The New Testament major is a 54-hour thesis program designed to provide an advanced academic foundation in New Testament studies. Students will be expected to gain proficiency in appropriate exegetical tools and languages as well as a broad understanding of textual and theological issues. Specifically, students should be able to exegete and interpret a variety of New Testament texts and understand them within their larger theological contexts. Students who have extensive preparation at the undergraduate level may apply the following upper division courses (maximum of 18 hours) toward the 54-hour degree: 3 hours church history, 3 hours philosophy or theology, 6 hours of Greek, and 6 hours of Hebrew.
Core courses (30 hours)
BIBD 672 Introduction to Graduate Studies
BIBL 610 Advanced Introduction to the Old Testament
BIBL 620 Advanced Introduction to the New Testament
BGRK 611 Elementary New Testament Greek I
BGRK 612 Elementary New Testament Greek II
BHEB 671 Introduction to Hebrew I
BHEB 672 Introduction to Hebrew II
BIBH 651 History of Christianity
BIBD 660 Introduction to Systematic Theology
BIBL 627 Biblical Exegesis
Specialized courses (18 hours)
BGRK 621 Intermediate Greek
BIBL 662 Backgrounds of the New Testament and Early Christianity
BGRK 623 Seminar in the Gospels
BGRK 624 Exegetical Seminar in Acts
BGRK 625 Exegetical Seminars in the Epistles
BGRK 628 Seminar in New Testament Textual Criticism
Thesis (6 hours)
English Bible Exam
All students are required to take an exam over the English Bible prior to entering the second calendar year of the program. This exam will involve knowing a basic outline of each book of the Bible as well as basic themes, key interpretive issues, and selected texts of each book.
Oral Exam
During the last semester of course work, each student must take 6 hours of oral exams relating their academic work to ministry. Orals are generally scheduled in April and November of each year.
