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 
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.		 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