Course Description -Th.M.

MASTER OF THEOLOGY

OLD TESTAMENT COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Course	Descriptive Title	Hours
BITH 500	Understanding the Old Testament (OT506) Chronological survey of the OT canon; attention given to content, authorship, and dates of individual OT books; relevant archaeological discoveries and historicity of events examined.	3 hrs
BITH504	Old Testament Theology I: Pentateuch & Former Prophets The Old Testament books of Genesis-Kings are analyzed. The theological themes of these books are identified and traced throughout the Bible.	3 hrs
BITH505	Old Testament Theology II: Latter Prophets & Writings The Old Testament books of Job-Malachi are analyzed. The theological themes of these books are identified and traced throughout the Bible.	3 hrs
BITH 506	Basic Hebrew Essentials of biblical Hebrew grammar: orthography, morphophonemics, vocabulary; historical developments; readings and exercises.	4 hrs
BITH507	Hebrew Exegesis (The Book of Isaiah) In addition to surveying the contents of the book, the course develops the understanding and skills of exegetical exposition.	3 hrs

NEW TESTAMENT COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Course	Descriptive Title	Hours
BITH 501	Understanding the New Testament Historical background of the Intertestament period through the Apostolic era. Survey of the lives and ministries of Christ and of Paul. Contents and general character of the books of the NT.	3 hrs
BITH502	The Gospels/The Life of Christ A chronological and synthetic study of the Gospels' accounts of Christ's birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension.	3 hrs
BITH503	Epistles & Revelation A study New Testament epistles and the Book of Revelation, examining both the introductory issues and the basic content of each book.	3 hrs
BITH508	Basics of Biblical Greek Prescribed for students without knowledge of Greek. Rudiments of NT Greek and basic vocabulary are learned; practice in reading.	4 hrs
BITH509	NT Exegesis I Exegesis of a selected NT book with special attention given to Greek grammar and syntax of the text; prerequisite: Basic NT Greek.	2 hrs
BITH510	NT Exegesis II Exegesis of a selected NT book with special attention given to Greek grammar and syntax of the text; prerequisite: Basic NT Greek.	3 hrs
BITH511	Romans Study of the introduction, structure, and argument of Paul's epistle to the Romans; translation and exegesis of selected portions; special attention given to Romans' teaching on major topics as original sin, justification, sanctification, predestination, Israel and the church, civil authority, and Christian liberty.	3 hrs

INTERDEPARTMENTAL COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Course	Descriptive Title	Hours
BITH550	Biblical Introduction Historical and literary backgrounds of the biblical message; contemporary ancient religious traditions; principles for establishing the canon of the Old and New Testaments; the apocrypha; survey of the history of biblical criticism with evaluation of higher criticism; transmission of the biblical text.	3 hrs
BITH551	Biblical Interpretation Introduction to the science of hermeneutics; the various literary forms in the Bible, use of OT in NT, typology, the various methods and tools of exegesis and exposition. Alleged contradictions in Scripture and the resolutions of these putative contradictions proposed by orthodox, biblical interpreters; relevant interpretation techniques and their significance for the broader enterprise of biblical exegesis.	4 hrs

SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Course	Descriptive Title	Hours
BITH570	Foundations of Christian Theology In addition to establishing a foundation of concepts and terminology of Christian theology, this course covers the essentials of all major areas of systematic theology with the goal of guiding students to the basic material necessary to understand and study God's Word.	3 hrs
BITH571	Theology 1: Doctrine of the Word of God Revelation, inspiration, inerrancy, and authority of the Word of God; covenants; methodology in biblical and systematic theology.	3 hrs
BITH572	Theology 2: Doctrine of God The existence, knowability, attributes of God; God as Father, Son, and Spirit; Trinity; deity of Christ and of the Spirit; incarnation of Christ; the work of God, His decrees, creation, preservation, and providence.	3 hrs
BITH573	Theology 3: Doctrine of Man, Sin, and Salvation Man as created (origin, nature, and state); his fall; sin and its effects; the redemptive work of Christ, application of work of Christ by the Holy Spirit in grace; predestination, election, calling, regeneration, repentance, faith, justification, adoption, union with Christ, sanctification, perseverance.	3 hrs
BITH574	Theology 4: Doctrine of the Church and Eschatology Origin, nature, and purpose of the church; biblical covenants; the sacraments; church government; relation of the church to eschatology; the intermediate state, resurrection and judgment, the eternal state; premillennialism compared with amillennialism and postmillennialism; varieties of premillennialism.	3 hrs
BITH600	Apologetics In this course, students compare biblical, historical, and recent approaches to defending faith in God, Christ, and Scripture.	3 hrs
BITH601	Contemporary Theology I The course explores the theologies of Hegel, Kierkegaard, Barth, Bultmann, and Tillich.	3 hrs
BITH602	Contemporary Theology II The course explores contemporary theologies, including Theology of Hope, Liberation Theology, Feminist Theology, Process Theology, New Age Theology, and Post-modern Theology.	3 hrs

HISTORICAL STUDIES COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Course	Descriptive Title	Hours
BITH630	Church History to the Reformation In this course, students discover how the Church's doctrine, faith, and practice developed from Pentecost to the time of the Protestant Reformation.	3 hrs
BITH631	Church History Since the Reformation In this course, students survey the development of the Christian church's doctrine, faith, and practice from the Protestant Reformation to the present.	3 hrs
BITH632	The American Church The birth of the European church in the new world; various groups and their leaders, and the rise of American cults; awakenings and New England theology, revivalism and the western frontier, the Civil War, the industrial revolution and social concerns; the World Wars, the modernist-fundamentalist controversy, the Sixties and the church in American government.	3 hrs

CHURCH MINISTRY COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Course	Descriptive Title	Hours
BITH700	Evangelism and Discipleship A study in basic principles of personal evangelism; definition and biblical examples of evangelism; resources available for evangelism; memorization of key Scripture verses for evangelism; field experience in evangelism.	3 hrs
BITH701	Introduction to Biblical Preaching Study in preparation and delivery of textual and topical sermons; preparation, research, organization, and content; classroom preaching and evaluation.	3 hrs
BITH702	Christ-centered preaching Study in preparation and delivery of expository sermons.	3 hrs
BITH703	Advanced Biblical Preaching Theology of preaching; practice in all types of sermons; refining of personal style; includes preaching outside of class.	3 hrs
BITH533	Church Organization and Administration Biblical basis of the church; its government and discipline; the offices, qualifications, and duties of church leaders; effective church management.	3 hrs
BITH534	Survey of Church Ministry Biblical mandates and principles governing the task of the church in edifying and equipping the saints for service; the church and foreign missions; church planting; home and hospital visitation; religious education; worship; church ceremonies.	3 hrs
BITH535	Christian Worship and Church Revival A biblical, historical, and contemporary look at gospel-centered worship with emphasis on understanding, planning, and leading corporate public worship in a local congregation. In addition, the dynamics of spiritual renewal are explored.	3 hr
BITH536	Introduction to Missiology "Missio Dei" is the idea that God is actively working to reconcile his creation to Himself through Jesus Christ. This course presents an overview of the theology of missions, as well as current trends in missions.	3 hrs
BITH537	Church Planting Biblical and historical perspectives on church planting; starting new churches in the age of the Internet; steps and procedures for establishing a mission and developing it into an organized church; practical methods and techniques used in church planting.	3 hrs

BIBLICAL COUNSELING COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Course	Descriptive Title	Hours
BITH800	Introduction to Biblical Counseling The nature and principles of biblical counseling, techniques and theories of counseling; patterns of problem solving, the counselor and counselee relationship; the sufficiency of Scripture; and biblical conflict resolution.	3 hrs
BITH801	Marriage and Family Counseling The systematic survey of the theology of the family: the importance of the Christian home, the covenantal family relationship, courtship versus dating; methods of premarital and marital counseling; divorce issues and rebuilding the marriage relationship after adultery.	3 hrs

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