Philosophy of Education

The educational mandate of the church is found in Paul’s charge to Timothy—“And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2)  Christian education involves more than the communication of information.  The content of teaching must be entrusted to students who are faithful to Christ.  Christ is the “corner stone” and central to our educational mission.

That mandate requires that both teachers and students be “faithful men.”  We desire seriously minded students who desire to gain knowledge about the faith so they can “teach others also” in whatever capacity Christ calls them to serve.  Course subjects must be communicated by professors who are above all faithful to Christ and His church.  This means that we look for the best students and professors.

The student-teacher relationship is central in our mission.  Students will receive instruction from men who are not only academically qualified but who have experience in the ministry of the church.  Our online educational approach encourages this class-to-teacher interaction.

We believe that a seminary education must be rooted in the purpose and mission of Jesus Christ.  While the scope of Christ’s mission is extensive, our education focuses on the academic aspect of Christian discipleship.

The Program of Study

Every program of study is built on four foundational academic fields: Bible, Theology, History, and Philosophy.  Classes in these four areas provide the substance for each degree program.

  • Bible – our foundational text. The Word of God informs us how to think about everything in life.  We emphasize that faculty member and graduate be “strong in the Scriptures.”
  • Theology – the result of understanding the Scriptures. We emphasize that Christians must be a people of sound doctrine.  Studying theology helps us to learn and systematically think about what we believe and the beliefs of Bible students throughout history.
  • History – provides the general backdrop for the ideas and actions of men. Studying history gives us a general understanding of the world and how ideas have played out in the world.
  • Philosophy – is necessary for understanding the ideas people live by. People are molded by the philosophical concepts they embrace.  Understanding how others think enables us to better understand our own ideas but also effectively communicate the gospel in our generation.

All classes will require reading the Great Books for their respective fields of study.

 

Degree Programs

Our degree programs focus on intellectual development, not on practical ministry skills.  There are many schools, ministry conferences and seminars which provide learners with useful information on the practical aspects of ministry.  Our programs are designed to equip the student to think more deeply in the four academic areas.

We offer two degree programs:

The Master of Arts in Christian Thought is designed for the student with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from a Christian college.  This student must have already taken at least 30 hours of Bible from a Christian college or university, and have studied at least one biblical language, Hebrew or Greek.  In our first year, we will offer only the MA in Christian Thought.

The Master of Arts in Christian Foundations is designed for those with either a Bachelor of Arts or Science from a secular college or university.  This program will provide an overview of biblical books and a study of other subjects from the Christian perspective.

As the seminary develops, we will provide other advance degree programs and courses which expand on the four foundational fields.  Each program will require a thesis for graduation.

Sample of the kinds of classes offered in each program: