All the truth of god that is later developed or revealed exists in germ form in the book of Genesis. As demonstrated in Exodus, Jehovah God is a God who knows the condition of his people, who comes down to deliver, who redeems by blood and power, who supplies every need, who gives victory, who reveals His holy character, and who dwells among his people. In Leviticus God revealed laws to prepare and to secure the physical, moral, and spiritual well-being of the people. Numbers can be summed up in three words: wilderness, warfare, and wandering. In Deuteronomy, Moses reminds the people of the law and their call to holiness before God.

The Early Israelite History

Lectures 1,2 – Joshua and Judges Carl Armendering, D.D.
Lecture 3 – Ruth J. Vernon McGee, Th.D.

Carl Armendering states that the Lord promised Joshua that just as He had been with Moses so He would be with him. There was only one condition which Joshua had to meet. He was to obey the word of God without deviation. Judges covers 300 years of history from Joshua’s death to the death of Samson, the last of 13 “Judges” sent by God to deliver His people. As quoted by J. Vernon McGee, “The book of Ruth is a love story.” This little book gives to us a picture of the wonderful relationship that exists between Christ and his church.

I and II Samuel comes out of the golden age of Hebrew literature and has four key players in this great drama – Eli, Samuel, Saul, and David. You’ll see how the Lord is constant and faithful in this period of transition as Israel becomes a monarchy. I and II Kings is the continuing account of the origin, the rise and the development of the monarchy of Israel. Gleason Archer Jr. says, “Whereas Kings is dominated by a prophetic interest, I and II Chronicles is characterized by a more definitive priestly point of view.” The purpose was that the true greatness of Israel consists in her relationship to Jehovah as a worshipping faithful and obedient congregation.

The Post Exilic Period

Lectures 1, 2 – Ezra and Nehemiah John Walvoord, Th.D.
Lecture 3 – Esther Carl Armendering, D.D.

Ezra is the historical record of the first return of the captives to the land of Palestine. There under the prophetic leadership of Haggai and Zechariah, they would rebuild the temple. Nehemiah is a stirring record of how one man impelled by God accomplished what everyone had said was impossible – he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. God placed Esther, an Israelite, as the new queen to accomplish hi gracious purposes. She would be used by God to thwart the plan of the evil Haman, who had tricked the king into passing a law that would kill Esther’s people.

The book of Job is God’s answer to “Why should the righteous suffer?” The Psalms are the finest expression of human devotion and delight in the Almighty God. To read the Proverbs is to be ready for life. To believe them is to be safe from the snares in life’s pathway. Ecclesiastes recognizes God Himself as the highest value in His creation, and that the truly meaningful life is the life lived in His service. Song of Solomon represents an actual occurrence in Solomon’s life in which he experienced a pure and holy love. Lamentations is a sequel to the prophecy of Jeremiah. This hymn of intense sorrow shows men inspired by God’s spirit as they seek to reach up to Him.

Hosea means “salvation.” He married an unfaithful wife whom he forgave and redeemed. Joel introduces the great prophetic concept of “The Day of the Lord” and gives us the prophecy about the Holy Spirit. Amons means “bearer of a burden.” He proclaimed the coming destruction of neighboring nations, Israel, and Judah. In Obadiah, prideful Edom hated Israel and their doom was predicted. God calls Jonah to preach repentance to the people of Ninevah, the hated and evil Assyrians. Micah, preached God’s judgment on Samaria and Jerusalem due to their idolatry. Nahum predicts the doom of Ninevah, 150 years after Jonah. Habakkuk dialogues with God and receives a vision of the pending woes to come from the Babylonians. Zephaniah spoke of the great day of the Lord that was to come to all nations and calls Jerusalem to repent. Haggai returned after the captivity, and laid the foundation of the temple in Jerusalem. Zechariah also returned to encourage the rebuilding of the temple. He prophesied how Jesus would deliver Israel, be rejected, and return again. Malachi brought God’s people a message of rebuke and promise. 57

Paul put Titus in charge of the church in Crete and gave him this letter of instruction on how to do the work there. The letter to Philemon from Paul asked him to take back his runaway slave, Onesimus, who had met Paul and was converted to Christ. The author of Hebrews wrote in order to encourage and energize the Christian readers into a viable and active faith in Jesus. It appears they had begun to lose heart and were in danger of allowing unbelief to grow. James is a book that speaks of works. It teaches that we are saved by faith only, but saving faith never is alone. It is always accompanied by good works. I Peter’s purpose is to strengthen and comfort those believers who are called upon to bear severe testing as a trial of their faith. II Peter warns against church leaders allowing sin in the church for the sake of monetary gain. Sin will bring blindness, and they will no longer look for the Lord. I,II, and III John speak about fellowship, to not belittle the deity of Jesus, to live righteously by faith, to love one another, to resist false last days and the conditions before the apocalyptic judgments fall. It brings to a climax all the teaching regarding apostasy. Revelation as a book of prophecy contains descriptions of unique animals, angels, demons, beasts, harlots, and brides. Christ is the central figure as it talks of the ages. “Blessed is he that reads it and they that hear it and keeps those things that are written therein.”

Lecture 1 Repentance
Lecture 2 Faith
Lecture 3 Regeneration
Lecture 4 Justification by Faith
Lecture 5 Assurance Lecture 6 Sanctification
Lecture 7 The Life of Victory
Lecture 8 The Believer and the World
Lecture 9 Man’s Destiny
Lecture 10 The Second Coming of Christ

These courses provide a good understanding of the basic doctrines of the Christian Faith. The distinctives of Christianity are studied. Spiritual truths that form the foundation of the Christian world are brought forth with resounding clarity. The student is able to define why he believes as he does. It is be the explanation of these truths the believer is able to effectively explain and interpret the teachings of Scripture to those met in every day life.

The Birth of Jesus, Jesus is the most outstanding person in all of history, and indeed is the central figure of all time. Everett Harrison discusses the circumstances, important factors, and prophecy surrounding His birth. His Early Life. We only have a glimpse of Jesus’ boyhood and early life. Enough is told to enable us to know that as a child Jesus had a normal life. His Temptation. Jesus could not begin to do the work the Father God had commissioned Him to do until He had passed this severe test. His Early Ministry in Judeahad and Galilee. Within a few months Jesus had labored in the city of Jerusalem, in Samaria, and Galilee. He covered all the main areas of Palestine at this early stage in His ministry. His Teachings and Miracles. What are the basic teachings of Jesus? What spiritual legacy has He left for us? Never a man spoke like this man. The training of the Twelve Disciples. The command of the Lord is, “Follow Me!” The future of Christianity and God’s plan lay with twelve men chosen by Jesus. Moving Toward Calvary. Lazarus is dramatically raised from the dead by Jesus. He then turns to focus toward Jerusalem while evil men began to plan His destruction. He was the people’s champion as He entered the great city. The Upper Room Discourse. Jesus called His disciples together to a private place to eat the famous last supper. He washes their feet, teaches them the Lord’s Supper, tells of the Holy Spirit to come, says farewell, and goes tot he Garden of Gethsemane to pray and wait. His Trial and Death. Jesus stood before the leaders of his own nation, and before the Romans, and then they crucified Him. His Resurrection and Ascension. Every tear of sadness at His death is drowned out by the shouts of joy at His resurrection. Jesus is alive! 62

Lecture 1 The Significance of Prophecy
Lecture 2 Major Themes of Prophecy
Lecture 3 Hebraic Prophecy
Lecture 4 Messianic Prophecy
Lecture 5 Prophecies in Daniel
Lecture 6 Prophecies of Christ
Lecture 7 The Olivet Discourse
Lecture 8 The Resurrection Chapter
Lecture 9 The Anti-Christ
Lecture 10 The Book of Revelation

What does “prophet” mean in the Word of God? What is the extent of prophecy in the Old and New Testaments? There are 13 or 14 major areas upon which the light of the prophetic word falls. Those predictions beginning in Genesis through to the New Testament concerning the history and ultimate destiny of the Hebrew People are called Hebraic prophecies. The prophecies about the coming Lord Jesus are by far the most important in all literature. The book of Daniel is the only panoramic survey of the great empires of the world down tot he end of the age. It has chronological prophecy indicating the coming of the Lord. Jesus talked prophetically concerning himself, the church, the Jews and the fall of Jerusalem, the course of the age, the end of the age, and of judgment to come. On the Mount of Olives during Holy Week, Jesus delivered His last pronouncement to the public in general. It is recorded in Matthew 24-24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. In this last discourse Jesus prophesies on the time before, during and after the Tribulation. I Corinthians 15 talks about the Resurrection. Is there certainty in the resurrection of Jesus? What is its importance? Who is the Antichrist, the supreme enemy of God? What will be his work? What are his characteristics? Who are the two beasts that come against God? We need the final book of triumph and victory, Revelation. It is a book of conflict, of light over darkness, between the powers of evil and Satan and Hell against the power of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The beginning of the Apostolic church through persecution, imperialism, crusades, reformations, to the modern church. Trace the development of the church through better and worse, richer and poorer. Wealth and wars played their part in the creation of the church we experience today. The course also gives the student a feel for the origin of different theological viewpoints and controversies within the church.

Lecture 1 The Magna Carta of Christian Liberty
Lecture 2 Paul’s Teaching Source
Lecture 3 Paul’s Source of Doctrine
Lecture 4 Justification by Faith
Lecture 5 The Covenant of God
Lecture 6 Maturity Demands Faith
Lecture 7 Christian Liberty
Lecture 8 The Law of Love

Galatians has a greater effect on us today than any constitution of freedom given to any group of people. Paul establishes his source for doctrine and confronts those who preach anything other than justification by faith. Paul also assures us of our standing with God and gives practical advice for carrying on with daily life.

Philippians
Lectures by V. Raymond Edman, Ph.D.

Lecture 9 Paul’s Abiding Joy
Lecture 10 The Mind of Christ
Lecture 11 God’s High Calling
Lecture 12 Justification by Faith
 

From beginning to end, Paul speaks of joy and confidence and affection for his fellow Christians. From prison, Paul teaches the church at Philippi about a source of joy that overflows irrespective of circumstances and the joy of humility.