Ideas for Bible Research Projects

Biblical Literature Oral Reports

A major goal of the oral report assignment in Introduction to Biblical Literature is to help you learn to use Bible dictionaries and encyclopedias.

Here's what to do:

Sign up on the sheet on the classroom bulletin board that has a list of dates and topics. Record your presentation date in your assignment calendar.
Prepare a 2-3-page written report on the topic
- Use the starter questions below to guide your research.
- Research your topic by interviewing a pastor and then looking in at least three Bible dictionaries.
- Read some of the biblical passages mentioned in the Bible dictionaries.
- Prepare a typed, double-spaced report in your own words.
- Do not succumb to the temptation to simply copy material from the Bible dictionaries or other sources. Put all direct quotations in quotation marks and cite their sources. [ Sample bibliography entries ]
- Prepare a bibliography page to attach at the end of the report. List the sources you used, including your interview with a pastor. [ Bibliography guidance ]
Give your oral report on the date you selected.
Turn in your written report that same day.

Drawing of young
man with tousled hair reading from a sheet of paper

Here's how to get the class excited about what you discovered:

Make your oral report last 5 to 8 minutes.
Do not read your manuscript word for word.
Use creative presentation methods. Use visual aids, such as a poster, slides, or a handout.

Bible Dictionaries and Encyclopedias in Print

Anchor Bible Dictionary, ed. David Noel Freedman, 6 vols., 1992.
Harper's Bible Dictionary, ed. Paul J. Achtemeier, 1985.
Harper's Encyclopedia of Bible Life, ed. Madeline S. and J. Lane Miller.
Holman Bible Dictionary, ed. Trent C. Butler, 1991.
Illustrated Bible Dictionary, ed. J. D. Douglas, 3 vols., 1980.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley, 4 vols., 1979-1988.
Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, ed. George A. Buttrick, 4 vols. plus supplement, 1962-1976.
Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, ed. Merrill C. Tenney, 5 vols., 1975.

Topics and starter questions

(with thanks to Dr. Dennis Bratcher)

Canon: What do we mean by a "canon" of Scripture? How does the Jewish canon differ from Christian canons? How do Roman Catholic and various Orthodox Old Testament canons differ from the Protestant Old Testament canon? Why?
Names of God: What are the major names and titles used for God in the Old Testament? Where did Israel get these names? What is their significance?
Abraham: Tell Abraham's life story. How did Abraham's faith develop throughout his life? How does the Old Testament account compare with the New Testament view of Abraham (Hebrews 11)?
Jacob: Tell Jacob's life story. What was Jacob like as a person? How does he change in the story?
Joseph: Briefly tell Joseph's life story. Did God do great miracles for Joseph? What was Joseph's final view of God's work in his life?
Moses: Tell Moses' life story. What challenges did Moses face as a leader? How then could he have led the Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt? [ more on Moses ]
Aaron: Tell Aaron's life story. Why is he an important Bible character? For what act did God punish Aaron?
Passover: What is Passover? How was it celebrated in Old Testament times? How is it celebrated by modern Jews? What significance does Passover have for Christians?
Exodus: Recount the event and its importance rather than just describing the book. Describe the route taken.
Joshua: Tell Joshua's life story. In what ways is he important to Bible history?
Canaanites and Philistines: Who were the various groups of people that were collectively called Canaanites? What was the relationship of the Philistines to Phoenicia and Crete? Why did the Canaanites and Philistines pose challenges for the Israelites?
Judges: What was a judge? Summarize the period of the judges. Look especially at three or four of them and their time of leadership. Were these judges godly people?
Samuel: Briefly tell Samuel's life story, beginning with his mother's prayer for a child. What role did Samuel play in Israel's history? What was Samuel's relationship with Israel's first kings?
Saul (Old Testament): Tell Saul's life story. What factors caused his downfall? What good things came out of his reign?
David: Tell David's life story. What were his greatest accomplishments? In what area did he fail?
Solomon: How did Solomon become king of Israel? How would you describe his reign? What were his greatest achievements? In what areas did he fail?
Priests and the Temple: What were the two main responsibilities of Old Testament priests? What role did the temple play in Israelite society? How did abuses involving the temple and priesthood reflect disobedience to God?
Baal: Who was Baal? How did Baal fit into the worship practices of ancient Canaanites? Why did Baal worship have so much influence on the Israelites?
Elijah: Recount Elijah's life story. What were his important contributions to Israel's understanding of God?
Assyria: What are two major points of contact in the Old Testament between the Israelites and the Assyrians? Why were the Assyrians so feared in the ancient world? How did Assyrian rule affect the northern kingdom of Israel?
Prophets / Prophecy: Why is the popular idea that prophets predict the future not adequate to describe Old Testament prophets? What was a biblical prophet's primary role? What does it mean to say that a prophet is "called" by God?
Amos, Hosea: When and to whom did these two prophets communicate their message? How do the messages compare? Why is Amos so concerned with social justice? What is the significance of Hosea's use of the metaphor of marriage?
Hezekiah, Josiah: Briefly tell the circumstances surrounding the reigns of these two kings. Why are they remembered so positively? What were their major achievements? In what areas did they fail?
Ahaz, Manasseh: Briefly tell the circumstances surrounding the reigns of these two kings. Why are they remembered so negatively? What were their major achievements? In what areas did they fail?
Isaiah: Briefly recount the historical and religious situation during Isaiah's ministry as a prophet. What was Isaiah's original message to Judah and Jerusalem? How and why did it change?
Jeremiah: What kind of person was Jeremiah? What was the basic content of his message to Judah and Jerusalem? Was his message accepted? Why or why not?
Babylonia, Exile: Briefly recount the important aspects of the Babylonian conquest of Judah and Jerusalem. Why did the Babylonians deport people to Babylon? What conditions did the exiles face, and how did those conditions affect their faithfulness to God?
Ezekiel: Briefly tell Ezekiel's life story. What were some of the symbolic actions that he performed? At what point did his message change from negative to positive? Why?
Persia, Return from Exile: How did Persia conquer Babylon? Why did the Persian king Cyrus allow the Israelites to return home? What was the Israelite response to this freedom?
Ezra and Nehemiah: Tell their life stories. Why were they key figures in Israel's history?
Maccabees: Who were the Maccabees? What were the circumstances surrounding the Maccabean rebellion against Seleucid rule? What precipitated the rebellion? What was the result?
Rome and the Roman Empire: When and how did Rome begin to affect Jewish life in Palestine? How did Roman rule affect Jesus and His followers?
Herod: Who was Herod the Great? What role did he have in the life of Jesus? Who were the different members of Herod's family that had a role in the New Testament? How did members of Herod's family interact with Jesus and other New Testament figures?
Pilate: What office did Pilate hold? What type of person was he? What role did he have in the New Testament?
The gospel and the Four Gospels: What does the word gospel mean? What does it mean to say that there is one gospel? What led to the writing of the four Gospels? How do these four accounts communicate the same good news?
Synagogue: When and why did the synagogue emerge? What is its significance in the New Testament?
Sanhedrin: What was the Sanhedrin? Where was it located? What type of people were a part of it? How much power did it have? How does the Sanhedrin relate to the story of Jesus and other events in the New Testament?
John the Baptist: How do the Gospels portray the life, work, and message of John the Baptist? What are some similarities and differences between John and Jesus?
Old Testament Quotations in the New Testament: How and why does the New Testament quote or make reference to the Old Testament? Give examples to illustrate your answer.
Samaritans: What references are made to the Samaritans in the New Testament? What was their origin? What are some of their religious ideas? What were their points of agreement and/or conflict with the Jews? What was Jesus' attitude toward the Samaritans?
Pharisees / Sadducees: Describe these groups. What points of agreement and/or disagreement were there between them and between them and Jesus?
Peter: What does the New Testament say about Peter? What is his significance in the New Testament?
Paul: Briefly tell Paul's life story, referencing his letters and the book of Acts.
Disciples, Apostles: What do these two words mean? What are the differences, if any, between an apostle, a disciple, and a follower of Jesus? Why did Jesus choose twelve apostles? What does the New Testament say about these apostles: James, the son of Zebedee; Andrew; Philip; Thomas; Matthew?
Judaizers (see Paul's letter to the Galatians): What was their message? In what books of the New Testament are their teachings most strongly condemned?
Gnosticism: What does the word gnosticism mean? What are some Gnostic concepts and how and why did they emerge? How are the basic ideas of gnosticism different from biblical ideas that you have learned so far?
John the Apostle: What does the New Testament tell us about the personal life of the Apostle John, his relationship to Jesus, and his apostolic role?

Tempted to cheat on a class assignment? Before you do, read Southern Nazarene University's academic integrity policy

Want to get started on your memory work?

Is your oral report not due for a while? Do you want to get started on memorizing the Bible passages? View the Bible memory passages.

-- Howard Culbertson, hculbert@snu.edu