Bible Introduction: The Bible and Christian Vision
This course highlights the importance of nurturing a vision of a transformed life that is anchored in and shaped by the Word of God. This course also introduces Bible reading that is attentive and responsive to the unique Asian context. Thus, this course provides the student with a survey of both the background and basic content of the Bible as well as an examination of the theological content and its relevance to one's spiritual formation and sociocultural context. This course must be taken during the student's first year of study.
Biblical Studies Internship
This internship provides a practical, supervised experience in the tasks, attitudes and skills of research, interpretation, and communication of the scriptures.
Biblical Theology
This course studies the main theological themes, whether broad or specific, of the Old and New Testaments, respectively, and investigates their continuities and discontinuities between the Testaments. The course also deals with issues of methodology. Prerequisites: Bible Introduction, Hermeneutics, Theology 1, one NT Exegesis course and one OT Exegesis course
Greek 1
This course is a study of New Testament Greek grammar and vocabulary with readings from selected New Testament passages.
Greek 2
This course is a continuation of Greek 1, leading to the translation of some chapters of 1 John. Prerequisite: Greek 1 with a grade of 1.75 or higher
Greek 3
This course focuses on reading selected portions of the Greek New Testament with emphasis on analysis and exegesis of the text. Syntactical observations are learned and practiced, leading towards the building of sermons from the Greek text. Prerequisite: Greek 2 with a grade of 1.75 or higher
Greek 4
This course is primarily a research course with emphasis on the use of resources and methods for exegesis of the Greek New Testament text. This course is designed to teach students to carry out independent grammatical-historical interpretation of New Testament passages. Prerequisite: Greek 3 with a grade of 1.75 or higher
Hebrew 1
This course is a study of Hebrew grammar and vocabulary.
Hebrew 2
This course is a continuation of Hebrew 1. Prerequisite: Hebrew 1 with a grade of 1.75 or higher. Hebrew 3 This course is primarily a reading course in biblical Hebrew. It also includes a discussion of biblical Hebrew syntax. Prerequisite: Hebrew 2 with a grade of 1.75 or higher
Hebrew 4
This course emphasizes Hebrew exegesis in conjunction with a regular reading of the Hebrew text. Several short exegetical projects are presented in class. A significant exegetical paper incorporating various exegetical skills is also required. Prerequisite: Hebrew 3 with a grade of 1.75 or higher
Hermeneutics
This course introduces students to the basic techniques of biblical interpretation. The students learn basic exegetical skills and are introduced to necessary tools. The history and philosophy of interpretation are also studied and evaluated. The goal is transformative application to one's personal, ministerial and cross-cultural contexts (ethnohermeneutics). This course must be taken during the student's first year of study. Concurrent or prerequisite: Bible Introduction
NT Exegesis 1: NT Narrative and Hebrews
This course covers basic exegetical skills needed for interpreting the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and the book of Hebrews. The goal of the exegesis is relevance for the students' personal, family and school life, church ministry, and societal concerns. The NT history and canon, the intertestamental history, relevant literature of intertestamental Judaism, and the historical reliability of NT stories will be touched on briefly, especially in relation to their significance for interpretation. Concurrent or prerequisites: Bible Introduction and Hermeneutics
NT Exegesis 2: Epistle and Apocalypse
This course covers basic exegetical skills needed for interpreting the Pauline and General Epistles as well as the book of Revelation. The goal of the exegesis is relevance for the students' personal, family and school life, church ministry, and societal concerns. Prerequisites: Bible Introduction and Hermeneutics
NT Exegetical Book Study
This course integrates the exegetical skills learned in previous courses. It focuses on the introductory issues, historical background, content, and themes of a New Testament book. Attention will be given to the interpretive method appropriate to the genre of the book. The course helps students evaluate themselves for personal, ecclesiastical, and social transformation. Prerequisites: English Track: Bible Introduction, Hermeneutics and NT Exegesis 1 or 2 (depending on which corpus the book being studied belongs); Greek Track: Prerequisites of the English Track, plus Greek 1 and 2.
OT Exegesis 1: OT Narrative and Law
This course emphasizes the special value for exegesis of awareness of the role of genre or form in understanding a text. The texts that will be discussed in this course will come from Genesis to Esther. There will be several exegetical exercises reflecting various genres or forms. For example, such genres as saga, law, genealogy, and novella might be included. The instructor may also include introductory material if he or she thinks this is necessary. Prerequisites: Bible Introduction and Hermeneutics
OT Exegesis 2: Wisdom, Poetry and Prophecy
This course emphasizes the special value of exegesis for awareness of the role of genre or form in understanding a text. The texts that will be discussed in this course will come from Job to Malachi. There will be several exegetical exercises reflecting various genres or forms. For example, such genres as prophecy, proverb, royal psalm, might be included. The instructor may also include introductory materials. Prerequisites: Bible Introduction and Hermeneutics
OT Exegetical Book Study
This course integrates the exegetical skills learned in previous courses and applies these to understanding the theological themes and major issues of an Old Testament book. Attention will be given to the interpretive method appropriate to the genre of the book. Major sections are surveyed while giving detailed treatment to selected passages. The course helps students employ the content and themes of the book for spiritual growth, theological reflection, and the ministry functions of teaching and preaching. Prerequisites: English Track: Bible Introduction, Hermeneutics and OT Exegesis 1 or 2 (depending on which corpus the book being studied belongs); Hebrew Track: Prerequisites of the English Track, plus Hebrew 1 and 2
Pauline Theology
This course covers the background of Paul's life and thought, and examines the development of his major theological themes such as justification, the law, the people of God, the Spirit, and so forth. The course includes the exegesis of selected passages. Prerequisites: Bible Introduction, Hermeneutics, and NT Exegesis 2
