I had the enjoyment of teaching world religion and Old Testament at two online universities, University of Phoenix and Grand Canyon University.
Old Testament was especially worthwhile because anything from the outline could also be used in discussed for the New Testament.
KJV John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
This is simple in language but vast in its meaning. Nothing is better than translating one language (Greek) into English, especially because Jesus undoubtably spoke Greek, the language that would influence the Western world and therefore English itself.
My GCU students enjoyed the cross-over from Old to New Testament. Nothing quite equals Creation, Genesis 1, and John 1 - the opening Gospel of Creation, the Triune God expressed in both Testaments, how many centuries apart?
Both Genesis and John clearly express the Holy Trinity, but the befuddled mainline minds of seminary professors and students always cloak the Word of God with their opposition to the efficacious Holy Spirit (hardening rather than enlightening).
I did some Greek study at Augustana College, Rock Island, but Waterloo Seminary was not keen on Greek or Hebrew, the later giving me the Hebrew award because I was the only one to take the class.
Plain English (KJV) is very easy to understand in simple words that carry the power of God's Word. I taught Genesis 1 just as I covered John 1 to graduate students and confirmation students. "All things were made" is quite impressive, even more with All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
The openings of Genesis and John are the same truth with slightly different terms. The Son of God and the Holy Spirit are in both beginnings and many more passages together throughout the Testaments.
I quoted Luther on this point - "The Old Testament is the foundation. The New Testament is a series of sermons that teach us what the Old Testament means." (paraphrased)
