Academics

3 s. hrs.  This course is designed to give the student a grasp of the key people and events of OT history. An understanding will be developed of the major themes and principles of the OT and the progression of God’s saving plan through Israel’s history which culminates in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Basic principles of Biblical interpretation will be addressed with special attention being given to gaining a confidence in the authority and relevancy of the Bible and having an ability to answer those who seek to undermine the OT on literary and ethical grounds.

3 s. hrs. A study of the 27 books of the New Testament from the perspectives of their historical and cultural backgrounds, their literary characteristics and interrelationships, and their distinctive themes and messages. The student will learn the chronology, the history, the biographies of Jesus and Paul, and will discover the major doctrines of the New Testament. The instructor will point out important principles of biblical interpretation.

1,2 (total 3) s. hrs. The BICS Bible Lands Seminar consists of a two-semester seminar capped by twenty days or more of intensive study in Egypt (including the Sinai), Israel, and Jordan. Classes (held weekly throughout both semesters) will consist of lectures and presentations of relevant geographical, historical, and archeological data. Students will be responsible for reading and writing assignments, presentations, periodic testing, and a summary report and seminar evaluation. Participants will gain a realistic, multidimensional, hands-on comprehension of biblical geography and life in Near Eastern countries that will improve their understanding of the Bible.

3 s. hrs. The purpose of this course is to provide the student with a working knowledge of the major elements underlying Systematic Theology. The course will survey the biblical teaching concerning Scripture, God, man, sin and salvation, the person and work of Christ, the Holy Spirit and application of redemption, the church, the return of Christ, the resurrection, judgment, and kingdom of God. Being a survey course, the main goal is to enable the student to lay a foundation on which to build a more thorough and complete understanding of theology as he matures in Christ. A supporting goal for this course is to help the student begin to think and reason from a sound theological perspective so that he will learn how to bring every thought under the lordship of Christ. It is further hoped that the student will learn to use his mind in a loving and earnest pursuit of the knowledge of God.

3 s. hrs. Romans is the key to the whole Bible. Bible 208 is an expository and theological study of Paul’s epistle focusing on its answer to the question “What is the Gospel?” The student will gain a knowledge of the progress of Paul’s thought and encounter many of the great doctrines of the faith. Some attention will be paid to responding to modern criticism of Romans and developing sound hermeneutical techniques that can be applied to all of Scripture. Special emphasis will be made concerning the connection between good theology and right behavior, both personally and in our relationships. The student should come away from the course seeing Romans as vital to developing a sound Christian world view.

3 s. hrs. This course exposes the biblical principles of ministry that laid the foundation of the early Church and enabled it to carry out the Great Commission.  Students will discover Luke’s purpose in writing the book to Theophilus by examining his selection and ordering of material, by detecting particular themes and by noting the significant people and events by which the story of Jesus spreads throughout the Roman Empire. A significant component of the course will be the development on a philosophy of ministry for the  proper functioning of the church going forward in the postmodern era.