Master of DivinityWholehearted Devotion
to God’s Word

The Bible core of the M.Div. program consists of 33 credits. This sequence will equip you to study the Bible in its original language and context. Some of the courses you may take include the following:

• BBL-510 Greek I: A study of the elements of Koine Greek.
• BBL-511 Greek II: A continuation of Greek I with exercises in reading
  the Greek New Testament, introduction to NT Textual Criticism and the use of basic lexical and syntactical tools.
• BBL-516 Hebrew I: An introduction to the basic grammar and vocabulary of biblical Hebrew.
• BBL-517 Hebrew II: A continuation of Hebrew I with emphasis on grammar, syntax and expansion of vocabulary by means of translating simple texts.
• BBL-501 Biblical Hermeneutics: An introduction to the process of determining the original meaning and contemporary significance of biblical texts.
• BBL-514 Old Testament Foundations: An introduction to the historical and cultural contexts of the events and authors of the Old Testament, as well as an examination of the literary features and theological emphases of each book.
• BBL-515 New Testament Foundations: An introduction to the historical and cultural contexts of the events and authors of the New Testament, as well as an examination of the literary features and theological emphases of each book.
• BBL-672 N.T. I: Intro to Exegesis: An introduction to the theory of translation and practice of exegesis. Selections in the Pauline epistles are used to apply grammatical and hermeneutical principles of Greek exegesis.
• BBL-677 N.T. II: The Gospels: Students will become aware of the rudiments of historical, source, form, redaction and literary critical methods. They will also develop their own skills in the exegesis of Gospel texts with a view to biblical theology and the ministry of the word.
• BBL-678 N.T. III: The General Epistles: An introduction to the study of Hebrews, the General Epistles and Revelation, emphasizing Greek exegesis and biblical theology. Students will consider the historical setting of these books and develop their exegetical skills by working with selected texts.
• BBL-640 OT I: Introduction to Hebrew Exegesis: An introduction to the methods of Hebrew exegesis, including textual criticism, syntactical and discourse analysis and lexical studies, with further development of skills in translating and understanding Hebrew narrative.
• BBL-641 OT II: Exegesis in the Pentateuch: This course engages questions of composition, ancient history and culture, New Testament correlation, contemporary challenges to religion and ethics in the Old Testament, as well as the relevance and communication of the canonical message of these texts to contemporary culture.
• BBL-642 OT III: Exegesis in the Prophets & Writings: A study of the content and biblical theology of Joshua through Malachi, including exegesis of selected texts from the Prophets, Psalms and wisdom literature. This course engages questions of composition, ancient history and culture, New Testament correlation, as well as the relevance and communication of the canonical message of these texts to contemporary culture.

Through historical, systematic, moral, and philosophical theology students consider the context of the Bible as developed by God’s people in the history of the church and in contemporary cultures. Theology builds on the foundation of biblical exegesis with an aim to support the proclamation of the Gospel to the world.  

• THE-501 Program Introduction Seminar: This course prepares students for the rigors of graduate scholarship by honing the skills of graduate research, reading and writing
• THE-540 Systematic Theology I: This course introduces and practices a metanarrative for doing theology. The biblical narratives and propositions are heard in the context of the story that begins with creation, is centered in Jesus’ first coming and reaches its culmination in the new heavens and earth
• THE-640 Systematic Theology II: This course continues our metanarrative theology by examining the Christian story of creation, fall, redemption and consummation, with special attention given to the nature and task of humanity, the distortion of the world through sin and the redemptive work and person of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
• THE-641 Systematic Theology III: This course will examine in detail the doctrine of salvation (soteriology), the church (ecclesiology), the basic elements of pastoral theology (internal and external call to the ministry, ordination, ministry of the word and sacraments, church discipline and pastoral spiritual formation) and the four last things (death, judgment, heaven and hell).
• Theology Electives (9 credits)

Ministry courses guide the student to integrate biblical and theological studies into a philosophy of ministry for Christian service. Ministry programming equips the student to engage in practical theology through the proclamation of scripture, the spiritual formation of believers, and the extension of biblical witness to people around the world.

• MIN-500 Christian Spiritual Formation: An investigation into the meaning of biblical Christianity and its relationship to faith and practice within contemporary cultural contexts. Special attention is given to the corporate dimensions of spirituality and spiritual formation.
• MIN-685 Ministry Residency I -The student will get acquainted with their specific ministry culture. Through the student’s ministry, interaction with their mentor, contact with other ministry residency students and their own personal reflection, the student will lay a foundation for their journey in a ministry context while gaining feedback that will help them in preparation for ministry. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to articulate goals for personal growth and ministry competency, track and evaluate their time management, establish the discipline of journaling and reflection, apply regular feedback from their mentor and be relationally connected with their ministry context as they invest time and energy in establishing relationships and support.
• MIN-686 Ministry Residency II Students will explore the importance of one’s personal spiritual formation in ministry (e.g., discipline of confession, dealing with grief, ministry burnout, ministry leader self-care, the discipline of simplification, etc.). Students will engage their ministry mentor on the following topics: leading board/committee meetings, strategic planning and facilitating staff meetings.
• MIN-781 Ministry Residency III Explore ministry areas including classroom teaching; pastoral duties (e.g., funerals, pre-marital counseling, weddings, etc.); implementing a ministry initiative; cross-cultural immersion/engagement; and focusing on specificity of ministerial call.
• General Electives (9 credits)