ideas incredibly helpful."
"Great for understanding the basics without getting lost in academic jargon."
Some unique views may not align with all learners.
"While I enjoyed most of the course, I found myself disagreeing with some specific interpretive points made."
"The discussion on the 'modern church' felt a bit critical and might not resonate with everyone."
"Some of the specific historical or theological conclusions felt outside the mainstream and required further thought."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Whole Bible Survey: Part 3 (New Testament) with these activities:
Review Old Testament Themes
Strengthen your understanding of the Old Testament themes to better grasp the New Testament's connections and contrasts.
Browse courses on Old Testament
Show steps
  • Review notes from previous Old Testament studies.
  • Summarize key themes like covenant, law, and prophecy.
  • Identify connections between Old Testament stories and New Testament figures.
Read 'Mere Christianity'
Gain a better understanding of the core tenets of Christianity.
Show steps
  • Read a chapter each week.
  • Reflect on how Lewis's arguments relate to the New Testament texts.
  • Discuss your reflections with others.
Read 'The New Testament in Its World'
Gain a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural context of the New Testament.
Show steps
  • Read assigned chapters before each corresponding course module.
  • Take notes on key historical and cultural insights.
  • Reflect on how this context informs your understanding of the text.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Timeline of New Testament Events
Visualize the chronology of key events in the New Testament to improve comprehension and retention.
Show steps
  • Research and compile a list of significant events.
  • Organize the events chronologically on a timeline.
  • Add brief descriptions and relevant scripture references.
  • Share your timeline with peers for feedback.
Discuss Key Differences Between the Gospels
Engage in collaborative learning to clarify the unique perspectives and themes of each Gospel.
Show steps
  • Form a study group with classmates.
  • Assign each member a Gospel to focus on.
  • Share insights and discuss differences in a group session.
  • Create a summary table highlighting key distinctions.
Research the Apostle Paul's Missionary Journeys
Deepen your understanding of the spread of early Christianity by tracing Paul's travels and teachings.
Show steps
  • Map out Paul's journeys using the book of Acts.
  • Research the cities and cultures he encountered.
  • Analyze the themes and messages in his letters to different churches.
  • Present your findings in a report or presentation.
Create a Presentation on a New Testament Book
Synthesize your knowledge of a specific New Testament book and present it in a clear and engaging manner.
Show steps
  • Choose a New Testament book to focus on.
  • Research the author, audience, and historical context.
  • Identify the main themes and arguments.
  • Create a visually appealing presentation with key insights.
  • Practice your presentation and deliver it to an audience.

Career center

Learners who complete Whole Bible Survey: Part 3 (New Testament) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Theologian
A Theologian studies religious faith, practice, and experience, often focusing on a particular tradition. This course, a survey of the New Testament, helps build a foundation in this significant religious text. Theologians often engage in research, writing, and public speaking, exploring complex questions of faith and doctrine. This course may be useful because it explores differing interpretations within the New Testament, as well as its relationship to the Old Testament. A theologian will find value in this course's approach to understanding the Bible, as it covers history, themes, and interpretation.
Pastor
A Pastor leads a Christian congregation, providing spiritual guidance, conducting services, and performing pastoral care. The knowledge gained in this course on the New Testament may be useful, particularly its focus on the beginnings of the Church and the interpretation of the Gospels. The work includes preaching, teaching, and counseling members of the congregation. This course provides a useful and solid understanding of the New Testament, a foundational text for the Christian faith. This course may be particularly helpful as a general introduction to the New Testament.
Youth Minister
A Youth Minister works with children and teenagers in a church or other religious setting, providing spiritual guidance. This course on the New Testament may be useful for someone who wants to enter this field. The course's survey of the New Testament can be valuable to those who seek to teach young people about the faith. Understanding the relationship between the Old and New Testaments is useful for a Youth Minister. This course can help build a foundation of knowledge, particularly regarding the core narratives and teachings of the New Testament.
Religious Educator
A Religious Educator instructs people in the beliefs, practices, and history of a particular faith. This role might involve working in a school, church, or other religious institution. This course, focusing on the New Testament, helps provide a solid foundation of knowledge for teaching. The course's survey of key themes, events, and books provides a useful and clear resource for an educator. This course may be useful for those who aspire to teach religious subjects, whether to youth or adults. Understanding how the New Testament uses the old is particularly relevant.
Religious Studies Professor
A Religious Studies Professor researches and teaches about religious traditions, texts, and histories. This course, a survey of the New Testament, may be useful to build a foundation of knowledge in a core text of Christianity. The professor's work can include preparing and delivering lectures, leading seminars, and conducting research. The course's focus on the themes of the New Testament, its relationship to the Old Testament, and the history of the early church provides valuable background for those who wish to teach and research in this area. An advanced degree is typically required for this role.
Historian
A Historian researches and writes about past events. This course, a survey of the New Testament, may be useful for a historian interested in the history of the early church. It can provide valuable background on the time period of the early church as well as the development of its beliefs. This course examines the historical context of the New Testament, and it will help build a foundation in this field. This course will assist a historian in better understanding primary source material.
Religious Writer
A Religious Writer produces written content on religious topics, including books, articles, and blog posts. The Religious Writer helps educate and inspire readers. This course, a survey of the New Testament, may be useful to those who desire to write about Christian topics. Understanding the Bible's themes and history can provide a basis for writing on related topics. The course's overview of the New Testament, including its relationship to the Old Testament, can provide context and substance to the Religious Writer's written materials.
Bible Translator
A Bible Translator works to accurately and meaningfully translate the Bible from its original languages. This course, which provides an overview of the New Testament, may be useful for someone entering this field. The translator needs a detailed understanding of the historical and cultural context of biblical texts. It is helpful that this course looks into the history of Israel and the beginnings of the Church. The work can involve linguistic analysis, historical research, and collaboration with other translators. This course may help someone to understand the nuances of the text.
Chaplain
A Chaplain provides spiritual care and guidance within a variety of institutions, such as hospitals, prisons, and military organizations. A chaplain needs a solid understanding of their faith's foundational texts, and this course provides an overview of the New Testament. The chaplain's work involves counseling, leading worship services, and providing support to individuals of various backgrounds. The historical and theological insights provided by this course may help someone in this role, who may work with people of many different spiritual backgrounds. The course will build a strong foundation of biblical knowledge.
Missionary
A Missionary shares their religious beliefs with people in other countries or communities, often working to establish new faith communities or provide humanitarian aid. An understanding of the New Testament, as provided by this course, may be useful to ground their work. Missionaries need a deep understanding of the theological basis of their faith, and this course provides an overview of key New Testament themes and teachings. The course's analysis of the New Testament's use of the Old Testament could be particularly relevant to a missionary.
Nonprofit Development Officer
A Nonprofit Development Officer helps to raise funds that support a nonprofit's mission, working to develop connections with donors and build fundraising campaigns. While not directly related to religious studies, this course may be useful for those working with faith-based organizations. The themes of community and service that often occur within the New Testament may be helpful to understand. This course's overview of the beginnings of the Church may provide useful context to such an organization's history. The course may also further enhance a Development Officer's understanding of the values underpinning an organization.
Editor
An Editor reviews and prepares written material for publication, focusing on grammar, style, and accuracy. While this role is broad, this course may be useful to someone who would like to specialize in faith-based publishing, specifically religious texts. The course provides familiarity with the language and themes of the New Testament. The Editor's work requires both attention to detail and a sense of the big picture. This course may help editors to work with accuracy and sensitivity on religious subjects.
Archivist
An Archivist preserves and manages historical documents and records. Though this role does not have a direct connection to religious texts, this course may be useful for someone working within an archive that holds religious texts. The knowledge of the New Testament may be useful for someone handling religious documents, giving them needed context. The Archivist's work requires meticulous organization and attention to detail. This course's deep dive into the history of the New Testament may provide useful information about the historical context of such texts.
Librarian
A Librarian manages and organizes library collections, and helps patrons find resources. A librarian working with religious texts may find this survey of the New Testament to be helpful. It will give them a better sense of the history of the New Testament, in general. This course may help them better understand patron requests and offer help to researchers. The course also provides an understanding of the textual history of the Bible, which may be useful for a librarian.
Parish Administrator
A Parish Administrator manages the daily operations of a church or other religious organization. While this role is primarily administrative, this course covering the New Testament may be useful in providing valuable context for their work. The course's overview of the history of the Church, as well as the key themes of the New Testament, can provide helpful background. The Parish Administrator ensures the smooth functioning of the religious institution. The course may be useful for someone seeking to provide service, in a general sense, to a church or related organization.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Whole Bible Survey: Part 3 (New Testament).
Provides a comprehensive overview of the historical, social, and cultural context of the New Testament. It helps students understand the world in which the New Testament was written and the issues that the authors were addressing. This book is commonly used as a textbook in academic institutions and is valuable as a reference tool.
Provides a clear and accessible explanation of core Christian beliefs. It is helpful for understanding the theological foundations of the New Testament. While not directly focused on biblical survey, it provides a framework for understanding the Christian worldview presented in the New Testament. This book is more valuable as additional reading than as a current reference.

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