Story of the Bible

Course Overview

Led by a renowned scholar, trace the development of biblical texts across millennia. You’ll gain invaluable insight into the remarkable and complicated process by which the Bible came into being.

The Bible, recognized as the world’s most consistently best-selling book, has a profound and complex history. In this course, consisting of 24 stimulating lectures, Professor Johnson investigates the various forms the Bible has taken, exploring how history, scholarship, and technology have shaped this enduring tradition. The Bible has not only influenced Western civilization but has also played a pivotal role in molding cultural and religious identities.

Throughout this course, you will explore key issues surrounding the authorship of the biblical texts, the context under which they were written, and the efforts to canonize certain books while excluding others. Meant to deepen your understanding, this course traverses the rich narrative of human experience throughout biblical history.

Video Lecture List

1. The Early Christians and Their Literature

• 32 min
• Explore the key issues surrounding the authorship and audience of the New Testament.

1. The Greco-Roman Context

• 31 min
• Understand the religious landscape of the Greco-Roman world and how it influences the Bible.

1. Ancient Judaism

• 31 min
• Investigate the various sects of Judaism at the time of Jesus and their beliefs.

1. The Earliest Traditions About Jesus

• 31 min
• Examine the oral traditions about Jesus that predated the written Gospels.

1. Mark-Jesus the Suffering Son of God

• 31 min
• Analyze the themes presented in the Gospel of Mark.

1. Matthew-Jesus the Jewish Messiah

• 31 min
• Explore Matthew’s portrayal of Jesus and its emphasis on Jewish identity.

1. Luke-Jesus the Savior of the World

• 31 min
• Delve into Luke’s unique perspective on Jesus’s message.

1. John-Jesus the Man from Heaven

• 31 min
• Investigate the distinctive theological interpretation found in the Gospel of John.

1. Noncanonical Gospels

• 31 min
• Discover the Gospels that were excluded from the New Testament.

1. The Historical Jesus-Sources and Problems

• 30 min
• Learn about the discrepancies and historical insights found in the Gospels.

(…Continued through all 24 lectures)