Course

How to Read the Bible

~8 Hours

In this How to Read the Bible course, you’ll be introduced to three main genres of the Bible and recognize how the features of each genre guide interpretation.

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John Goldingay
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About This Course

Reading the Bible can feel like a daunting, overwhelming task. But it doesn’t have to be! In this How to Read the Bible course, we aim to make God’s Word more understandable and less intimidating. You’ll be introduced to three main genres of the Bible and recognize how the features of each genre guide interpretation. By learning to apply this knowledge to your Bible reading, your appreciation for its wisdom, beauty, and applicability will grow.


Learning Outcomes

  • Identify and describe the different genres of the Bible, including narrative, prayer, and instruction
  • Recognize these genres in the Bible and how to use interpretive questions to guide reading
  • Apply this knowledge to your own reading of the Bible to deepen your interpretation and understanding


A FULLER Equip course

  • Study the Bible
  • Theology & Biblical Studies

Introduction: What is the Bible?

1. Getting Started

2. What Is the Bible?

Narrative: The Story of God and God's People

3. What Is Narrative?

4. Narrative: Story Structures

5. How to Read Narrative

6. Walking Through the Four Questions

Instruction: The Word of God to God's People

7. What Is Instruction?

8. How to Read Instruction Texts

9. Walking Through the Five Questions

Prayer: Israel’s Response to God

10. What Is Prayer?

11. How to Read Prayer Texts

12. Walking Through the Four Questions

The Bible Today

13. Where Do We Go From Here?

14. Next Steps

Your Instructor

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John Goldingay

PhD, Expert Biblical Scholar

John Goldingay, who came to Fuller in 1997, is now Emeritus Professor of Old Testament and David Allan Hubbard Professor Emeritus of Old Testament. In Pasadena, he was also priest-in-charge of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. He says, “For me, being a professor is a subset of being a pastor.” He was married to Ann for 43 years until she died in 2009. He is now married to Kathleen and they live in Oxford, England, where they enjoy walking along the Thames, sampling gastropubs, reading novels, and watching movies on Netflix.

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