The Bible: History and Literature (Part 1)

Program Schedule: March 25-May 8

Participants can choose from two schedule options:

• Weekly on Wednesdays 5:30-7:00pm
• Weekly on Fridays 4:00-5:30pm

Recommended Ages: 9th grade - Adult

Price: $40 (course only)

$120 (course with homework and grades)

This course for high school and up will examine the Hebrew Bible from an academic perspective. We will use historical methods and literary analysis to explore questions such as:

• What is the Bible and how did we get it?
• Why should anyone study the Bible?
• Is the Bible worth studying if you're not Jewish or Christian?
• What can archaeology and other types of historical evidence tell us about the events in the Bible?
• What literary devices are used in the Bible? How can we read and understand the narrative portions and poetic portions?

This course will require heavy reading and is suitable for high school students and up. Participants should expect to complete 20-30 pages of reading per week.

Participants will be responsible for acquiring course texts:

• The Bible Unearthed, by Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman
• Approaching the Bible as Literature: An Interactive Workbook, by Thomas E. Schmidt

In addition, participants should have access to the Hebrew Bible. My recommendations are:

• The New Oxford Annotated Bible, New Revised Standard Version with Apocrypha (standard scholarly text)
• The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary, by Robert Alter (newer scholarly translation)
• The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People by Max Lucado & Randy Frazer (narrative portions of the Bible formatted as a novel without chapter and verse markings. The introduction and commentary are written from a believer's perspective, but the primary source text is a good translation)
• Bible.com (website including many translations, free to read)

Writing assignments, written feedback, and a final grade to include on transcripts can be provided to homeschooled students for an extra fee.

This course is the first in a multi-part series. Part 1 (spring 2026) will introduce the academic study of religion and religious texts and the Bible itself. We will then focus on the early portions of the text, Genesis through Judges. Part 2 (offered in fall 2026) will cover the remainder of the Hebrew Bible, including the history of ancient Israel, Hebrew poetry, and the Biblical prophets. Part 3 (offered spring 2027) will cover the Christian New Testament's history and literature.

This course is non-sectarian and studies the Bible through the lenses of history, literature, and social science. It aims to foster understanding, curiosity and respect for diverse ways of seeing and celebrating the world we share.

Course Overview:

March 25 Introduction, What is Religious Studies, What is the Bible?

April 1 How we got the Bible & Introduction to Genesis

April 8 Narrative Techniques in Genesis & Searching for the Patriarchs

April 15 Exploring The Exodus

April 22 Conquest of Canaan & Narrative Exodus to Samuel

April 29 Who were the Israelites?

May 6 Memories of a Golden Age

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