Instructor
Paul A. Wright, Th.D.
Being saved late in life brought its own difficulties and rewards. In 1971 the Lord spoke openly after a journey in sin, “Now you know why I died.” Baptized at eight, in my teenage years I had walked out the utility room door of my parent’s house saying, “I don’t get it Lord. I don’t get this thing as to why you died.” Mom had taught me stories about the Bible as a young boy. I knew the words and could therefore be baptized. But I didn’t get it. I had no personal awareness of this truth of why Jesus died. So, it was a long journey, but the Lord was faithful to answer that enquiry.
My only desire upon hearing those words was to study the word of God. Somehow a catalogue from Talbot Seminary in La Mirada, California found its way into my hands. Opening it, all I remember was saying to myself, look at all the Bible courses. I want to go here. So, quitting my work as a field engineer for GE, I enrolled in a night course for Greek, and when fall rolled around I headed off to seminary, not to become a pastor but simply to know the word of God. I was 25 years old then and a newborn baby in the Lord.
Upon entering, and convincing the school that I didn’t have to enter on probation, I found myself with a majority of students who had been raised in the church and had gone on to Bible school. The only background I had were the stories of Jesus that my mother had read to me as a little boy, and they were not very fresh. I was under water from the beginning, swamped with ignorance and always trying to catch up.
One day in hermeneutics class, my English Bible Professor, Dr. Rosscup, made an off handed remark. He said that someday we should do a comparison study between Genesis 1-3 and Revelation 21 and 22, a study between the beginning and the end. It was like an arrow in my heart, an assignment that had to be completed. Not long after, I completed that assignment on my own. What I saw started me out on a life-long study that so far has lasted another 45 years, and still is ongoing. I was hooked on Biblical Theology and a progressive way to understanding the Scriptures.
The comparison showed me that what God had begun in the beginning He would bring to completion in the end. The middle, in turn, would show me how. It would be by the incarnation and cross. The middle was the connecting point and understanding for the two bookends—the beginning and end, the Alpha and Omega of Scripture. With some helps that the Lord revealed for me that I call Bible Hooks, I found I could hang a lot of information on them, and quickly. I was off and running. Though I have never felt like I have caught up to those Bible College seminarians, I press on toward the upward goal of the calling in Christ Jesus, and offer my path as a possible help to your growth in Scripture, especially if you are a newborn believer in Christ.
Paul A. Wright, Th.D.
About the course...
Course length
10 Weeks
This course has been written out of my own personal walk with the Lord. How I grappled with this huge book called the Holy Bible when I was first saved. Consequently, the speech used throughout is not the normal style that demands the author be separated to some degree from the text. Instead of second and third person forms, there are many first-person admonitions and illustrations.
There is also a tremendous amount of information that must be digested. Hopefully this information has been made into some bite-size chunks, although there are some big spoonful’s of material to swallow. That cannot be totally helped. But time and diligence will pay great dividends.
What is recommended, and it is only a recommendation, is that the reader grapple with the verses and questions before going on to looking at the answers. Who knows, you might see something new that I missed. And more importantly you might find yourself amazed at how much the Holy Spirit can teach you, as you sit alone with the material and Him.
It would be helpful at some point if a mentor was available to discuss, clarify, add and even correct, depending upon someone’s theological viewpoint. Or maybe a better way of saying it would be to say that the course is meant for interaction. The mentor should himself have worked his way through the material.
I would even encourage a round-table forum. Here a mentor would sit with 5-10 people so that discussion would come forth from all. I learned early in my teaching that I could always learn something from even the youngest believer, and sometimes marvel at how much wisdom the Holy Spirit releases in a person right away.
Outside of that above, I say, “dive in and enjoy.” One will never exhaust the scriptures. At first it may seem like the bottom of a pyramid. But rejoice, it becomes easier with the Spirit as you climb higher.
May the Lord richly bless you and keep you. May He make His face to shine upon you and grant you peace.