OLD TESTAMENT COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Course | Description | Credis |
BITH 500 | Understanding the Old Testament 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 |
3 hrs |
BITH505 |
Old Testament Theology II: Latter Prophets & Writings |
3 hrs |
BITH 506 | Basic Hebrew Essentials of biblical Hebrew grammar: orthography, morphophonemics, vocabulary; historical developments; readings and exercises. |
3 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 | Description | Credits |
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. |
3 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. |
3 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 | Description | Credits |
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. |
3 hrs |
SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Course | Description | Credits |
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 | Description | Credits |
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 | Description | Credits |
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 hrs |
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 | Description | Credits |
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 |