Scott Hahn’s “Genesis to Jesus” Bible Study Opens Up Salvation History for Students – The Troubadour Online

VERONICA NOVOTNY
WRITER

Students flocked to the “From Genesis to Jesus” Bible study, written by Scott Hahn and moderated by an expert from the Saint Paul Center for Biblical Theology, at 7 pm on Wednesday September 5th in the Apulian auditorium.

Hahn, who holds a doctorate in biblical theology, wrote the Bible study “Genesis to Jesus” to meet a need for Bible study based on Catholic teaching. Raquel Lopez, who received his master’s degree in divinity from the Franciscan University of Steubenville and now works with the Saint Paul Center, personally led the Bible study, which focused on the history of salvation and the creation of the family of God by the covenant.

As Christians reading the scriptures, “we are well-versed in the history of salvation,” Lopez said.

Lopez explained that the people and events of the Old Testament correspond to the Redeemer and the salvation won in the Gospels. She encouraged her audience to “pay attention to the readings even in daily Mass (and) you will notice many parallels” between the Old and New Testaments, which she called “typologies”. One of those typologies she noted was when Moses led the Israelites into the Promised Land, which was both a historic event and a foreshadowing of the crucifixion of Christ and the redemption of the whole world.

“Genesis to Jesus” is a seven week course designed to teach biblical history from God’s perspective, starting with the kinship covenants He created with patriarchs like Adam and Moses and continuing in the new covenant established in the person of Jesus Christ.

Wednesday’s opening night covered the importance of scripture study and the basics of Bible history, but it’s not too late to participate. Bible study will continue for the next six Wednesdays, ending October 17. If a student attends at least four nights of the study, St. Paul’s Center will grant him a certificate of completion. Several professors offer additional credits to students who complete the program.

Alex Landrigan, a junior at Franciscan, said she originally came for the extra credit, “but now that I’m here I’m pretty excited for the rest.”

Lauren Donnelly, a junior transfer student, agreed with Landrigan and said, “I’ve never had a Bible study before, (so) it’s a new experience,” adding that she is grateful for have such rewarding after-school programs offered on campus.