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Catalog 2021-2022

Biblical and Theological Studies Major

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The purpose of Biblical Studies is to familiarize students with the content and concepts of the Bible, the appropriate methodologies for the interpretation and the application of biblical teaching, and the research tools and resources necessary to pursue independent study of biblical texts and topics. For career purposes, the major may be used as a terminal degree, preparing students for employment in church and parachurch agencies by achieving a level of biblical literacy that will enable them to be active in lay church leadership and teaching ministries. As an initial degree, it prepares students for seminary training or for graduate work in theology and related disciplines.

In both required and elective courses, students are trained in basic biblical and theological knowledge. They are encouraged to develop skills that enable them to take into account the original linguistic, literary, historical, and cultural contexts of the Bible. Students are thereby enabled to consider critically religious traditions, beliefs, and practice in order to bring them into conformity with biblical revelation and to evaluate all of life and thought from the perspective of biblical principles.

The ultimate goal of Theological Studies is to ensure that the church's proclamation and the individual's life are faithful to God's revelation of Himself in Scripture. Students with good theological training will know how to evaluate critically their own personal theological leaning, be aware and respectful of other theological positions, and be able to distinguish those values that are distinctly Christian from those that the secular world espouses. Because of the diverse denominational and theological traditions that enrich our faculty and make up our student body, we bring a variety of approaches to the question of the church's role in society.

These objectives are attained through the academic processes that enable students to formulate a constructive, personal stance of Christian faith, to become aware of how culture affected biblical revelation which in turn dynamically affected culture, and to act upon a personal Christian worldview in daily life.

The Biblical and Theological Studies major meets the undergraduate requirements for seminary study suggested by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS). Students contemplating graduate studies should consult with the institution in which they are interested to be informed of any particular undergraduate courses needed. Students interested in an accelerated curriculum leading to the bachelor's and master's degrees should consult with their advisors regarding the prerequisites for the Wheaton graduate program.

Along with specific requirements for any major, all students in the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree programs must meet all general education and graduation requirements under a single catalog.

Requirements for a major in Biblical and Theological Studies are 32 hours beyond the general education requirement in Biblical and Theological Studies. The general education requirement (12 hours) includes: 

Course List
Code Title Credits
General Education Requirements
Select one of the following:4
BITH 211
Old Testament Literature and Interpretation
BITH 221
Old Testament Literature in Three Traditions
ARCH 211
Old Testament Archaeology
Select one of the following:4
BITH 213
New Testament Literature and Interpretation
BITH 317
The New Testament in the Holy Lands
ARCH 213
New Testament Archaeology
BITH 374
Systematic Theology
Major Core
BITH 325Biblical Interpretation and Hermeneutics4
BITH 372Historical Theology4
BITH 375Christian Ethics4
BITH 431Old Testament Criticism2
or BITH 452 New Testament Criticism
BITH 494Senior Seminar2
Electives
Select 2-4 credits of the following Biblical Textual Studies, New Testament, or Biblical Studies courses:2-4
Biblical Textual Studies
BITH 323
Literature of the Bible
BITH 332-345 (see course lists)
GPS 305
Journeys across Cultures: A Narrative & Cross-Cultural Study of the Journeys of Paul
BITH 349
Old Testament Topics
BITH 433-438 (see course lists)
BITH 443-449 (see course lists)
GPS 401
Readings in Biblical Hebrew: Historical and Geographical Texts
GPS 402
Readings in Biblical Hebrew Narrative Texts
New Testament
BITH 323
Literature of the Bible
BITH 351-365 (see course lists)
BITH 368
The Book of Revelation
BITH 451
Greek Exegesis
BITH 454-469 (see course lists)
Biblical Studies
BITH 323
Literature of the Bible
BITH 326
Biblical Foundations of Worship
BITH 327
Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers
GPS 306
Physical Settings of the Bible
GPS 309
Intertestamental Literature
GPS 311
History of Ancient Israel
GPS 312
Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls
Select 2-4 credits of the following Theological Studies courses:2-4
Figures
BITH 483-488 (see course lists)
Doctrines
BITH 382
Church
BITH 385
Triune God
BITH 388
Person and Work of Christ
BITH 389
Holy Spirit and Last Things
BITH 392
Scripture
BITH 393
Topics in Christian Thought
Topics
BITH 373
Marriage, Sex and Family in the Christian Tradition
BITH 377
Topics in Christian Thought
BITH 383
Gender and Theology
BITH 384
Political Theology
BITH 394-398 (see course lists)
GPS 308
History of the Christian Church in the East
Select 2-4 credits of RELI or ARCH courses2-4
GPS 306
Physical Settings of the Bible
GPS 307
Archaeology of Jerusalem I
GPS 318
Biblical Archaeology I
Select 4-10 credits in BITH or ARCH or RELI electives4-10
GPS 305
Journeys across Cultures: A Narrative & Cross-Cultural Study of the Journeys of Paul
GPS 306
Physical Settings of the Bible
GPS 307
Archaeology of Jerusalem I
GPS 308
History of the Christian Church in the East
GPS 309
Intertestamental Literature
GPS 311
History of Ancient Israel
GPS 312
Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls
GPS 318
Biblical Archaeology I
GPS 401
Readings in Biblical Hebrew: Historical and Geographical Texts
GPS 402
Readings in Biblical Hebrew Narrative Texts

Students pursuing a major in Biblical and Theological Studies are encouraged to fulfill the General Education language requirement by taking Greek or Hebrew.

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