Biblical Studies

Advanced Level Certificate

Course Benefits:
 The Advanced Level Biblical Studies track is designed to provide the student with a comprehensive understanding of the context and contents of the English Bible.

Course Description:
 The Advanced Level track consists of twenty-eight courses that can be completed in a three-year period. Although students may take longer to complete the courses if they wish, the courses are designed so that the student may earn the Certificate in three years.

After registration, the student will be assigned a tutor to answer questions that may arise from the required reading and who will evaluate the student's coursework. An online forum will also be provided. The forum will provide a place for students in the Advanced Level Biblical Studies track to submit questions to the tutor and to discuss course related issues with other students registered for the same track.

Course Requirements:
 Each of the twenty-eight courses in the Advanced Level Biblical Studies track requires a large amount of reading. In order to benefit from the reading, the student is required to keep a reading journal, which is to be submitted to the tutor after completing the final course. The reading journal must be typed. For each required text, the student is to include the following information:

1. State the author and title of the book.

2. In no less than 25 and no more than 50 words, state what the book is about. In other words, what is the subject matter of the book, and how does the author present the material

3. In no less than 300 and no more than 350 words, summarize how the book has contributed to your knowledge of the content and context of Scripture.

4. In no less than 125 and no more than 150 words, state whether you agree or disagree with any of the author's conclusions and why.

5. In no less than 25 and no more than 50 words, state what difference reading this book has made in your life.

[NOTE: As part of the reading requirements for the Advanced Certificate in Biblical Studies, the student will be required to read each book of the Bible as well as secondary textbooks. The reading journal is only required for the secondary textbooks. Entries in the reading journal are NOT required for the assigned reading in the text of Scripture].

In addition to the reading journal, the student is required to write and submit one research paper after completing the final course. The student may choose any subject covered in one or more of the required courses. The paper should be no less than 4,000 and no more than 5,000 words.

The research paper should adhere to the format outlined in Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (7th edition).

Students may also find the following work useful in the preparation of the research paper:  Robert Hudson, ed. The Christian Writer's Manual of Style (updated and expanded edition).

Required Courses:
 Section 1 – Introductory
 1. Biblical Overview
2. Introduction to Biblical Interpretation

Section 2 – Old Testament
 3. Introduction to the O.T.
4. The Pentateuch I (Genesis)
5. The Pentateuch II (Exodus)
6. The Pentateuch III (Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)
7. The Historical Books I (Joshua – 2 Kings)
8. The Historical Books II (1 Chronicles – Esther)
9. The Pre-Exilic Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations)
10. The Pre-Exilic Minor Prophets (Joel, Jonah, Hosea, Amos, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Obadiah)
11. The Exilic Prophets (Ezekiel, Daniel)
12. The Post-Exilic Prophets (Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi)
13. The Poetic Books and Wisdom Literature I (Psalms)
14. The Poetic Books and Wisdom Literature II (Proverbs)
15. The Poetic Books and Wisdom Literature III (Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs)

Section 3 – The Intertestamental Period
 16. The Intertestamental Period

Section 4 – New Testament
 17. Introduction to the N.T.
18. The Synoptic Gospels
19. The Gospel of John
20. The Book of Acts
21. The Pauline Epistles I (Galatians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians)
22. The Pauline Epistles II (Romans)
23. The Pauline Epistles III (1 & 2 Corinthians)
24. The Pauline Epistles IV (Prison Epistles – Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon)
25. The Pauline Epistles V (Pastoral Epistles – 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus)
26. The General Epistles I (Hebrews and James)
27. The General Epistles II (The Epistles of Peter, John, and Jude)
28. The Book of Revelation

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