A study of the Old Testament, its translations,
and historical background. This course is
primarily a survey of Old Testament history and
literature. FOR MAJORS IN THE DEPARTMENT.
BIB 102. New Testament Survey (3)
A study of the intertestamental period and the
development of the Gospels with attention given
to the life and teachings of Christ continuing
with Acts through Revelation. Special attention
is given to the early development of the church.
FOR MAJORS IN THE DEPARTMENT.
BIB 110. Message of the New Testament (3)
This course is designed to explore the essential
message of the New Testament with regard to key
passages, persons and events. This study is set
into the historical context of the life and
ministry of Jesus Christ and its resultant
missionary movement. Special emphasis is given
to biblical principles for Christian living from
an Evangelical-Pentecostal perspective. DESIGNED
FOR NON-MAJORS.
BIB 111. Message of the Old Testament (3)
A study of the essential message of the Old
Testament with regard to key passages, persons
and events in the context of Israel's history.
Special emphasis is given to biblical principles
for Christian living from an
Evangelical-Pentecostal perspective. DESIGNED
FOR NON-MAJORS.
BIB 201. Major Prophets (3)
A brief study of the life and times of the major
prophets. An outline study is made of each book,
with some attention given to present-day and
homiletic use.
BIB 202. Synoptic Gospels (3)
A course designed to look at the
interrelatedness of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark
and Luke.
BIB 203. Minor Prophets (3)
A brief study of the life and times of the minor
prophets. An outline study is made of each book
with some attention given to present-day and
homiletic use.
BIB 208. Computer-based Bible Study (3)
A practical, hands-on approach to Bible study
and research using the latest computer
technology and software. Students will develop
sermons, Bible studies and designated research
projects by accessing computer programs and
Christian research sites on the Web.
BIB 210. Luke-Acts (3)
This course will study the books of Luke and
Acts as a two-part narrative. Attention will be
given to Luke's use of Christian traditions, to
the literary character and structure of the
work, and to theological and socio-cultural
themes in the Lukan narrative.
BIB 212. Johannine Literature (3)
This course concerns an investigation of the
Gospel of John in terms of authorship, date,
logistics, and introduction to critical
problems. Respecting the Fourth Gospel it also
concerns theology of the prologue, exposition of
the miracle narrative/discourse sequencing
comprising the larger part of the book, and
appropriate comparisons to the Synoptic Gospels.
It includes, furthermore, a thematic study of
the Letters of John, focusing on Christian
community, false teaching and church order,
urgent concerns in the late apostolic period.
The course does not consider the Book of
Revelation.
BIB 301. Deuteronomy (2)
A detailed study of Deuteronomy. Special
emphasis will be given to the place of the book
in the Pentateuch, the use of it by Jesus and
the early Church, and the Jewish rabbinic
interpretations of the book.
BIB 302. Prison Epistles (3)
An expository study of the Epistles to the
Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, and
Philippians. Date, authorship and the occasion
are briefly considered for each book, but the
major part of the course is devoted to the
interpretation and relevance of the Pauline
Epistles.
BIB 303. Wisdom Literature (3)
A study of the Old Testament books generally
recognized as wisdom books: Proverbs,
Ecclesiastes, and Job. Consideration will be
given to the relation of these books to the Old
Testament as a whole and their individual
theological and ethical thrusts.
BIB 304. Pastoral Epistles (2)
An expository treatment of the Epistles to
Timothy and Titus, supplemented with appropriate
exegetical material. Special attention is given
to the position, qualifications and office of
both the elder and the deacon.
BIB 307. Psalms and Song of Solomon (3)
A study of the Old Testament books of Psalms and
Song of Solomon. Special attention is given to
poetic genre, literary forms, principles of
interpretation and theological content. The
study will consider both historical and
contemporary traditions of interpretation. It
will explore ways in which these books inform
Christian discipleship and worship.
BIB 308. Hebrews (3)
This course consists of an exposition of the
Epistle to the Hebrews, giving special attention
to historical contextualization and to textual
references from the Old Testament. It also
relates the Epistle to the Hebrews to the wider
corpus of the Catholic Epistles in terms of
Christology and the eschatological expectations
of the early church.
BIB 334. Foundations for Christian Discipleship
(3)
A study of selected biblical texts which focus
on God's plan of salvation and Christian
discipleship. The inductive Bible study method
is the primary approach to studying the texts.
The course emphasizes the development of
personal skill in understanding the biblical
text and seeks to sponsor Christian
discipleship.
BIB 398. Historical Geography and Archaeology of
the Bible (3)
A travel-study program in Israel designed to
provide the student with an on-the-scene study
opportunity to correlate biblical and historical
materials with Palestinian sites. Lectures, on
campus and on-site, presume a working knowledge
of the biblical text. Priority will be given to
graduating seniors in the School of Religion,
but the travel program in Israel is open to
other students, faculty and friends of the
university as space allows. Prerequisite: BIB
101 and BIB 102 or BIB 110 and BIB 111.
BIB 399. Biblical Lands Study Tour (6)
A summer travel-study program in Israel and
other biblical lands designed to provide the
student with an on-the-scene study opportunity
to correlate biblical and historical materials
with biblical sites. Lectures, on campus and
on-site, presume a working knowledge of the
biblical text. Priority will be given to
graduating seniors in the School of Religion,
but the travel program in Israel is open to
other students, faculty and friends of the
university as space allows. Prerequisite: BIB
101 and BIB 102 or BIB 110 and BIB 111.
BIB 401. Intertestamental Period (3)
A study of the history and literature of the
intertestamental period leading up to the first
advent of Christ. In addition to the apocryphal
books, the Qumran scrolls will be read and
discussed and their significance for the New
Testament period considered.
BIB 402. Romans and Galatians (3)
A comparative, expository, and theological study
of the Epistles to the Romans and Galatians with
emphasis on the cardinal Christian doctrines as
formulated in these documents. The course
includes a study of the influences of both
Judaism and Hellenism on the cultural and
religious scene in the first century A.D.
BIB 404. I and II Corinthians (3)
An expository and theological study of I and II
Corinthians. Special attention is given to the
doctrinal and practical issues faced in the
early Christian community in the Hellenistic
world, taking into account the cultural and
religious environments of the day.
BIB 406. General Epistles (2)
An English Bible book study in I and II Peter,
James, and Jude. Primary emphasis is placed on
an inductive study of the contents of each book.
BIB 410. Revelation (3)
A study of the book of Revelation with
appropriate consideration of Early Jewish and
New Testament and other apocalyptic passages.
Special attention is given to the language and
symbolism of the book.
THE 230. Christian Thought (3)
An introduction to the general field of
Christian thought with emphasis on the biblical
doctrines of the Triune God, of humanity, of
salvation, of the Church, and of the Scriptures.
Prerequisite: BIB 101 and BIB 102 or BIB 110 and
BIB 111.
THE 291-293. Religion Colloquy (1-3)
A course or seminar which focuses on special
topics or themes. The topics will vary from
semester to semester. Variable credit is
available and will be determined by the nature
of the course or seminar.
THE 300-301. Religion Colloquy (1)
Weekly discussion of selected topics to be
continued throughout the semester.
THE 331. Christian Ethics (3)
A study of values and their influence on social
and individual behavior. Special emphasis is
placed on the development of Christian values,
congruent with the teachings of Christ, and the
application of these values to everyday living.
Prerequisite: THE 230.
THE 332. Religion and Culture (3)
A historical study of the problematic
relationship between the Christian religion and
Western culture. The specific topics for the
course vary, but the general intent is to
clarify the Christian ? s role and
responsibility in living out his/her faith in
the world. Various positions and practices are
discussed which have been set forth in the
Christian Church as a result of the Church's
wrestling with its Lord and the cultural society
in which it lives.
THE 334. Doctrine of Christ (3)
A historical and systematic study of the
doctrine of the person and work of Jesus Christ.
This course surveys the primitive Christologies
of the New Testament and the Christological
controversies of the early church and continues
by examining the various reconstructions of
Christologies in the modern era. The centrality
of Christ for other doctrines and for Christian
proclamation will also be stressed.
THE 335. Doctrine of the Holy Spirit (3)
A study of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit with
emphasis upon the Spirit's relationship to
Christ. The work of the Holy Spirit in relation
to other fundamental doctrines will also be
considered (e.g. creation, salvation,
ecclesiology, eschatology, etc.). Special
attention will be focused on the work of the
Holy Spirit as teacher, helper, discipler, and
on the experience of Spirit baptism with the
initial evidence of glossolalia. Some attention
will be given to the meaning of "living in the
Spirit" and spiritual gifts.
THE 336. Doctrine of the Church (3)
This course will examine the various models of
the Church proposed by the New Testament and
later throughout the history of Christianity.
Special attention will be given to these areas
of ecclesiology: governmental structures and
leadership; the nature and mission of the
church; sacraments; and the church empowered by
the Spirit. Relating these studies to the
contemporary Body of Christ will always be a
central goal.
THE 337. Theology of the Old Testament (3)
An exegetical, historical study of the theology
of the Old Testament emphasizing God, humankind,
and the interrelation between the two.
THE 338. Theology of the New Testament (3)
An exegetical, historical study of the theology
of the New Testament with special attention
given to Pauline, Johannine, Petrine and
Jewish-Christian formulations thereof.
THE 434. Christian Apologetics (3)
Introduction to the Christian strategy for
setting forth the truthfulness of the Christian
faith and its right to the claim of the
knowledge of God. Some attention is given to the
history of apologetics, but the primary focus is
current apologetical problems (e.g. the problem
of evil, biblical criticism, etc.) with which
the student is expected to grapple.
THE 435. Contemporary Theology (3)
A study of the major people, movements and
issues in contemporary religious thought,
evaluating them in the light of evangelical
Christianity. Seeks to clarify the structure and
method of contemporary theological thinking and
explores the relationship between contemporary
religious thought and the broader intellectual
and cultural context of modern life.
THE 437. Systematic Theology (3)
This course is an advanced study of theology,
considering philosophical/theological
prolegomena, the revelation of God, the nature
of Scripture, the Trinity, the doctrine of
humankind, and personal/social dimensions of
sin.
THE 438. Systematic Theology (3)
This course concerns the person and work of
Christ, the doctrines of salvation, the work of
the Holy Spirit in Pentecostal perspective, and
reflections on selected topics in ecclesiology
and eschatology. Prerequisite: THE 437.
THE 450. Directed Study in Religion (1-4)
A study of an approved aspect of
biblical-theological inquiry in which the
student contracts with the director of the study
concerning course requirements, evaluation
procedure and course credit. Open only to
juniors and seniors in the major.
THE 474. Feminist Theology and Philosophy (3)
This course examines the historical roots, key
ideas and trajectories of feminist theology and
philosophy, the passions and contradictions of
these disciplines, and their effects on various
social practices and religious institutions.
Cross-listed as PHI 474.
