The purpose of Biblical and Theological Studies is to familiarize students with the content of the Bible, 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. It also enables students to evaluate critically their own theology, be aware and respectful of diverse theological positions and traditions, apply a variety of ethical approaches to the question of the church's role in society, and articulate their convictions thoughtfully and charitably.
In both required and elective courses, students develop skills that enable them to take into account the original linguistic, literary, historical, and cultural contexts of the Bible; study major events of Christian history, including the formation of creedal and confessional statements that have shaped church history; reflect on Christian doctrine in light of this tradition in conversation with their reading of Scripture; and consider diverse and global expressions of evangelicalism.
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:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 12 | |
| Systematic Theology | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Old Testament Archaeology | ||
| Old Testament Literature and Interpretation | ||
| Old Testament Literature in Three Traditions | ||
| Old Testament in the Holy Lands | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| New Testament Archaeology | ||
| New Testament Literature and Interpretation | ||
| The New Testament in the Holy Lands | ||
| Major Core | 16 | |
| Biblical Interpretation and Hermeneutics | ||
| Historical Theology | ||
| Christian Ethics | ||
| Issues in Modern Old Testament Studies | ||
or BITH 452 | Issues in Modern New Testament Studies | |
| Senior Seminar | ||
| Electives | 16 | |
Biblical Studies (Minimum 2 hours): | ||
| Literature of the Bible | ||
| Biblical Foundations of Worship | ||
| Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers | ||
| Ruth & Esther | ||
| Historical Geography and Context in the Holy Lands | ||
| Old Testament Topics | ||
| Genesis 1-11 | ||
| Exodus | ||
| The Old Testament in its Cultural Environment | ||
| The Psalms: Songs of Israel and the Church | ||
| Life of David | ||
| Old Testament Topics | ||
| Jesus Of Nazareth | ||
| Paul Of Tarsus | ||
| New Testament Topics | ||
| Women in the World of the NT | ||
| I Corinthians | ||
| Acts of the Apostles | ||
| New Testament Topics | ||
| James | ||
| Peter And Jude | ||
| Prison Epistles | ||
| New Testament Topics in Historical Perspectives | ||
| The Book of Revelation | ||
| New Testament and Context in the Holy Lands | ||
| Jeremiah | ||
| Minor Prophets | ||
| Wisdom Literature | ||
| Hebrew Exegesis | ||
| Hebrew Exegesis | ||
| Old Testament Topics | ||
| Old Testament Topics | ||
| Greek Exegesis | ||
| Issues in Modern New Testament Studies | ||
| Mark | ||
| John | ||
| Acts of the Apostles | ||
| Greek Exegesis | ||
| Pastoral Epistles | ||
| New Testament Topics | ||
| New Testament Topics | ||
| Journeys across Cultures: A Narrative & Cross-Cultural Study of the Journeys of Paul | ||
| Physical Settings of the Bible | ||
| Intertestamental Literature | ||
| History of Ancient Israel | ||
| Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls | ||
| Cultural Backgrounds of the Bible | ||
| Biblical Archaeology II | ||
| History of the Second Temple Period | ||
| Hermeneutics of Old Testament Texts in Jewish and Christian Tradition | ||
| Parable of Jesus and Rabbinic Meshalim | ||
| Archaeology of Jerusalem II | ||
| Readings in Biblical Hebrew: Historical and Geographical Texts | ||
| Readings in Biblical Hebrew Narrative Texts | ||
Theological Studies (Minimum 2 hours): | ||
| Theology and the Arts | ||
| Topics in Perennial Theological Questions | ||
| Majority World Theology | ||
| Ancient Faith for the Modern World | ||
| Theology of the Promised Land | ||
| Marriage, Sex and Family in the Christian Tradition | ||
| Topics in Christian Thought | ||
| Church | ||
| Gender and Theology | ||
| Political Theology | ||
| Triune God | ||
| Person and Work of Christ | ||
| Holy Spirit and Last Things | ||
| Scripture | ||
| Topics in Christian Thought | ||
| Roman Catholic Theology | ||
| Eastern Orthodox Theology | ||
| Christian Theology in Context in the Holy Lands | ||
| Advanced Topics in Christian Thought | ||
| Augustine | ||
| Thomas Aquinas | ||
| Martin Luther | ||
| John Calvin | ||
| Karl Barth | ||
| Advanced Topics in Christian Thought | ||
| History of the Christian Church in the East | ||
RELI, ARCH, or GPS (Minimum 2 hours): | ||
| World Religions:Asia | ||
| World Religions: Middle East | ||
| Major World Religions | ||
| Theological Approaches to Religious Diversity | ||
| The Jewish Tradition | ||
| Islam: Foundations to Modernity | ||
| The Muslim Tradition | ||
| Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh Traditions | ||
| Historical Geography | ||
| Statecraft and International Relations in the Ancient Near East | ||
| Jerusalem, the Holy City | ||
| Religions of Israel and the Near East | ||
| Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament | ||
| Physical Settings of the Bible | ||
| Archaeology of Jerusalem I | ||
| Biblical Archaeology I | ||
| Total Credits | 44 | |
Students pursuing a major in Biblical and Theological Studies are encouraged to fulfill the General Education language requirement by taking Greek, Hebrew, or German.