56 courses with the subject BIBL, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
theological dimensions of canon formation, the contributions of textual criticism to biblical interpretation, as well as different conceptions of the inspiration of Scripture to provide students with a solid foundation for understanding Scripture historically and theologically. Three hours.
theology in terms of narrative, covenant and creed, and an examination of the central doctrines of historic Christianity, including Revelation and Scripture, the being and attributes of God, Humanity, the Person and Work of Christ, the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit, the Christian Life, the Church and the Sacraments, and the Last Things. Three hours.
understanding a Biblical passage’s meaning in each Bible genre. Skills addressed will range from establishing the text, comparing translations and observing the text, to rules for proper interpretation, to applying the text to Christians today accurately. Advanced skills will also be taught, including mastering a Bible book, legitimately finding Christ in (even Old Testament) Biblical texts, typology, and dealing with difficult texts. This course is designated Writing Intensive (WI) and Information Literacy (IL). Three hours.
introduce the student to the principles of Christian Ministry in contemporary society. Particular attention will be placed on biblical foundations of Christian education, Youth Ministry, para-church ministries, the local church, history of Christian education, and the educator as the agent of change. Alternate years, three hours.
overview of the field of youth ministry. This will include vocational questions, a brief study of ecclesiology, a survey of adolescent developmental issues, a consideration of ministry philosophies and programming approaches, and some important practical questions related to pastoral ethics and spiritual health. Alternate years, three hours.
church from the close of the apostolic age to the end of the seventeenth century, covering figures, movements, and events that span from the ancient church to the early modern age. Particular attention will be paid to the development of the church, theological creeds and confessions, and her relationship to wider cultural and political developments. A central part
church from the immediate post-apostolic era to the end of the ‘long reformation’ of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Particular attention will be paid to the doctrinal disputes that shaped the church’s thinking and to the relationship between the church and wider society. Themes will include worship, persecution, Christendom, church-state relations, monasticism, medieval scholasticism, the papacy, the Reformation, and Puritanism. Alternate years, three hours.
and explore the prominent place of religion in this religiously pluralistic nation by describing and analyzing current American religious developments in historical, sociological, and theological perspective. Institutional and non-institutional developments within and outside the Judeo-Christian tradition will also be examined. Offered periodically, three hours.
confessions, and catechisms of the Christian faith in historical and doctrinal context. It will move from the earliest attempts to formulate the Christian faith in the second century rule of faith through the work of the Seven Ecumenical Councils to the Reformation (Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican) and then to the contributions of the Synod of Dordt and the Westminster Assembly. It will also examine how creeds, confession, and catechisms have functioned within the church, how they are used today, and how they can enrich contemporary Christianity. Offered periodically, three hours.
deeply a single key doctrine of Christian faith in biblical, theological, and historical perspective. It sets the doctrine in its dogmatic location and then expounds the doctrine in through an investigation of key scriptural passages and the significant theological texts drawn from major church traditions – Protestant, Catholic, and Eastern – up to and including how to evaluate and respond to contemporary critiques of confessional positions. In doing so the class frames the pastoral import of the doctrine for contemporary Christian life and the church’s worship and witness. Alternate years, three hours.
historical, geographical, cultural, social, and religious context of the Old Testament World, and to survey and analyze the history of Old Testament interpretation, including modern critical approaches. Offered periodically, three hours.
understanding of the person, work, and teachings of Christ as presented in the Gospels. It also seeks to introduce the student to some of the important literature on the subject. Three hours.
themes, theology, and practical application of one Old Testament book. The Old Testament book studied will differ each semester. Three hours.
genre, themes, theology, and practical application of one New Testament book. The New Testament book studied will differ each semester. Three hours.
Biblical and Theological Studies major. It is designed to be a reflective, interactive, and deeply shaping course in our lives as we pursue an understanding of holistic spiritual formation. The purpose of this course is to equip students in both the theory and practice of spiritual growth and development. This course focuses on our personal relationship with God. We will seek to develop an understanding of the necessary aspect of personal spirituality for ourselves through evaluation of Scripture and through self-reflection and discipline. Particular attention will be given to the psychology of faith and religion and to the influences of home and family on the development of faith. This course is designated Speaking Intensive (SI). Three hours.
ministry, and implementation of biblical evangelism and discipleship. There will be various exposures to evangelism and discipleship methodology which will require the integration of various projects, guest lecturers, small-group assignments, and possible field trips. Emphasis will be placed on strategies for contemporary culture, youth culture, and other ministry contexts such as urban ministry and the mission field. This course is designated Speaking Intensive (SI). Three hours.
presupposition, postmodern, and other approaches to apologetics. The emphasis will be on the epistemological stance one should take in apologetic encounters. A portion of this course will focus on responses to various objections and concerns that one is likely to face in apologetic encounters. Three hours.
of culture as well as how these cultural realities impact the way we “live and move and have our being…” (borrowed from Acts 17:28). Aside from exploring the cultural landscape, this course will focus on these essential questions: 1. What is the nature of our engagement as Christians with a culture that is not Christian? 2. How are we to exegete and respond to products and artifacts produced by the culture? 3. How do we communicate the gospel into the language and context of another culture not our own? Three hours.
in the concepts and skills necessary to effectively communicate from the scripture. This phase of the Christian Ministry curriculum will focus on general communication skills, sermon design, preaching technique, with special emphasis on teaching and preaching the Word of God. This course is designated Speaking Intensive (SI). Three hours.
experiential Christian Ministry course we will travel to various facilities within two hours of The College. This will allow us to think about camp programming and ministry theoretically and, at the same time, practically. Students will be oriented to every area of camp – programming, operations, administration, activity areas, and service. Parts of the course will include: a two-day camping experience, service in one or more area of ministry at a camp, leadership development as we host a retreat group of students, lectures, reading, writing, reflecting, and engagement with camp programing and leadership professionals. We will pursue an understanding of key values (philosophical, biblical, theological, and practical) related to experiential Christian education, develop ministry leadership skills, and
congregational song is designed to prepare students for ministry in the local church by encouraging greater participation in worship through congregational singing. Students will evaluate songs for worship theoretically, practically, and spiritually. They will survey the biblical and liturgical context for singing, investigate a diversity of resources, and develop their personal song catalogs for worshiping communities. Perspective from professional music ministry leaders will be provided by three guest lectures from artists from Getty Music. This class is required to complete the Worship Arts minor and is vital for the Christian Ministries department to prepare students for Kingdom-building service. Alternate years, three hours.
to prepare students for local church ministry by giving students experience leading songs for worship and developing professional skills as musicians in a ministry setting. Students must pass the Christian Formation Office chapel worship application and musical audition before registering for this ensemble. Students must complete two semesters of chapel worship ensemble to fulfill the worship arts minor requirement. May be taken up to two times. One hour.
leading problems of religious thought, and to the alternative approaches of world religions to ultimate questions concerning the meaning of human life. Alternate years, three hours.
mission movements in history, the Biblical-theological basis for missions, and contemporary developments in mission strategy. Alternate years, three hours.
studies or theology. Sophomore standing, permission of the department chair, and a faculty sponsor are required. One, two or three hours.
in biblical studies or theology. Sophomore standing, permission of the department chair, and a faculty sponsor are required. One, two or three hours.
matter for this course will vary each semester to allow for the introduction of new courses in the field of biblical or theological studies. The aim of such a course is in-depth study of some specific facet of biblical or theological studies with particular emphasis on the relationship of biblical studies or theology and contemporary life. Three hours.
19TH CENTURY. This course will study the issue of Christian belief in the 19 th century looking particularly at reactions to the Enlightenment such as that offered by Mary Shelley, the criticism of the Christian faith by Karl Marx and Friedrich Nietzsche, and the various defenses of the faith by Friedrich Schleiermacher, Soren Kierkegaard, Fyodor Dostoevski, Leo Tolstoy, John Henry Newman, and Herman Bavinck. The focus of the classes will be on expounding key texts in their historical contexts. Offered periodically, three hours.
19th century looking particularly at reactions to the Enlightenment such as that offered by Mary Shelley, the criticism of the Christian faith by Karl Marx and Friedrich Nietzsche, and the various defenses of the faith by Friedrich Schleiermacher, Soren Kierkegaard, Fyodor Dostoevski, Leo Tolstoy, John Henry Newman, and Herman Bavinck. The focus of the classes will be on expounding key texts in their historical contexts. Offered periodically, three hours.
Christianity’s greatest apologists. The primary subject of study is Lewis’ unique contributions to apologetics including his epistemology, view of myth, and defense of supernaturalism. Various examples of Lewis’ writings are examined from selected essays and theological articles and the Chronicles of Narnia. Offered periodically, three hours.
whose work and ideas shaped Protestantism. Primary sources will be used. Offered periodically, three hours.
theology including such topics as religious language, views of God, meaning of man and redemption, and the problem of evil. These topics are discussed as they relate to contemporary cultures and worldviews. Offered periodically, three hours.
biblical, theological, and historical perspectives. It will place Christ within Trinitarian context and examine his role as prophet, priest, and king as developed in his birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension and return. Each topic will be explored using both the relevant biblical passages and classic texts from church history drawn variously from all the major orthodox traditions, Catholic, Eastern, and Protestant. Three hours.
classical, creedal doctrine of God, and how this was subsequently developed. Particular attention will be paid to primary texts and to the manner in which theology proper (the doctrine of God) also had implications both for Christology and for the way in which the church read the Bible. It will also address the reasons why classical theism has been challenged in recent times, and will culminate in a discussion of the importance of the recovery of classical theism in the church today. Above all, the course’s watchword will be the notion lex credendi est lex orandi – the rule of believing is the rule of praising – and will seek to connect doctrine with praise. Three hours.
Paul, author of almost one-half of the New Testament. Attention is given to both the descriptive material in the book of Acts and the thematic material from the Pauline Epistles. Students are introduced to current issues in the study of Paul. Three hours.
places, people, offerings and festivals of the Old Testament and their relation to the New. The class traces the redemptive-historical development of forms of worship from the Garden of Eden to the exilic period and beyond into the New Testament. The focus of the course will be primarily exegetical, interacting with the Biblical materials rather than with historical-critical approaches. The goal of the course is to form a solid Biblical basis from which to address the issues of worship which face the contemporary church. Offered periodically, three hours.
to exegete (i.e., understand and explain) Old Testament books with due attention to their genre, themes, theology, and practical application. This course is designated Writing Intensive (WI). Prerequisite: Bible 130; or Corequisite: Humanities 261 and 271. Three hours.
students to exegete (i.e., understand and explain) New Testament books with attention to the book’s genre, themes, theology, and practical application. This course is designated Writing Intensive (WI). Prerequisite: Bible 130; or Corequisite: Humanities 261 and 271. Three hours.
pastoral/practical theological styles and methods. In doing so, the class will expose students to some of the great concepts of the Bible such as the fear of the Lord, the call to care for the elderly, fasting, tithing and the Sabbath. Along with this, the class will equip students with basic Biblical studies skills needed for their own continuing theological reflection in the years to come. Three hours.
private worship and prayer, following the Bible’s story-line concerning subjects from Genesis to the book of Revelation. We will establish biblical and theological principles which inform the practice of worship and prayer in the modern church and personal piety. Alternate years, three hours.
and counseling methods and skills within a ministry context, including counseling various generations (children, youth, adults, and family). It covers an overview of psychological disorders, adolescent and family developmental and crisis issues, pre-, inter-, and post- marital counseling, family counseling, and methods of spiritual direction. Alternate years, three hours.
focus on some of the nuts and bolts areas of every-day ministry in the parish and parachurch setting. It is a course about ministry behind the scenes. So often we think of ministry as what happens “in the front of the room.” But authentic leadership has to extend to, and attend to, the “dirty work” that makes possible what happens “in the front of the room.” This course explores that “dirty work,” and attempts to prepare students for precisely those behind-the- scene tasks that help define the role of a servant-leader. Topics will include leadership, decision-making, staff relationships, budgeting, legal issues, team leadership, evaluation. Alternate years, three hours.
under the supervision of a seasoned minister. In addition to supervision and mentorship in a local church, the student will receive supervision and mentorship by a B&RS faculty member. The placement seeks to provide students with the opportunity to set practical ministry goals, with support, for growth in knowledge and skills; and it creates the occasion for students to learn practical ministry skills by observation, engagement, and theological reflection in a local ministry setting. One hour.
repeated practice in the skill of communicating the truths of Scripture, students will investigate and develop teaching and preaching skills. The course will review biblically-
spiritual formation from an historical, theological, and Biblical perspective. Key topics include the holiness of God, the person and work of the Holy Spirit, prayer, Bible Study, and the discernment of God’s will. Alternate years, three hours.
arranging songs for worship is designed to prepare students for church ministry by giving them skills to lead songs that engage local congregations to sing in words, styles, and cultures that enable full and active participation. Song leaders must learn to contextualize biblical worship as sung prayers and empower their congregations to sing with an authentic voice. Studying the craft of songwriting and arranging will equip song leaders to better serve the church with contextualized arrangements and original songs that give heartfelt voice to God’s people. Industry professional instruction and feedback will be provided by two sessions from Getty Music. One hour.
how Christians around the globe interpret and apply the Christian scriptures and reason theologically to discern how to live as faithful Christian disciples in response to distinctive cultural pressures and concerns. Alternate years, three hours.
previous background in Biblical and Theological Studies to do intensive independent study of specialized topics. Prerequisites: Twelve hours of Biblical and Theological Studies coursework, permission of the department chair, and a faculty sponsor. One, two or three hours.
in Biblical and Theological Studies. Junior standing, permission of the department chair, and a faculty sponsor are required. One, two or three hours.
The subject matter for this course will vary each semester to allow for the introduction of new courses in the field of biblical or theological studies. The aim of such courses is in- depth study of some specific facet of biblical or theological studies with particular emphasis on the relationship of biblical studies or theology and contemporary life. Three hours.
previous background in Biblical and Theological Studies to do intensive independent study of specialized topics. Prerequisites: Twelve hours of Biblical and Theological Studies coursework, permission of the department chair, and a faculty sponsor. One, two or three hours.
in Biblical and Theological Studies. Senior standing, permission of the department chair, and a faculty sponsor are required. One, two or three hours.
course offers practical experience appropriate for the Christian Ministries auxiliary field.
various topics related to ministry preparedness: calling, ministry readiness and leadership, current cultural/biblical exegesis, and caring for one’s own soul. We will review biblical and theological principles which inform the practice of ministry. Alternate years, three hours.
Speaking Intensive (SI), and Information Literacy (IL), and will be taken in the fall of the senior year. Topics will focus on a major issue in biblical studies, church history, or systematic theology. Three hours.
Advanced research in Biblical and Theological Studies is available to students on an individual basis and by prearrangement with the department. One, two or three hours.
Source: Grove City College's catalog, linked per course · table learning_unit · CourseShelf publish 59
