Talbot School of Theology
The Bible and Personal Finance
Money is pervasive in our lives, and the Bible provides necessary wisdom and insight for managing our finances.
A person analyzing financial documents
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$24.946 LessonsWorkshop
Overview

Money touches everything. It is involved in everything we do. We work to make money. We make money to spend money. Just about everything we do involves money. Since money is so pervasive in our lives, many turn to the Bible to gain insight into how God would want us to live out our financial lives. Unfortunately, many find that it is not an easy task. The Bible can seem contradictory at times (should I plan ahead or not care about tomorrow?), leaving us confused. Even Google searches offer little help: websites and blogs offer good financial wisdom, but often they are only loosely tied to a verse or misinterpret the verse all together.

To be sure, there are many great books, resources, and conferences we can all go to that will teach us how to handle our finances well. I recommend that you explore one of those. In this course too, especially when taken in conjunction with Shane Enete’s courses on money management (linked below under the Financial Literacy Series list), will provide you with similar tools. What makes this particular course different? What I’ve tried to do in this curriculum is teach you how to fish instead of just giving you the fish. By the time you’re done, hopefully you’ll be able to start building principles and (especially) application points from the Bible yourself! I believe that when you create these on your own, you will feel a greater sense of ownership and be willing to take them on more easily. You’ll also be able to go beyond the few that I (or anyone else) will provide, and even beyond the topic of personal finance. It is my hope that this course will help you first and foremost fall in love in God’s word even more, and then from that love spur you on to a life of stewardship of God’s precious resources.

This course features the teachings of Dr. Daniel E. Kim, Professor of Old Testament and Semitics at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University.


Each lesson contains:

  • Videos in which Dr. Kim unpacks the lesson topic
  • A short quiz to help you recall what you learned
  • Reflections to help you integrate the material into your own life

This course is the first course in the Financial Literacy Series of courses available on Biola LEARN. The full list of courses in this series, present in their recommended order of completion, is:

  1. The Bible and Personal Finance
  2. Personal Financial Planning
  3. Basic Money Management (Basic Money Management for Church Leaders also available)
What You Earn
Instructor
Daniel Kim
Talbot School of Theology

Prior to joining the Talbot’s Old Testament faculty full-time, Dr. Kim spent over 15 years on the Biola campus as an alumnus of both Biola and Talbot, and later as adjunct faculty. After majoring in Business as an undergraduate at Biola, he worked as an accountant and financial analyst before pursuing the pastorate and biblical studies. Dr. Kim maintained a connection to the business world during his theological education, serving as a corporate controller and later opening a franchise business. 

At present, he also teaches classes at Biola’s Crowell School of Business. His Old Testament research interests include the Historical Books of the Old Testament, the Targumim, Mesopotamian literature, and methods of biblical exegesis. At Talbot School of Theology, Dr. Kim is passionate about teaching Hebrew and Old Testament exegesis so that future pastors would be well-equipped to teach God’s Word accurately and effectively for the church. Having been both a pastor and elder, he has a fervent heart for the local church, and in particular for special needs ministries. His sincere hope is to see both business professionals and vocational pastors join together for the sake of God’s Kingdom.

Get more information about Talbot's online degree programs

Syllabus

Lesson Introduction: What does the Bible have...
Overview
Introduction, Part 1
Video
The Bible and Your Finances
Reflection
Introduction, Part 2
Video
Bible Misunderstandings
Reflection
Introduction, Part 3
Video
Bible Examples
Reflection
Introduction, Part 4
Video
Lesson 1 - Quiz
Quiz
Lesson 1 Assignment: Bible and Money
Reflection
Lesson Introduction: What place does theology...
Overview
Theology and Revelation, Part 1
Video
Theology and Revelation, Part 2
Video
God Focus
Reflection
Genesis, Part 1
Video
What is God Like?
Reflection
Genesis, Part 2
Video
God Owns Everything
Reflection
Genesis, Part 3
Video
Lesson 2 - Quiz
Quiz
Lesson 2 Assignment: Theology, Revelation, and Genesis
Reflection
Lesson Introduction:Why idolatry? Is money an...
Overview
Idolatry, Part 1
Video
Idolatry, Part 2
Video
Idolatry, Part 3
Video
Idolatry, Part 4
Video
Idolatry, Part 5
Video
Idolatry, Part 6
Video
Lesson 3 - Quiz
Quiz
Lesson 3 Assignment: Idolatry
Reflection
Lesson Introduction:In this lesson, you will...
Overview
Your Opinion of the Old Testament
Reflection
Torah, Part 1
Video
Marginalizing the Old Testament
Reflection
Torah, Part 2
Video
Torah, Part 3
Video
Torah, Part 4
Video
Torah, Part 5
Video
Lesson 4 - Quiz
Quiz
Lesson 4 Assignment: Torah
Reflection
Lesson Introduction:What is a proverb? What is...
Overview
Proverbs, Part 1
Video
Proverbs, Part 2
Video
Proverbs, Part 3
Video
Proverbs, Part 4
Video
Proverbs, Part 5
Video
Proverbs, Part 6
Video
Lesson 5 - Quiz
Quiz
Proverbs Verses on Finance
Reading
Lesson 5 Assignment: Proverbs
Reflection
Lesson Introduction: Are themes found in the...
Overview
Compassion and Giving, Part 1
Video
Giving to Missions
Reflection
Compassion and Giving, Part 2
Video
Compassion and Giving, Part 3
Video
Compassion and Giving, Part 4
Video
Lesson 6 Assignment: Find Your (Com)Passion
Reflection
Conclusion
Video
Recommended Resources
Resource
Course Evaluation
Resource

Course FAQ

Each lesson is designed to take approximately 2 hours, depending on how deeply you engage the reflection questions. Since this is a self-paced course, the time it will take you to complete it will depend on the speed with which you want to progress through the course.

No. The course contains everything you need to successfully complete the course. There are resources recommended at the end of the course that you are free to purchase if you wish to pursue further study on the course topic.

Since this course is designed as a completely self-paced experience, you will not have any interaction with the professor during the course.