Bible Curriculum | The Dunham School, Baton Rouge, LA

Bible 5 is an introductory study of Scripture that orients fifth-grade students to the nature, structure, and authority of God's Word before moving them through the major narrative arc of the Old Testament. Beginning with foundational instruction in biblical navigation and the doctrine of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16–17), students trace the character of God and the nature of man through Genesis, following the stories of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. The second half of the year pivots to the Gospel of John, where students examine the person and works of Christ across seven selected miracles, culminating in the crucifixion and resurrection. The course closes with brief study in Philippians and James, inviting students to begin applying the life of Christ to their own circumstances.

Bible 6 continues the Old Testament narrative where Bible 5 concluded, guiding sixth-grade students through the life of Moses, the Exodus, and the wilderness journey as expressions of both God's character and humanity's persistent tendency toward sin and rebellion. Students study the plagues, the Passover, the giving of the Law, and Israel's entry into the Promised Land through the lens of the school's theological framework, attending equally to the character of God and the nature of man in each narrative unit. The second half of the year transitions to the Gospel of Mark, where students examine the person and works of Christ through his miracles, teaching, parables, and passion, and the course concludes with Paul's letter to the Colossians and Peter's first epistle, connecting the work of Christ to the believer's life in the present.

Bible 7 continues the sweep of Old Testament history, tracing God's faithfulness through the conquest of Canaan, the period of the Judges, and selected narratives from Daniel and Esther before turning to the prophetic witness of Isaiah. Students examine each narrative through the lens of God's character as revealed in Exodus 34:6–7 and the human patterns of faith, failure, and redemption that recur throughout Israel's story. The second half of the year moves into the Gospel of Luke, where students follow the birth, ministry, teaching, parables, passion, and resurrection of Christ, including dedicated attention to the Lord's Prayer, the nature of significance, and the call to service. The course closes with the early chapters of Acts and brief study in 1 Thessalonians and 1 Timothy, connecting the story of the early church to the Christian life students are called to live.

Bible 8 places the Old Testament narrative of Israel's monarchy in conversation with the person and work of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Gospel of Matthew. Students begin by examining the books of Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, Daniel, Esther, and Isaiah, attending throughout to the recurring pattern of Exodus 34:6–7 and what each narrative reveals about both the character of God and the nature of man. Messianic prophecy in Isaiah serves as a hinge into the New Testament, where students spend the second half of the year in Matthew, studying the birth and temptation of Christ, the Sermon on the Mount, the parables, and the miracles, before concluding with the passion, resurrection, and the life of the early church in Acts. Paul's letters to the Thessalonians and to Timothy close the year by calling students to consider what faithful Christian living looks like in their own generation.

Religion I is an in-depth inductive study of the Gospel of John, with a focus on the life of Jesus: who He is, what He did, what He says about Himself, and what He says to each of us. Students learn how to study the Bible inductively and discover for themselves the truths it contains. Students also read the book of Proverbs and learn to study the Bible devotionally. Weekly quizzes encourage the memorization of scripture, and Harkness discussions facilitate a working out of the students' faith (1 credit).

Religion II is a thorough study of the attributes of God as revealed in the Old Testament and His interaction with the Israelites and Gentiles. Students gain an understanding of the geography, the history, the major theological themes, and the characteristics of God. The course applies strong reading, writing, and discussion skills to Scripture by observing the text, interpreting it, and applying the truths learned to their lives (1 credit).

Religion III is a concentrated study of the New Testament. Students apply strong reading, writing, and discussion skills to Scripture by observing the text, interpreting it, and applying the truths learned from it to life. Themes include the character of God, the supremacy of Jesus Christ, the role of the Holy Spirit, leading by service, submission to others, conflict resolution, and pride versus humility (1 credit)

Religion IV is a course designed to prepare the graduating senior with Scriptural tools and other resources to address common spiritual questions encountered in a college setting. The course includes abbreviated inductive study of the books of Romans and Revelation, worldview comparative analysis, and Christian apologetics. Worldview comparative analysis examines Christianity, Islam, Secular Humanism, Marxism, Cosmic Humanism, and Post-Modernism from the perspectives of their views on theology, philosophy, ethics, and biology (1 credit).