A continuation of the principles used in Greek Exegesis I applied to the Epistle to the Ephesians. An introductory study of textual criticism is included. Prerequisite: NEWT CM14. Offered in Chinese.

Examines Second Corinthians to discover its teaching on the nature of true Christian ministry. Issues such as discipline and forgiveness, suffering and service, glory and humility, generosity and rewards are all topics that are discussed. Helps students discover ways in which to minister more effectively to the Body of Christ and the world in which we live. Offered in Chinese.

A study of the messages of the letters of 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus in light of their historical, literary, and theological background and setting. Special emphasis will be given to their relevance to the pastoral ministry in the contemporary society and culture. Offered in Chinese.

An interpretive (exegetical, structural, social, theological and pastoral) study of Paul’s letters to the Roman believers. Students will go through a detailed exposition of its contemporary application and missional motifs. Recommended prerequisite: NEWT CM05, NEWT CM10 and NEWT CM11. Offered in Chinese.

As one of the least known books in the New Testament, the Book of Hebrews carves a path straight into the presence of God and acts as a guide to spirituality in a time of crisis. This course will focus on the exegetical and interpretative study of the Book of Hebrews from the perspectives of history, literature, theology, and spirituality. All students will benefit from the exploration of Hebrews’ message for today in discipleship, community, and ministry. Recommended prerequisites: BIBL CM01 and NEWT CM05. Offered in Chinese.

A study of the Book of Revelation with a focus on its literary genre, theological themes and the various schools of interpretation. A detailed study of the argument with a view to teaching and preaching its content. Offered in Chinese.

Acts records the beginning of the early church. This book has played and continues to play an important role in shaping the church’s sense of its identity and mission. This course is primarily an exegetical study of Acts. By exploring the content and themes of this book, this course will examine Acts’ historical, literary, and theological qualities within relevant first-century contexts. This course will also involve a sustained discussion of how the message of Acts can be integrated into the life of the church today. Offered in Chinese.

A general introduction to the historical, sociological, and theological context in which the New Testament Scriptures came into existence, this course will familiarize students with the content and structure, distinctive theology, and introductory matters of the New Testament. In addition, the student will be introduced to the nature of the early Christian community, its transitions and changes from a strictly Hebraic construct as found within the Jewish community, and projections made for its future development.

Designed to provide the student with a general introduction to the historical, sociological and religious world in which the Old Testament was produced, as well as the discipline of Old Testament theology and the major theological emphases of the Old Testament. Recommended prerequisite: BIBL 0501.

A study of introductory issues related to the prophetic books of the Old Testament. Traces the theological themes and progression of thought in several representative prophetic books. Prerequisite: BIBL 0501. Recommended: OLDT 0511.

A literary and theological study of the wisdom literature in the Old Testament (Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes) with special focus on the place of wisdom in Old Testament theology, Wisdom theology, reading and interpretive strategies, Wisdom genres and the theological message of each book. The overall objective is to appropriate the collective message of the wisdom books to contemporary social and ecclesiastical context. Prerequisite: BIBL 0501. Recommended: OLDT 0511.

A survey of the first five books of the Bible with reference to their cultural background, historical context and the history of interpretation. Emphasis is placed on the theme of each book and the Pentateuch’s significance of the collection for Old Testament interpretation in general. Prerequisite: BIBL 0501. Recommended: OLDT 0511.

An exegetical and theological study of selected texts from the Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets. Attention will be devoted to the historical, literacy, and cultural contexts of the various books, and their contemporary relevance. Special topics include the use of the Minor Prophets in the NT, and the study of the Twelve as a single corpus. Prerequisite: BIBL 0501. Recommended: OLDT 0511.

Relates the history of God’s people from David to the Exile. Students will read the Books of Kings to discover their thematics, structure and especially the theological messages communicated through the period of the monarchy. Critical issues, particularly the scholarly discussion concerning the rise and place of the monarchy, will be addressed. Students will gain an appreciation for the skillful theological production of these narratives and their importance to the larger canonical text. Prerequisite: BIBL 0501.

Among the least read (and most misunderstood) books in the Old Testament are 1 & 2 Chronicles. Yet, we will discover in this course that this material has a vital message for the church and academia today. As the last books of the entire Hebrew Bible, Chronicles is uniquely positioned to provide what a prominent scholar refers to as “one of the richest mines of spirituality in all Scripture.” The post-exilic period, when Chronicles was composed, witnessed the production of new kinds of literary and theological works. Prerequisite: BIBL 0501.

Same as NEWT 0541.

Directed Reading and Research (DRR) courses allow students to study in a specific area of interest not addressed by the scheduled course offerings. Permission required.

What did it mean to be a woman during Old Testament times? In order to gain theological insight into the Bible’s portrayal of women, we examine key Old Testament passages against the background of ancient Israelite society. Contemporary issues surrounding the significance of these texts are discussed, including feminist interpretations. Prerequisite: BIBL 0501.

An introduction to the basic principles of biblical Hebrew with emphasis on morphology, phonology and syntax.

The continuation of OLDT 0611 Hebrew Grammar I, including some reading of selected portions of the Hebrew Old Testament. Prerequisite: OLDT 0611.

A literary, interpretive and theological study of the book of Daniel with special focus on the apocalyptic genre, the sociohistorical milieu of the apocalyptic movement, the employment of different reading strategies and guidelines for interpretation. Using specific examples, the ultimate goal is to provide tools and ideas for appropriating the message of Daniel to our postmodern human and ecclesiastical context. Students are encouraged to engage themselves in bridging the two worlds, the biblical world and the world of today by paying due attention to the timely and timeless aspects of the text. Prerequisite: BIBL 0501. Recommended: OLDT 0511.

Gives an overview of the message of Isaiah in light of the historical and literary setting of the book and the experience of Israel. Special emphasis will be placed on the call of the prophet, the messianic passages, the concept of the remnant, the servant songs and the prophet’s teaching on social justice. The message of the book will be studied with the goal of making the teachings of Isaiah applicable to the life of the church today. Prerequisite: BIBL 0501. Recommended: OLDT 0511.

A study of the Book of Genesis with special emphasis on the narrative of Hebrew literature, the unfolding of the divine promise of redemption, as well as a chapter-by-chapter examination of the text and its key exegetical issues. Attention will be given to the theological emphases of the book and its relevance in the contemporary world. Knowledge of Biblical Hebrew is beneficial but not essential. Prerequisite: BIBL 0501. Recommended: OLDT 0511.

A literary and theological study of the books of 1 & 2 Samuel accomplished through a close reading of the text with examination of key exegetical issues. Samuel not only provides a historical record of the transition from the time of the Judges to the establishment of the monarchy, it also displays the breadth and depth of the creativity and artistry of Hebrew Biblical narrative as a literary genre. Through the lives of Samuel, Saul, and David, theology concerning our relationships with God and others will be examined. Prerequisite: BIBL 0501. Recommended: OLDT 0511.