Introduction
To walk with God is to get to know Him through His Words to us from the Holy Scriptures through which He teaches us His ways.
In this Course, students will find it necessary to have a Bible.
Also used in these Lessons: The Torah and writings from the Midrash, Catholic and Protestant Canons, and the Septuagint.
The first two Books of Enoch and the Ancient Book of Jasher will also be quoted from, just as they are in Scripture.
The Bible Student will also become familiar with other Ancient Writings which corroborate the Old and New Testament Scriptures, and these links will be provided as applicable, including writings by the Early Church Fathers, and Doctors of the early Churches.
You are invited today, if you have never done so, to read the words of a King and be blessed by the love He shares with you in every page of His Holy Words to you. And if you have been a scholar for years, you are invited to continue to enjoy the journey with God.
Life Walk Bible Study Curriculum
Matthew 10:8
“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”
Personal Testimony
For every Bible student, whether new, or already a scholar, it is important to get to know God through Canonized Scripture first, so that when one reads Uncanonized, Apocryphal, Pseudepigraphal, or any other ancient literature outside of the Bible, especially those attributed to one of the authors in the Bible, one has already clearly recognized the Voice of the Holy Spirit within Canonized Scripture.
This intensive, total immersion, journey through Scripture, for me, first took place during approximately a three year period beginning in the autumn of 1996.
Although I have known God since earliest childhood, the original Life Walk Bible Lessons were birthed out of that time spent with God daily, in Bible Study and prayer. At the time, I used only the Bible translations I had, and the Strong’s Concordance. Later, I obtained the Catholic and Septuagint Versions, and studied those alongside the Bible versions I had, which included the NIV, KJV, NKJV, Amplified, and NASB.
Since then, I have, in addition to continued study, read much literature outside of the Canon, which corroborates Scripture, and the truths therein. For this reason, I have begun to include these sources in a fresh new Lesson plan.
Each Lesson contains the original, which has been revised a few times since 1996, with corroborating information from other sources, as I obtained it.
I believe many of the uncanonized writings to be of particular benefit, of great interest, and immense inspiration, so that one may also understand the times in which many of these documents where written, and the circumstances many of these authors endured. Many were written for our encouragement and education, and many were an historical account of their time period, and how God walked with them.
I have always found it most fascinating, as I read Scripture, how God walked with humans, how He communicated His will, and His heart, in matters of the human condition and its outcomes, and His desire for the human Family He envisioned from the beginning to be finally realized.
Here is the Bible Study Curriculum, with a set reading plan, which was my first foundation in the Journey with God through Scripture. I have included the Books from the Catholic Canon, [which are the same as the Septuagint (LXX), which is often quoted or referenced in Bible margins], where modern translations of words, phrases, or meanings may need to be clarified, and enhanced.
The idea is to read the Bible according to author(s), so that one may not only get to know God, as Divine Author, but also the human authors’ manner of writing, as inspired by the Holy Spirit.
For each author, this may differ according to age, and experience, as writing styles can change, and the Word of God to a people group through them can change. This was the case for Isaiah, whose writing of Chapters 1-39 was quite different to that of the rest of the Book, but no less the same author.
Some scholars did not believe that Peter could have written two Epistles, or that John wrote the Book of Revelation, so for a time 2Peter, and Revelation were held in suspicion as not authentic to the claimed authorship.
This is why we read to hear the voice of God in each writing. In so doing, we hear the Voice of God, recognize His Holy Spirit, and can hear Him for ourselves, for He will always speak to our heart in the same manner as He did to others.
The idea of the Life Walk Lessons is to take several years, as I did, walking with God through all the Books He inspired. It is best to begin at the beginning, and see with new eyes the heart of God for you.
The Books of Moses, Joshua, and the Judges
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges
Wisdom Literature
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Songs
The Book of Wisdom [Catholic Bible and LXX]
The Book of Sirach [Catholic Canon and LXX
Historical Literature
Ruth
Esther [The Catholic Canon and LXX have the additions to Esther, as does Josephus]
Judith [Catholic Canon]
Tobit [Catholic Canon]
The 3 Synoptic Gospels, and Acts of the Apostles
Matthew
Mark
Luke/Acts
The Writings of the Apostle John
Gospel of John
1 John
2 John
3 John
Revelation
The Writings of the Apostle Paul
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
The Writings of Peter
1 Peter, 2 Peter
The Kings
1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles
[The Septuagint has these listed as Kings I. II, III, and IV]
The Prophets to the Kings
Isaiah
Jeremiah, Lamentations
[The Catholic Canon and Septuagint include the writings of Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe. Jeremiah’s chapters vary slightly in the LXX from the Bible]
Ezekiel
Catholic Canon and Septuagint have extended versions of: Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
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When this portion of Study has been completed, it is recommended that you proceed to this set of Writings which have been quoted from in the Bible:
Two Ancient Writings quoted from in Canonized Scripture:
The Book of Enoch, quoted specifically by Jude [1st Enoch]
The Ancient Book of Jasher, quoted specifically by Joshua, Samuel and David
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The first of the uncanonical writings which I recommend for the Bible Student to read is The Ancient Book of Jasher. It is the first Book quoted from in the Bible specifically by Joshua in his account of the sun standing still during the battle. It is an historical account very similar to the Books of Moses, covering the historical events during the time-period between Creation and Joshua, however with far greater detail.
Secondly, I recommend reading 1st Enoch. It is recommended to also read 2nd Enoch, also known as The Book of the Secrets of Enoch, which corroborates the first book, giving more detail. Most scholars, I have found, believe it was written within the last 200 years before Christ, and is not by one author, even as the Torah was not, but by several, including Enoch, Methuselah, Noah, and perhaps others.
During a time when the leaders of the Jews believed that God no longer spoke to prophets, and that the Law was the only Word they must now live by, some writers used Pseudonyms, in order to preserve the word of God which they heard, and have them accepted. Some were included in the Canon for a time, and later removed. Some are still included in the Catholic, Septuagint, and Ethiopic Canons. These were clearly available throughout Jesus’ ministry, as He also quotes from un-canonized works, as did Jude, His brother, when he quotes 1Enoch from the first chapter.
I use the translation of Enoch’s writings made by the Reverend R. H. Charles, in all my references to the writings of Enoch, as I find his to be the most thorough, with ample references to all related extant material, including the many places these writings coincide with Old and New Testament Scripture.
There is a third Book of Enoch also known as The Hebrew Book of Enoch, which is written after the Ascension of Jesus Christ, by Rabbi Ishmael ben Elisha, a contemporary of Rabbi Akiba, for those who are familiar with the 10 Rabbis who were martyred during the same time period.
This is a record of his Heavenly vision, where he was spoken to by angels, as well as by Enoch, giving greater detail of the heavenly order, the hierarchy of angels, and the worship around the throne, than in the previous books of Enoch. I highly recommend reading this book as it gives an amazing account of the heavenly realms and God’s glory. I believe that these three books are essential for the Bible Student who desires to get to know God’s heart more intimately, after having read the Bible.
If you are already enrolled in a University or Seminary program, this will prove to be an indispensable supplement to your studies.
Through this on-going study plan, the student will become fully acquainted with previously authenticated literature, presented by multiple scholars, from the early fathers and doctors of the Church, on down to the late 1800s and early 1900s.
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When you have completed The Ancient Book of Jasher, and the Books of Enoch, I recommend the two volumes by R. H. Charles, of the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament, and the New Testament Apocrypha by H. F. D. Sparks.
Much valuable insight into the lives and traditions of the Jewish nation will give the reader ample evidence of God’s unchanging hand throughout earth’s history.
You will notice that each of the Life Walk Lessons deal primarily with Scripture from the Holy Bible. I do recommend the above mentioned materials, along with many others, which I include within the Lessons where applicable to enhance the study material. Many of these can be downloaded as PDFs or purchased. Each Lesson where applicable will have these links included.
Be blessed in your Journey with God Almighty.
