Foundations in Biblical Studies Track

Created by Western Seminary

About this Learning Track

This Foundations in Biblical Studies track will help you understand the basic structure of the whole Bible, trace its basic themes, and cover the vital content of both the Old Testament and the New Testament. You will come away with a filing cabinet into which you can insert newly discovered truth as you study the Bible for yourself. 

Enroll and complete each of these courses to earn a certificate of completion.

Courses

Course 1 :
Bible Survey: A Big Screen Perspective

Take Course
12 Month Access ($30.00 USD)

About this Course

For some of us our knowledge of the Bible is like a refrigerator door covered with post-it notes, each containing an important message but there is no coherence between them. For some it’s like reading a Dictionary; a lot of important pieces of information but no thread to the story. This course will help you make sense of all those pieces. Dr. Downs will give you a file cabinet containing major folders into which you can insert your individual file folders.  I’m not sure what the exact age is, there probably isn’t one, but somewhere in the formative years of our spiritual development this should be a required course of learning. If you want to be able to summarize the Bible on a table napkin, this will give you a way to do that.

Course 2 :
Old Testament Overview

Take Course
12 Month Access ($50.00 USD)

About this Course

In this study, Dr. Carl Laney will guide you through the major events and themes of the Old Testament. Dr. Laney is Professor of Biblical Literature at Western Seminary and the author of many books, including "God", "The Divorce Myth", and "Tyndale's Concise Bible Commentary."

Course 3 :
New Testament Overview

Take Course
12 Month Access ($50.00 USD)

About this Course

In this study, Dr. Carl Laney will guide you through the major events and themes of the New Testament. Dr. Laney is Professor of Biblical Literature at Western Seminary and the author of many books, including "God", "The Divorce Myth", and "Tyndale's Concise Bible Commentary."

Course 4 :
How to Study Your Bible

Take Course
12 Month Access ($15.00 USD)

About this Course

“If you can read and understand any book, you can read and understand the Bible.” So says Dr. Todd Miles the instructor for this course. Todd teaches the art and science of Biblical Interpretation at Western Seminary for students studying the original languages but he recorded this course for the rest of us. This course will be a huge encouragement to you in your reading and studying of God’s Word. You will be amazed at how easy and profitable it is when you understand a few fundamentals. Todd will teach them to you in these eight lessons. 

Certificate : Obtain My Certificate of Completion

About the Certificate of Completion

When you have completed this learning track on BibleMesh.com, you will need to enroll here to apply for your certificate of completion. This enrollment will be activated when you have successfully finished all the courses in this track.

Instructors

  • Dr. Bert Downs
    Dr. Bert Downs

    Dr. Bert Downs is the Chancellor and former long-time President of Western Seminary. Bert is also the former General Director of the Southwest Church Connection of the Conservative Baptist Association, and serves as a teacher, and consultant for ministries around the nation.

  • Dr. Carl Laney
    Dr. Carl Laney

    Dr. Laney is Professor of Biblical Literature at Western Seminary. He earned the Master of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees from Western Seminary, and the Doctor of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary with post-doctoral research and excavation in Israel with the Institute of Holy Land Studies, Jerusalem.

  • Dr. Todd Miles
    Dr. Todd Miles

    Dr. Todd Miles is Associate Professor of Theology at Western Seminary, Portland, Oregon. He earned his B.S. and M.S. from Oregon State University, the M.Div. from Western Seminary, and his Ph.D. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.


How It Works / FAQs

What is a learning track?

A track is a group of courses that provide a guided program of study in a specific subject area.

Why should I work to complete a track?

You should work to complete a track if you desire to build greater proficiency and a more comprehensive understanding within a particular area of study. Completing a track successfully will give you a sense of satisfaction in a job well done and BibleMesh or one of our partners will acknowledge your work through a track.

Can I go at my own pace?

Although a course subscription only provides access to a given course for a set time period, you may take as long as you wish to complete a learning track.

Can I skip certain courses?

In order to complete a learning track, you must complete every course within that track. Some tracks, like the Biblical Languages tracks, also require courses to be completed in a specific sequence, though this is not true of all tracks.

Can anyone receive a certificate of completion?

Yes. Anyone who enrolls in a course on BibleMesh can work toward earning a certificate of completion.

How do I receive a certificate of completion?

Upon finishing all the courses in a track, you may apply for and receive a certificate of completion.

Is this certificate of completion recognized for credit by colleges and seminaries?

Several colleges and seminaries do accept BibleMesh Biblical Language courses as a pre-requisite or advance placement option. But, if you are interested in earning a credit-bearing certificate that provides degree pathway opportunities to partner academic institutions, you will need to enroll in the BibleMesh Institute. For more information go here.