The Book of Daniel, on the surface, tells a powerful story of God’s faithfulness and constancy, even in the midst of great trial. Understanding the book’s symbolic language and images, however, requires some outside research. Join Paul Niskanen, Ph.D., as he analyzes and explains Daniel’s content and symbolism, revealing the book’s rich significance to the New Testament and to modern Christians.
Echoes of Revelation
Daniel is considered a work of apocalyptic literature, meaning that its contents are primarily symbolic. The book does, however, contain real historical figures, and takes place during real historical events. Over eight lectures, Dr. Niskanen explains the relationship between history and symbolism in Daniel, making sense of key figures and themes:
• The close relationship between religion and politics in ancient Israel
• The meaning and significance of Daniel’s dream visions
• God’s hand and the role of free will in human history
• Daniel as a bridge to the New Testament
Far from being an isolated work of spiritual wisdom, Daniel reverberates throughout the New Testament. By illuminating the symbolism and connecting the dots between Daniel and Jesus Christ, Dr. Niskanen’s course shows the breadth and profundity of Daniel’s significance.
Why Study Daniel?
The Book of Daniel invites the reader to explore a unique chapter in salvation history. Today’s Christians can feel intimidated by society’s increasing disdain for religion, something which Daniel understood all too well. God’s faithfulness to Daniel during his persecutions and sufferings is the same faithfulness he offers us today. Daniel is thus a very timely book for today’s Christians, reminding us of the unchanging nature of God’s love and fidelity, even in the midst of darkness.
Daniel demonstrates how God unfolds his plan of salvation through human history. This is a history in which we as Christians participate. Studying Daniel helps us to better understand our place in that history, and it gives us an enhanced perspective on God’s role in that history. In these eight lectures, Dr. Niskanen shows how we can find ourselves in this book, and how it is no less relevant today than in centuries past.
Daniel demonstrates how God unfolds his plan of salvation through human history. This is a history in which we as Christians participate. Studying Daniel helps us to better understand our place in that history, and it gives us an enhanced perspective on God’s role in that history. In these eight lectures, Dr. Niskanen shows how we can find ourselves in this book, and how it is no less relevant today than in centuries past.
- Apocalyptic Literature
- A Strange Book of the Bible
- Kings and Wise Men
- The History Behind Daniel’s Apocalypse
- God and Man in History
- The Dream Visions
- The End of What?
- The Bridge to the New Testament
Your professor for this course is Paul Niskanen. Professor Niskanen received his Bachelor of Arts in French and Religious Studies from Seattle University, his S.T.B. from the Pontifical University Teresianum in Rome, and his Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley, California. He is currently an assistant professor of Theology for the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota.
Professor Niskanen’s publications include, “The Human and the Divine in History: Herodotus and the Book of Daniel,” “Ezekiel, Daniel,” “Yhwh as Father, Redeemer, and Potter in Isaiah 63:7—64:11,” “Kingdoms, Dominions, and the Reign of God in the Book of Daniel,” “Daniel’s Portrait of Antiochus IV: Echoes of a Persian King” and “The Last Words of Jesus.”
He has given many presentations, of which some include, “Agents of God’s Kingdom,” “The Kingdom of God in the Book of Daniel,” “Historical and Literary Reflections on Daniel 11,” “The Death of Antiochus IV in the Book of Daniel,” and “Daniel and Herodotus.”
Professor Niskanen is also a professional member of the Catholic Biblical Association of America as well as the Society of Biblical Literature.
- Lesson Plan
- Quizzes
- Final Essay
- Lecture Notes
- Answer Key
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