MA in Biblical Languages and Culture

54-credit hours

The purpose of the MABLC is to offer students opportunities to study all 66 books of the Bible strategically and comprehensively, learn basic historical, theological, and practical knowledge critical for serving in professional ministry leadership, and experientially explore and practice ministry skills related to in-depth knowledge of biblical languages and culture.

Program Objectives

1. To train students in the biblical languages of Hebrew, Greek, and at times, Aramaic.

2. To expose students to sound exegetical and hermeneutical methodology.

3. To address critical research issues in biblical scholarship through textual analysis.

4. To learn about the ancient Near Eastern cultures that comprised the biblical world.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the MABLC program will possess the following competencies:

1. The student will read and write the biblical languages of Hebrew and Greek as demonstrated by final exams in HEB 502 and GRK 502.

2. The student will demonstrate sound exegetical and hermeneutical principles through the Bible Study Methods (BSM501) projects and/or final exam, and as assessed in class preaching demonstrations in Expository Preaching and Teaching I (PRE501).

3. The student will interpret biblical texts in light of genre and textual variants as evidenced by his or her Capstone Project (CAP 590).

4. The student will express the chronological, geographical, and thematic flow of the Bible comprehensively as demonstrated on the Spiritual Formation and Ministry (SFM 500) post-course assessment.

5. The student will demonstrate an awareness of critical research issues and an ability to understand and articulate all sides of these issues through research assignments in courses including, but not limited to, Church History (THE 510), Ancient Near Eastern Cultures (ANE 501), and other courses.

Frequency of Offering

At least some courses required for the MABLC program are offered every fall and spring semester on the main campus, and some core courses are also offered at various remote instructional locations. See the Academic Calendar for specific times and availabilities.

Master of Arts in Biblical Languages and Culture (MABLC)

1. Study all 66 books of the Bible strategically and comprehensively.

2. Learn basic historical, theological, and practical knowledge critical for serving in professional ministry leadership.

3. Experientially explore and practice ministry skills related to in-depth knowledge of biblical languages and culture.

CORE Courses (all 15 required)

Culture and Languages 

⚫ ANE 501: Ancient Near Eastern Cultures – Ezra 4-6, Daniel 2-7 (Aramaic) 

⚫ GRK 501: Greek Language I – Jude, 2 & 3 John 

⚫ GRK 502: Greek Language II – 1 John 

⚫ HEB 501: Hebrew Language I – Jonah, Nahum 

⚫ HEB 502: Hebrew Language II – Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Hermeneutics 

⚫ BSM 501: Bible Study Methods – Esther, Obadiah, Mark

History and Theology 

⚫ THE 501: Theology I – Genesis 

⚫ THE 510: Church History I – Luke, Acts 

⚫ THE 511: Church History II  (Holy Land study tour recommended)

Leadership 

⚫ PAS 501: Pastor-Shepherd I – Job, Jeremiah, Lamentations 

⚫ PA S511: Pastor-Leader I – Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings

Preaching and Teaching 

⚫ PRE 501: Expository Preaching/Teaching I – Isaiah

Spiritual Formation and Ministry 

⚫ SFM 500: Spiritual Formation & Ministry (Bible Panorama)

⚫ SFM 501: Spiritual Formation & Ministry I – Exodus, Numbers, Matthew

Other 

⚫ CAP 590: Capstone

CORE hours = 45

ELECTIVE courses (3 required, select from any available), 9 hours

MABLC = 15 CORE + 3 ELECTIVES = 18 courses (54 - credit hours)