Master of Arts in Biblical Studies
DESCRIPTION
The Master of Arts in Biblical Studies equips students to develop exegetical and hermeneutical skills in interpreting Christian Scriptures, broaden awareness of issues in biblical interpretation, understand the historical and cultural backgrounds of the Old and New Testaments, demonstrate skills for biblical research, communicate God’s Word effectively to build up the church, and engage contemporary issues for faithful witness to Christ.
TARGET GROUP
This program is suitable for students who are seeking to be trained as Bible teachers in the local church or Bible school. It will provide a foundation to prepare students for further graduate studies in Biblical Studies or various ministries in a church or para-church setting.
FOUNDATION COURSES
CORE COURSES
ELECTIVE COURSES
FOUNDATION COURSES
| Integrative Introduction to Bible, Culture, and Theology | This course aids students in the development of a biblically rooted, theologically formed, and culturally competent approach to learning and life. In addition to offering a basic introduction to biblical interpretation, theological method, and contextualization, the course illuminates the way in which these disciplines work together, equipping students to develop and employ all three of these disciplines in an integrative manner. (1.5-lecture units-course; 1.5 hours per week) |
| Theology 1: God The Creator | This course introduces students to Christian teaching about God’s being (theology proper) and works (revelation, creation, humanity). Students gain a deeper understanding of historic Christian commitments in these areas and grow in their ability to assess and defend those commitments with biblical and theological reasoning, and with humility and charity. This course gives special attention to the spiritual and practical implications of God’s triunity, humanity’s creation in the image of God, and the Christian understanding of the spirit world. (1.5-lecture units-course; 1.5 hours per week) |
| Servant-Steward Leadership | This course equips students with the biblical, theoretical, and spiritual foundations for understanding servant-steward leadership. In this Christ-centered approach, a leader’s character, heart, and core values inform every aspect of their life, relationships, and work. Students explore their uniqueness and calling, personal life, and personal spiritual formation in the context of their own leadership story. Servant-steward leadership insights are applied to overcoming the sacred-secular divide, leading out of spiritual authority, evaluating leadership impact, and leading in light of culture and context. (3-lecture units-course; 3 hours per week) |
| Intro to Biblical Hermeneutics | This course equips students with the basic skills, tools, and methodologies for interpreting and applying the Bible. Deriving theologial principles from the intended meaning and apply them in a culturally relevant way. (3-lecture units-course; 3 hours per week |
| Building Disciples | This course equips students with the biblical foundation, core principles, and practical skills for contextualized disciple-making. Students develop as insightful practitioners, discerning how to use appropriate transferable tools for evangelism, follow-up, training, and multiplying disciples. Spiritual movement dynamics are explored and adapted for specific ministry contexts. (1.5-lecture units-course; 1.5 hours per week) |
| Critical Thinking and Writing | This course is designed to prepare students for effective basic research and writing as Christian leaders graduating with MA and MDiv degrees, or equivalent certificates. This course is the foundation for effective research and writing. It introduces students to the use of library and internet resources, and the mechanics of good writing, reading comprehension, note-taking, and paper formatting to help them produce quality assignments and ministry-related presentations. (1.5-lecture units-course; 1.5 hours per week) |
| Teaching for Life Change in Small Groups | This course presents an overview of education that is anchored in biblical principles and the example of Jesus Christ, the Master Teacher. Students apply principles of how God designed people to change using an educational process that focuses on and fosters life change. Students practice designing a plan and facilitating small group discussions of biblical passages. (1.5-lecture units-course; 1.5 hours per week) |
| Storyline of the Bible | Students will learn the history of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and be equipped to situate major people, events, and each biblical book into its appropriate place in the Bible’s storyline. (3-lecture units-course; 3 hours per week) |
| Theology 2: God The Redeemer | This course introduces students to Christian teaching about the person and work of Christ (Christology and soteriology). As students gain familiarity with Scriptural teaching and historic Christian commitments in these areas, they will be equipped to recognize and respond to contemporary challenges, and to bear witness to Christ’s Lordship over all creation. The course gives special attention to the implications of the person and work of Christ, including students’ personal identity in Christ, the implications of salvation in their own context, and the Spirit’s ongoing work of conforming disciples to the image of Christ. (3-lecture units-course; 3 hours per week) |
| Team-Based Leadership | This course equips students with biblical principles, contemporary scholarship, and practical skills related to achieving a common mission and vision through a team. Principles of healthy team dynamics spanning personal differences, gender, and culture are examined. Students explore their own strengths and giftings, interpersonal styles, and personal blind spots. They learn skills for understanding others, adapting to the team, resolving conflicts, and communicating effectively. Principles of team leadership, team planning, and team decision making are applied to work, ministry, and family contexts. (3-lecture units-course; 3 hours per week) |
| Contextualization: From Biblical Text to Cultural Context | The purpose of this course is to equip students to apply Scripture faithfully to all aspects of their cultural context on the one hand and, on the other hand, to evaluate cultural values, beliefs and practices from a scriptural perspective so that appropriate changes can be made. Students will be able to apply an interdisciplinary approach to contextualization that integrates theology, biblical studies and cultural anthropology, resulting in practical solutions to long-standing as well as contemporary questions about living and witnessing in diverse cultures. (3-lecture units-course; 3 hours per week) |
| Theology 3: God The Restorer | This course introduces students to Christian teaching about God the Spirit (pneumatology), the church (ecclesiology), Christian living (ethics), and the future (eschatology). As students gain familiarity with biblical teaching and historic Christian commitments in these areas, they will improve in their ability to recognize and respond to contemporary challenges. The course gives special attention to the development of contextually sensitive moral frameworks, the place of the church in God’s mission to the world, and the Christian hope in God’s renewal of all things. (1.5-lecture units-course; 1.5 hours per week) |
| World Missions | “Just before returning to heaven, Jesus gave his disciples what is known as The Great Commission, which says, “Go and make disciples. . .” (Matt. 28:19-20). This course engages the students to see how they can be personally engaged with the world through evangelism and discipleship, which is crucial to the completion of the Great Commission. This short course will explore three areas related to missions: the Biblical basis for missions, the history of missions, and the future of missions. This course will also provide students with an opportunity to practice evangelism through the creation of a gospel presentation.” (1.5-lecture units-course; 1.5 hours per week) |
| Applied Learning for Strategic Impact (Internship) | This program assists students in confirming their calling through an individual or team (two or more students) project to be completed over four weeks in the summer of the first academic year. Students develop skills in self and team leadership, ministry, and interpersonal relationships. It is a platform to help students start or expand a ministry through high impact trainings (HIT), apply their learning in a selected sector-driven ministry, or a combination of both. The internship is student-led, though faculty and/or external ministry practitioners supervise and mentor students, evaluating their progress and addressing character and relationship issues as they arise. (1.5-lecture units-course; 1.5 hours per week) |
CORE COURSES
| Designing and Teaching High Impact Trainings | This course introduces the principles and skills of developing curricula for a specific educational context such as formal education, church trainings, marketplace seminars, and other multi-session teaching settings. Students learn an educational process of designing training programs for a specific context that includes audience analysis, identifying needs, setting outcome-based objectives, developing sessions, and making a syllabus. In addition, students learn adult education principles and practices and are exposed to multiple teaching opportunities using achievement-based objectives, effective lecture techniques, active learning, in-class tasks, graphic organizers, and handouts. (3-lecture units-course; 3 hours per week) |
| In the World: Christians and Current Issues | This course sharpens students’ critical theological skills through application of theological method to a variety of social, ethical, and ecclesiological concerns. Students gain familiarity with the contours of significant contemporary issues (e.g. LBGTQ + issues, poverty, the impact of internet and social media), and bring a variety of theological resources together in order to foster thoughtful Christian witness and discipleship in today’s world. (3-lecture units-course; 3 hours per week) |
| Field Ministry | This course equips the students with the laboratory environment to train, contextualize and experience spiritual multiplication through a weekly off-campus, team-based field work. The course is the students’ platform to apply the learnings from the courses they are taking and reflect these in light of disciple-making, God’s faithfulness and their heart condition. |
| Iron Sharpening Group | The Iron-Sharpening Group (ISG) is an intentional community designed for students to participate in and experience spiritual transformation. Spiritual formation involves God reaching deeply into the spirit of each individual to accomplish His divine work. “The more we become like Christ in the way we live in relationship with people individually and corporately, the more those people will see the light of the glory of Christ in us and will be thereby transformed.” (Averbeck, 2008) The Apostle Paul summarizes well the process of spiritual transformation, “Rather speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up into Him who is the head, into Christ. From whom the whole body joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16) |
| Capstone | |
| Thesis (for thesis track) | |
| Portfolio (for non-thesis track) | |
| Comprehensive Examination |
ELECTIVE COURSES
To be determined