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Master of Arts in Biblical Languages

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• Degree Goals
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Degree Requirements

Concentration Requirements

Complete at least ten courses in biblical languages as follows:

1. GL 601 Intermediate Greek
2. OL 610 Intermediate Hebrew Grammar
3. OL 912 Aramaic
4. NT 502 Interpreting the New Testament
5. OT 600-level exegesis course
6. OT 700-level exegesis course
7. NT Greek exegesis course in a narrative book
8. NT Greek exegesis course in an epistle
9. An advanced Greek or Hebrew language (not exegesis) course beyond GL 601 or OL 610
10. A related ancient language elective (e.g. Akkadian, Coptic, Eblaite, Egyptian, Hittite, Latin, Syriac, Sumerian, Ugaritic, or additional advanced Hebrew or Greek course)

General Course Requirements

Complete five courses from other areas of the curriculum as follows:

1. TH 501 Theology Survey I
2. TH 502 Theology Survey II
3. CH 500 Survey of Church History
4. ET or SE One course in Ethics or Social Ethics
5. WM or EV One course in World Missions or Evangelism

Electives

Complete five elective courses, which may include, if necessary, some combination of the following: GL 501 and/or 502 (basic Greek) or OL 501 and/or 502 (basic Hebrew); OT 500 Old Testament Survey (or pass the OT competency exam); NT 501 New Testament Survey (or pass the NT competency exam). Students are required to take at least a year of a biblical language prior to matriculation and are encouraged to take at least a year of a modern research language (e.g. German, French, Dutch, Spanish) either prior to matriculation or as an elective in the program.
Most of the courses are drawn from the offerings of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, but the student also has the possibility of drawing upon the resources of the Boston Theological Institute, particularly in those areas where the Seminary does not provide courses. Courses in ancient languages related to Bible study (see nos. 9 and 10 above) may be taken at the Seminary as independent reading/research courses (OL 710, GL 711, 760, 860 courses) or at one of the Boston Theological Institute schools. No thesis is required in the program, but a Summative Evaluation will be done (see Summative Evaluation under Academic Policies).

Degree Goals

1. To understand the basic content and themes of the Old and New Testaments in their historical and cultural settings (1) as well as the historical and theological dimensions of the Christian faith (2)
2. To gain an intermediate competency with biblical Hebrew and Greek in order to develop exegetical and hermeneutical skills using the original languages, and also to acquire competency in ancient languages other than Hebrew and Greek (1, 2)
3. In keeping with the highest tradition of Christian scholarship, to develop advanced skills for biblical research and writing, using original languages, and to develop an awareness of important bibliographic resources  (2)
4. To foster love for God and his word and therefore to cultivate the practices of spiritual maturity and Christ-like character, and to understand the Christian’s ethical responsibility in church and society (4, 5)
5. To acquire a biblical perspective and Christian worldview on the forces in our culture and to learn to engage those as they are at work both outside and inside the life of the church (5)
6. To understand the historical and theological development of the Christian faith in order to integrate this faith with global ethical and missiological issues (6)

Catalogs

Click here to download the South Hamilton campus catalog.
Click here to request the Boston/CUME campus catalog.
Click here to downlaod the Charlotte campus catalog.