Biblical Scholars
Bible open to the 23rd Psalm
Join us online for a richly engaging Bible study on led by an acknowledged master of biblical history, Each session is offered for one hour on Zoom, beginning and ending in prayer. No homework is required as readings and the study guide will be explored together in class, but the first session is foundational—so please make every effort to attend from the start.
About our current course:
First Peter’s vision of the Christian life: a special study for Advent.
When we approach the season of Advent we think of three distinct “comings” of Christ. The first of the three advents of Jesus Christ is his Incarnation. The Word, the Logos, was made flesh and dwelt among us. The first advent is the advent most familiar to us. It is marked by the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas. The second advent of Jesus Christ is his advent into our hearts, our minds, and our daily lives. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, in our baptism, and in the eucharist, Christ comes to us. The third advent of Jesus Christ is his final advent at the end of the age, the apocalypse. Over the course of the season of Advent, the Church will offer us readings regarding the end of time and our final judgment before our Lord. In his final advent, our Lord comes in glory.
1 Peter addresses all three advents as the early church experienced them in the Christian life. As we study these “catholic” epistles, we should remember that at this period the church was growing principally through adult converstions, rather than infant baptisms. We shall examine the Christian life as 1 Peter sees it under four headings: The life of the Christian before conversion, Christian Initiation - Regeneration, Christian life after Baptism - Sanctification, and the Christian Future – a living hope.
As always, we will consult leading scholars of the present and past in our examination.
About our Instructor:
The Rev. Dr. Ken Kochbeck
Minister of the Gospel, Retired
The Reverend Dr. Kenneth Kochbeck holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Washington University and Master’s and Doctoral degrees from Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis. Following a parish ministry, he has devoted the past 35 years to teaching the Bible and Christian theology in churches and seminar settings across denominations, including service as adjunct faculty at Eden Theological Seminary. He is deeply committed to the teaching ministry as central to the proclamation of the gospel.
In 1970, he married Olivia Ilagan, a music theorist, pianist, and artist. Born in the Philippine Islands and raised in St. Louis, she holds a B.M. in Music Education, an M.S. in Counselor Education, and an M.M. in Music Theory. The Kochbecks have been married for 54 years and have one son, David. In 2017, they retired to Santa Fe, NM.
Link to the text of the bible: New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition