| The Nature of the Course
Welcome to this Bible Exposition
Course. In order to follow the Course we will have to recognise
that, although the 66 books of the Bible all form one wonderful
unity, each book has been written at a particular time, in certain
circumstances, and by different authors. Books such as I and
II Kings and I and II Chronicles have been put together from
certain sources. Most of us who take up the Bible see the name
of a book and its author and for us the matter is simple. Older
versions used to have Paul as the author of the Epistle to the
Hebrews, but the old manuscripts do not have his name there.
So it has been debated whether Paul wrote the Epistle to the
Ephesians, and it does not hurt us to see the various arguments
about the authorship. Likewise various commentators have differing
ideas of what the writer may have meant in a particular text.
In our Introduction (Lesson
One) we will take up a few of these matters. You are expected
to read the material under the headings ‘The Name of the
Epistle’, ‘Is it a Pauline Letter?’ but you
do not have to write anything on this material. We start our
first Lesson with ‘The Primary Drive of the Epistle’,
and need to deal with this, and ‘The Teaching Elements
of the Epistle’.
We have also included a Bibliography—a
list of books you could read if you wished. Do not immediately
try to obtain all these books, as they are expensive and not
essential for the Course. We have printed the most advisable
to use in bold print, but, again, do not feel you should read
all these books. Many of these can be accessed at our Resource
Centre, and some of them can be borrowed from libraries, especially
libraries of Theological or Bible Colleges. It is best to first
read Introductions, and Bible and Theological Dictionaries. It
is good to purchase a good Bible Dictionary and a good one volume
Bible Commentary.
Do not try to get through your
work as quickly as possible. Try to soak yourself in the material
of the Lessons, read what other background material is available
and then begin to write your assignment or answers. In this way
you will enjoy doing the Course and at the same time you will
absorb the magnificent material of this wonderful Epistle.
There are sixteen lessons in all.
When you complete your first lesson and answer the questions set
for that lesson, you should immediately send your answers to us.
We will then send you the next two lessons. Between the time of
your sending the work and receiving those two lessons, you will
be able to proceed with the second lesson. When you have completed
your third lesson we will then send you the fourth and fifth lessons.
This means that you will never be without a lesson at hand. |
