Posted: April 3rd, 2015

Biblical Worldview

Biblical Worldview

You will write 4 essays (double spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font).  The first essay must be 1,000–1,200 words, and the following essays m“ust be 750–1,000 words each. All essays will be responding to the following 4 Old Testament question prompts. While additional research is encouraged, you must rely upon the Bible and The Essence of the Old Testament textbook as primary sources. Format each essay using current APA, MLA, or Turabian style (whichever corresponds to your degree program).

Essay Question 1: Biblical Worldview

Rationale for the Biblical Worldview Essay
Every person has a worldview whether he realizes it or not. What is a worldview? James W. Sire defines a worldview as . . . “a commitment, a fundamental orientation of the heart, that can be expressed as a story or in a set of presuppositions (assumptions which may be true, partially true or entirely false) that we hold (consciously or subconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic constitution of reality, and that provides the foundation on which we live and move and have our being.”
Stated more succinctly, “ . . . a worldview is simply the total set of beliefs that a person has about the biggest questions in life.”  F. Leroy Forlines describes such questions as the “inescapable questions of life.”  Life’s inescapable questions include the following: “Is there a God? If so, what is He like? How can I know Him? Who am I? Where am I? How can I tell right from wrong? Is there life after death? What should I and what can I do about guilt? How can I deal with my inner pain?”  Life’s biggest, inescapable questions relate to whether there is a God, human origins, identity, and purpose, and the hereafter, just to mention a few.
Satisfying answers to the “inescapable questions of life” are provided by the Holy Scriptures. The Holy Scriptures consisting of the Old and New Testaments form the starting point and foundation for the Biblical Worldview. More specifically, the revealed history and narrative commentary in Genesis 1–11 provides a sure foundation for biblical theology that when applied to the heart and mind of individuals, manifests itself in a biblical worldview.
While Genesis 1–11 does far more than address worldview matters, it does by extension address most of the “inescapable questions of life.” Theologically, Genesis 1–11 answers questions regarding God’s existence, his nature, man’s origins, his relationship to creation, God, and his fellow man (and woman). Also, Genesis 1–11 reveals the history and reality pertaining to the origin of sin, the fallen condition, and the imposition of limitation placed upon mankind. Finally, in Genesis 1–11 we see the promise of redemption that provides the theological trajectory flowing through the rest of scripture. Understood in the context of worldview and its practical application to daily life and experience, Genesis 1–11 addresses such issues as the sanctity of life, the sanctity of marriage, role relationships, racial harmony, the importance of family, creation care, and a broad array of other social, political, and personal matters.

Instructions for the Biblical Worldview Essay
In a 1,000–1,200-word essay, describe what Genesis 1–11 teaches regarding the natural world, human identity, human relationships, and civilization. Furthermore, explain how this teaching on these topics affects your worldview. Make sure that you address each of these topics in your essay (it is suggested that you organize your essay around these four broad categories).
Your essay should include an introduction with a clearly stated thesis. Your essay should have a conclusion that ties together the main points with a reiteration of the thesis. The body of your essay must address the specified components of the assignment, with a focus on worldview and its implementation in the modern context. Do not just summarize the content of Genesis 1–11. Rather, build your essay around the required worldview categories (natural world, human identity, human relationships, and civilization), the basis for a specific set of worldview assumptions drawn from Genesis 1–11, and the practical ramifications of these in today’s society.
Your essay must be typed in a Word document using Times New Roman 12-point font. It should contain 1,000–1,200 words. Do not footnote Scripture references, but cite them parenthetically within the body of the essay following the quotation or allusion to the biblical text. Format the essay in a single Word document using APA, MLA, or Turabian style (whichever corresponds to your degree program).