Congratulations on completing the Bible course. Some of you returned from last semester. Some started only the second semester. We took a long journey through biblical culture and literature, exploring many issues over roughly a thousand year history.
If I were staying here another year I'd open a two-semester course on just the New Testament, where we could explore the varied theological perspectives of the NT writers (Paul's future eschatology, John's realized eschatology; the tension between an indicative state of grace ("you are saved in Jesus") and the imperative to stay in grace ("therefore reflect that grace by acting as Christians"), as the German theologian Rudolf Bultmann put it.
There are the various millennial issues (the Second Coming of Jesus), the Rapture, etc.
There are ecclesiological issues: did Jesus found a church? If so, what kind of church? And so on.
There's the tension between Gnostic dualistic ideas and a monistic view carried over from the Hebrew Scriptures.
There's the nature of "world" (a basic theme in NT literature) vs. Spirit.
There are the many christologies (who Jesus was, who the Gospels said he was, etc.)
There's the difference between prophecy and apocalypse.
We covered all these issues, but, due to time constraints, were prevented from going into further depth.
Do not think we have exhausted biblical issues. If you get a chance with another Bible teacher, I would advise you to follow up. Of course, with Internet resources, you can continue these studies on your own.
Best of luck!
Richard.
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