Directed Readings in Biblical Studies CHR 391 Residential Learning: At present we are only offering the DRBS as a full time residential course. We are however, in the process of creating an online part time version of the school. As soon as this is up and running we will update the website. The course is designed to be completed in 12 weeks (6 days per week) If the trainee does all the assigned work within the 12 week period, that student receives an A grade. If the trainee does not do all the work within the 12 week period, a lower grade will be given by the course leader dependant on how many pages in total the trainee read. The course will include the normal work duties, worship and prayer/intercession that are part of our YWAM ethos. The Course Content: Reading Texts The course consists of reading approximately 7000 pages and is made up of some mandatory texts and then a number of elective texts that the student chooses in line with their own areas of interest. Obviously, the course name focuses on Biblical studies and so this will be the discipline with the mandatory reading. However when it comes to the electives, the student may choose from a number of different categories that collectively make the Theological Encyclopaedia, a comprehensive term that is used to summarise the entire process of theological enquiry. The Theological Encyclopaedia consists of Historical Theology, Biblical Theology, Systematic Theology, Exegetical Theology, Philosophy & Worldview, and Practical Theology. (See below for further details) For serious study and note taking, it is highly recommended that you purchase the books for yourself, in physical or ebook format, so that you can mark, pencil, highlight, etc. topical areas or statements that are worth highlighting. All of the book options can be easily required at www.amazon.com or www.christianbook.com. But if you cannot afford to buy all of the books then we can attempt to provide some of them for the duration of the school. The total number of pages read of over the 12 weeks is 7000 pages, which comes to an average of 103 pages per day. This figure is based upon 68 reading days (12 weeks/6 days per week minus 4 days for long weekend & final weekend). The Course Content: Assessment The course requires the trainee to read all the assigned material and have weekly tutorials with the school leader. In these meetings the trainee will detail the number of pages read in the week and from which book. During these weekly tutorials the trainees will also discuss their readings with the tutor, and use them as a springboard for further discussion and sharing of ideas, thereby enforcing the learning gained through the readings. University of the Nations Twelve semester-equivalent credits will be earned upon successful completion of the DRBS. The DRBS is one of the Undergraduate Directed Studies (CHR391) offered by the U. of N. These credits may be applied to a U. of N. degree program or transferred partially to some other colleges or universities. Refer to www.uofn.edu for further information.
DRBS Books Combinations of the books below are chosen to reach the required 7000 pages. Bible/Biblical History/Background Studies must be included as instructed, but for the rest the reading instructions are just suggestions. The Bible: (choose one OT section, plus Apoc. & NT) Torah (199 pages) Former Prophets & Post Exilic (265 pages) Latter Prophets (265 pages) Wisdom & Psalms (175 pages) Apocrypha (270 pages) New Testament (259 pages) Biblical History: (read both) A History of Israel John Bright (414 pages) (SCM Press, 4 th Edition 2000) The New Testament & the People of God N. T. Wright (560 pages) (SPCK Pub., 1995) Old & New Testament Background Studies: (choose one OT, or one NT if you choose an OT Dictionary it should correspond with your chosen OT reading) Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch T. Desmond Alexander, David W. Baker (Editors) (976 pages) (IVP, 2003) Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical books Bill T. Arnold, H. G. M. Williamson (Editors) (996 pages) (IVP, 2006) Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings Tremper Longman II, Peter Enns (Editors) (1000 pages) (IVP, 2008) Dictionary of the Old Testament: Prophets J. Gordon McConville, Mark Boda (Editors) (1000 pages) (IVP, 2012) Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels J. B. Green, S. McKnight, I.H. Marshall (Editors) (896 pages) (IVP, 1992) Dictionary of Paul and his Letters G. F. Hawthorne, R. P. Martin, D. G. Reid (Editors) (993 pages) (IVP, 1993) Dictionary of the Latter New Testament and its Development R.P. Martin, P.H. Davids (Editors) (1291 pages) (IVP, 1997) Dictionary of New Testament Background Craig A. Evans, Stanley E. Porter (Editors) (1303 pages) (IVP, 2000)
Historical Theology: (choose either the first two or the third, plus one of the last two) The Story of Christianity Vol. 1: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation Justo L. González (528 pages) (HarperCollins, 2010) The Story of Christianity Vol. 2: The Reformation to the Present Day Justo L. González (560 pages) (HarperCollins, 2010) Church History in Plain Language Bruce Shelley (543 pages) (Thomas Nelson, 4 th Edition 2013) The Dictionary of Historical Theology T. A. Hart (Editor) (577 pages) (Paternoster Press, 2000) Historical Theology: An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought Alister E. McGrath (320 pages) (Blackwell Publishing, 2 nd Edition 2012) Biblical Theology: (choose one whole Bible, plus one OT or NT) Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments G. Vos (399 pages) (The Banner of Truth Trust, 1948) New Testament Development of Old Testament Themes F. F. Bruce (122 pages) (William B. Eerdmans, 1968) Old Testament Theology: Israel s Gospel John Goldingay (940 pages) (IVP, 2003) The Kingdom of God John Bright (290 pages) (Abingdon Press, Revised Edition 1980) A Theology of the New Testament George Eldon Ladd (746 pages) (William B. Eerdmans, Revised Edition 1994) New Testament Theology Leon Morris (324 pages) (Zondervan, 1986) Systematic Theology: (choose one of the three) Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine Wayne Grudem (1213 pages) (IVP, 1994) Christian Theology: An Introduction Alister E. McGrath (574 pages) (Blackwell Publishing, 5 th Edition 2010) Christian Theology Millard J. Erickson (1300 pages) (Baker Books, 3 rd Edition 2013)
Exegetical Theology Canonics, Hermeneutics, Biblical Archaeology Canonics: (choose one of the three) The Canon of Scripture F. F Bruce (317 pages) (IVP, 1988) How We Got the Bible N. R. Lightfoot (198 pages) (Baker Books, 3 rd Edition 2003) The Origin of the Bible P.W. Comfort, F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Carl F. H. Henry (305 pages) (Tyndale House Publishing, 1992) Hermeneutics: (choose one of the three) Introduction to Biblical Interpretation W. W. Klein, C. L. Blomberg & R. L. Hubbard Jnr. (500 pages) (Thomas Nelson Publishing, Revised Edition 2004) An Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics W. C. Kaiser & M. Silva (268 pages) (Zondervan, Revised & Expanded Edition 2007) Slaves, Women & Homosexuals: Exploring the Hermeneutics of Cultural Analysis W. J. Webb (265 pages) (IVP, 2001) Biblical Archaeology: (choose one of the first two and one of the last three) A Biblical History of Israel Iain Provan, V. Philips Long, & Tremper Longman (442 pages) (Westminster John Knox, 2003) Life in Biblical Israel Lawrence Stager & Philip J. King (300 pages) (Westminster John Knox, 2002) Jesus & His World Craig Evans (144 pages) (SPCK Publishing, 2012) The HarperCollins Visual Guide to the New Testament: What Archaeology Reveals about the First Christians Johnathan L. Reed (176 pages) (HarperCollins, 2007) The Final Days of Jesus: The Archaeological Evidence Shimon Gibson (273 pages) (HarperCollins, 2010) Philosophy & Worldview: (choose one of the three) Prevailing World Views of Western Society since 1500 Glenn R. Martin (270 pages) (Triangle Publishing, 2006) Truth and Transformation: A Manifesto for Ailing Nations Vishal Mangalwadi (317 pages) (YWAM Publishing, 2009) To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World James Davison Hunter (368 pages) (Oxford University Press, 2010)
Scientific Theology: (choose one of the three) Science and Religion: A New Introduction Alister E. McGrath (264 pages) (Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, 2 nd Edition 2010) Science and Religion in Quest of Truth John Polkinghorne (160 pages) (SPCK Publishing, 2011) The Language and Science of Faith: Straight Answers to Genuine Questions Karl W. Giberson and Francis Collins (258 pages) (SPCK Publishing, 2011) Practical Theology Pastoral Care, Christian Education, Homiletics, Evangelism, Missions, Spiritual Warfare, Worship Pastoral Care & Counselling: (choose one of the two) Understanding People: Why We Long for Relationship Larry Crabb (256 pages) (Zondervan, Reprint Edition 2013) Caring and Counselling Ron Kallmier (208 pages) (CWR, 2011) Christian Education: (choose one of the three) Foundational Issues in Christian Education: An Introduction in Evangelical Perspective Robert W. Pazimino (268 pages) (Baker Academic, 2 nd Edition 1997) Pedagogy of the Oppressed Paulo Freire (180 pages) (Continuum International Publishing Group, 30 th Anniversary Edition 2001) The Scope of our Art: The Vocation of the Theological Teacher L. Gregory Jones & Stephanie Paulsell (Editors) (276 pages) (William B. Eerdmans, 2001) Homiletics: (choose one of the first two and one of the last two) Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages H. W. Robinson (194 pages) (Baker Books, 2 nd Edition 2001) Christ-Centred Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Preaching B. Chapell (342 pages) (Baker Books, 1994) The Homiletical Plot: The Sermon as Narrative Art Form Eugene L. Lowry (162 pages) (Westminster John Knox, Expanded Edition 2000) The Modern Preacher and the Ancient Text: Interpreting and Preaching Biblical Literature Sidney Greidanus (390 pages) (William B. Eerdmans, 1989)
Evangelism: (choose one of the three) Explaining Your Faith A. McGrath (145 pages) (IVP, 1995) Fruitfulness on the Frontline Mark Greene (208 pages) (IVP, 2014) Relating Faith Robert Knowles (271 pages) (Paternoster, 2014) Missions: (choose one of the three) Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission C. J. Bosch (587 pages) (Orbis Books, 20 th Anniversary Edition 2011) From Seed to Fruit: Global Trends, Fruitful Practices, and Emerging Issues Among Muslims John Dudley Woodberry (Editor) (426 pages) (William Carey Library Publishing, 2 nd Edition 2011) Changing the Mind of Mission: Where Have we Gone Wrong? J. F. Engel & W. A. Dyrness (183 pages) (IVP, 2000) Spiritual Warfare: Understanding Spiritual Warfare: Four Views James K. Belby & Paul Rhodes Eddy (Editors) (240 pages) (Baker Publishing, 2012) Worship: For the Glory of God: Recovering a Biblical Theology of Worship Daniel I. Block (416 pages) (Baker Publishing, 2014)