A full understanding of the Gospels is not attainable without knowledge of the Jewish frame of reference. Therefore, this course provides detailed background information about first-century Jewish society, religious elements, rabbinic literature, and rabbinic theology. This course covers the period from Yeshua’s birth (the Incarnation) to the public proclamation of His Messiahship.  

 

Using a harmonization of the four Gospels, we’ll study the life of Yeshua using a chronological-thematic approach.

 

This is the first course in a sequence of four courses examining the life of Yeshua the Messiah from a Messianic Jewish perspective

 

• Course Name and Course Code: The Life of Yeshua, Part One (BHD 101 T-1)
• Prerequisites: None
• Enrollment: This Tier One course is offered each Fall Semester - [Fall Semester 2022: Aug 29-Dec 30]
• Educational Level: Open to all levels 
• Required Course for an ACB-MJS Degree: Yes
• Faculty on Video Lectures:  Arnold Fruchtenbaum, Th.M.. Ph.D.
• Credits: 3 Credits

 

• Required Textbooks: 
• The Bible
• Yeshua: The Life of Messiah from a Messianic Jewish Perspective – Volume 1 by Arnold Fruchtenbaum [Note – Be sure to get the full, unabridged edition of this book, NOT the abridged edition]
• Ariel’s Harmony of the Gospels by Arnold Fruchtenbaum

 

Please get the most updated edition of each book. For additional required books and resources for this course and how to order books, please consult the course syllabus.  After you purchase the course you will have access to the course syllabus.

 

• Course Format: 100% Online. This is a Tier One, full-credit course.  Students are required to do all reading, assigments, and exams.

 

• Curriculum: 46 Modules, 10 hours of video presentations, open-book exams, required readings, free pdf articles/resources, written assignments (not collected/graded in self-paced courses), and Bible memory verses.

 

• Expiration/Course Completion Deadline:  This is a semester-length, 16 week course and must be completed in 16 weeks.  There are weekly assignments and deadlines set by the course instructor. However, though the course must be completed in 16 weeks, students have access to the course for viewing for 365 days (from the original date of purchase). 

Introductory Material

Module 1. Introductions: Speaker, Purpose, and Importance of the Course

Module 2. Methodology of the Course

Module 3. Use of Rabbinic Literature in the Course

Module 4. How the NT quotes the OT: The Four Types of Messianic Prophecy in the OT

Module 5. How the NT quotes the OT: The Four Categories of Quotations

Module 1-5 Exam

The Historical Backgrounds

Module 6. Historical Backgrounds: Assyria, Babylonia, Persia, Rome

Module 7. The Reign of Herod the Great and the Aftermath

Module 6-7 Exam

The Jewish Backgrounds: Society and Language

Module 8. First Century Jewish Society: Importance

Module 9. Categories of First-Century Jewish Society

Module 10. Jewish Backgrounds: Language

Module 8-10 Exam

The Jewish Backgrounds: Religious Elements and the Development of Pharisaic Judaism

Module 11. Religious Elements: Second Temple, Priesthood, Temple Police, & Synagogues

Module 12. Development of Pharisaic Judaism: Sopherim

Module 13. Development of Pharisaic Judaism: Tannaim

Module 14. Development of Pharisaic Judaism: Amoriam, Finished Product, and Rabbinic
Literature

Module 11-14 Exam

Rabbinic Theology

Module 15. Torah

Module 16. Scripture and Messiah

Module 17. The Three Messianic Miracles: (1) The Healing of a Jewish Leper

Module 18. The Three Messianic Miracles: (2) The Casting Out of a Demon Causing Muteness

Module 19. The Three Messianic Miracles: (3) The Opening of the Eyes of a Man Born Blind

Module 20. Rabbinic Exegesis, Authority and Status

Module 15-20 Exam

Textual Introductory Material

Module 21. Luke’s Prologue, Matthew and Mark

Module 22. The Gospel of Luke

Module 23. The Gospel of John

Module 24. John’s Prologue and the Logos in Greek Philosophy, in Philonic Writings, and in
Rabbinic Theology

Module 25. Six Theological Truths about the Memra

Module 26. Additional Aspects of the Prologue

Module 21-26 Exam

The Arrival and Advent of the King

Module 27. The Genealogy of the King

Module 28. The Annunciations of the Birth of the Messiah to Zechariah

Module 29. The Annunciation of the Birth of Yeshua to Miriam

Module 30. The Visit of Miriam with Elizabeth and the Song of Miriam

Module 31. The Birth of Yochanan (John)

Module 32. The Annunciation of the Birth of Yeshua to Joseph

Module 33. The Birth of the King

Module 34. The Announcement to and visit of the Shepherds

Module 27-34 Exam

The Infancy, Childhood, and Boyhood of the King

Module 35. The Circumcision

Module 36. The Presentation and the Two Encounters

Module 37. The Childhood of the King

Module 38. In Egypt and In Nazareth

Module 39. The Boyhood of the King

Module 40. The Visit to Jerusalem and His Human Development

Module 35-40 Exam

The Forerunner and Herald of the King

Module 41. The Message to Yochanan and the Message by Yochanan

Module 42. The Explanation by Yochanan

Module 43. The Promise by Yochanan

Module 41-43 Exam

The Approval of the King

Module 44. At His Baptism

Module 45. Through His Temptation and His Identification with Israel

Module 46. By His Herald – To the Jewish Leaders – To the Jewish Public

Module 44-46 Exam