2022-2023 MS Bible School Plan

Introduction

The curriculum is separated into three units: Pre-History (Genesis 1-11), Patriarchs (Genesis 12-36), Joseph (Genesis 37-50)

Components of a Bible School lesson:

Patristic Interpretation of the Scripture
- To give a sound and Orthodox Interpretation
- To model for them the fact that we get our interpretation from the Fathers and not from our own mind
Three Levels of Interpretation: Literal, Tropological, Allegorical
- The Literal should include cultural and historical context as needed, and explanations of exactly what happened
- The Tropological should be fitting for the age group, with real examples they may encounter
- The Allegorical should be of sound interpretation and according to the Tradition of the Church

Unit 1: Pre-History (Genesis 1-11)

Date	Topic	Content	Goal	Assignee
Wed 08/31	Introduction to the Old Testament	What is the Bible? What is inspiration? Why to read the Bible? Story of the Old Testament Relation to the New Testament	Understand the importance of the Scripture and the purpose of the Old Testament
Wed 09/07	Introduction to Genesis	Authorship Structure Symbolic or Literal? Science vs Religion God's revelation to Mankind through Nature and Scripture Why learn Genesis?	Prepare them for discussions about Creation
Wed 09/14	Genesis 1:1-2	"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" What is "the beginning" Who is "God" How did God "create" What are "the heaven and the earth"	Introduce the Concept of studying a single verse in detail
Wed 09/21	Genesis 1-2: Creation	The Bible is not a Scientific Textbook Answer questions like: how is there light before the Sun is created Did God create darkness? Apologetics related to Creation Don't discuss the Making of Man or "Image of God" in detail, that will be discussed next week	Memorize the Seven Days of Creation
Wed 09/28	Genesis 1: Making of Man	The Lord prepared all of Creation for Man Image and Likeness of God How do we grow in the Likeness of God How is this concept related to the rest of the Holy Scripture and the economy of Salvation? Male and Female Breath of Life Be Fruitful and Multiply Seventh Day God rested	What does Image of God me
Wed 10/05	Genesis 2: Garden of Eden	The Rivers of Baptism The Tree of Life (Eucharist) Marriage Man's state in the garden Relate this Paradise to the Paradise described in Revelation
Wed 10/12	Genesis 3: The Fall of Man	Why did God give a commandment? What is free will? Relate the temptation of Eve with the temptation of Christ and with the verse in St John "the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life" How can we overcome Temptation? What are the effects of sin? Their eyes were opened They tried to handle the situation on their own Shame and hiding Blame and pointing the finger Sin leads to sin God came looking for them and gave them a chance to repent What are the Consequences of Sin Can we blame Adam and Eve? In the Liturgy of St Basil, Abouna describes this event as "we did xyz" In the Liturgy of St Gregory, Abouna describes this event as "I did xyz"
Wed 10/19	Genesis 4-5: Cain and Abel	Why was Abel's sacrifice acceptable and Cain's not? The Lord seeks out Cain and wants him to repent Sin leads to sin Jealousy --> Murder --> Lying --> ??? Punishment of Cain versus punishment of Adam Evil of Lamech Example of the behavior of Cain's descendants Cain's way is becoming the way of the land... opposite of God's will for Adam and Eve This is a precursor to the Flood and Noah Genealogy of Adam (Seth) What are the big numbers of ages? Who is Enoch? What does it mean to "Walk with God" Etymology of the names
Wed 10/26	Genesis 6-9: Noah (Part 1)	Sons of man and daughters of God What does it mean? (SethiteView vs Nephilim) The Lord was sorry that He had made man Did the Lord make a mistake? Can God make a mistake? God's love for us and God's hatred of evil Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord Just! Perfect! Walked with God! Design of the Ark Allegorical Interpretations of it by Origen Entrance into the Ark
Wed 11/02	Genesis 6-9: Noah (Part 2)	The dove Noah built an altar and offered a sacrifice The New Covenant The Rainbow Be fruitful and multiply Noah's Drunkenness Canaan's Punishment
Wed 11/09	Genesis 10-11: Tower of Babel	Genealogy of Noah Some common names like Mizraim (Misr - Egypt), Canaan, Assyria, etc. Purpose of Genealogy Tower of Babel Why would they do this? What does it mean for God to "come down and see" Scrambling of the Languages Compare with Pentecost
Wed 11/16	Review and Bible Jeopardy
Wed 11/23	No Bible Study

Unit 2: The Patriarchs

In this unit, we'll study the ~~character~~characters of ~~Abraham~~Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

Date	Topic	Content	Assignee
Wed 11/30	Genesis 12-13: Abram's Travels	From Ur of the Chaldeans To Egypt
Wed 12/07	Genesis 13-14: Abram and Lot	Conflict and separation of Abram and Lot Captivity of Lot and Rescue by Abram Melchizedek
Wed 12/14	Genesis 15-17: Promise of a Covenant	God's promise about multiplying Abram's seed Sarai takes matters into her own hands (Hagar) and regrets it God renews His covenant with Abraham
Wed 12/21	Genesis 18-19: Sodom and Gomorrah	Hospitality of Abraham Intercession for Sodom and Gomorrah Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah Deliverance of Lot Sin of Lot's Daughters
Wed 12/28	Genesis 20-21: The Son of Promise	Abraham and Abimelech Birth of Isaac Casting out of Ishmael
Wed 01/04	Genesis 22-24: Isaac a Type of Christ	Slaughter of Isaac Death of Sarah A bride for Isaac How the bride is a type of the Church whom the Lord adopted after His Crucifixion Eliezer ("God is Help") as a symbol of the Holy Spirit who united Isaac to his Bride, as the Holy Spirit on Pentecost
Wed 01/11	Genesis 25: Jacob and Esau	Abraham and Keturah Death of Abraham Birth of Jacob and Esau Esau sells his birthright
Wed 01/18	No Bible Study	Theophany Feast
Wed 01/25	Genesis 26: Isaac and Abimelech	Isaac and Abimelech and the Wells
Wed 02/01	Genesis 27: Isaac Blesses Jacob	Deception of Rebekah and Jacob Blessing of Jacob Wrath of Esau
Wed 02/08	Genesis 28-29: Jacob and Laban	Jacob's Ladder Jacob meets Rachel Laban's Deception Jacob marries Leah and Rachel
Wed 02/15	Genesis 29-30: Jacob's Sons	Leah and Rachel's Contest Jacob's Agreement with Laban
Wed 02/22	Genesis 31-32: Jacob Flees Laban	Jacob Flees from Laban Laban pursues Jacob Jacob wrestles with God
Wed 03/01	Genesis 33-34: Jacob in Shechem	Jacob meets Esau Jacob settles in Shechem Jacob did not take God's opinion when he dwelt here Also, Jacob did something Abraham and Isaac never did - he bought land The Dinah Incident This wouldn't have happened if Jacob had followed God's will for him and went to his father Isaac
Wed 03/08	Genesis 35-36: Jacob in Bethel	Jacob dwells in Bethel Death of Rachel Death of Isaac Family of Esau
Wed 03/15	Review and Bible Jeopardy

Unit 3: Joseph

Date	Topic	Content	Assignee
Wed 03/22	Genesis 37: ~~Joseph~~Joseph's Dreams ~~of Greatness~~	Joseph Dreams of Greatness Joseph is sold by his brothers
Wed 03/29	Genesis 38-39: Judah and Joseph	Judah and Tamar Joseph and Potiphar's Wife Contrast how Judah dealt with temptation from a woman versus how Joseph dealt with it.
Wed 04/05	Genesis 40-41: Joseph Interpreter of Dreams	Joseph interprets the baker and the cupbearer's dreams Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dream Joseph is made ruler of Egypt
Wed 04/12	No Bible Study	Holy Pascha Week
Wed 04/19	No Bible Study	Pascha Relief Week
Wed 04/26	Genesis 42-43: Joseph and His Brothers	Joseph's brothers seek food Joseph sends them away and keeps Simeon Joseph's brothers return with Benjamin
Wed 05/03	Genesis 44-45: Joseph Revealed to His Brothers	Joseph's Cup Judah intercedes for Benjamin Joseph reveals himself to his brothers
Wed 05/10	Genesis 46-47: Jacob in Egypt	Jacob's journey to Egypt Jacob meets Pharaoh Joseph deals with the famine
Wed 05/17	Genesis 48-49: Jacob's Last Words	Jacob blesses Ephraim and Manasseh Jacob's Last words to his sons
Wed 05/24	Genesis 49-50: Jacob and Joseph's Deaths	Jacob's Death and Burial Joseph's Death and Burial
Wed 05/31	Review and Bible Jeopardy