The rationale for the M.A. in Biblical Studies is to equip men and women “who will be able to teach others” (2 Tim 2:2) in Ethiopia and beyond. The encroaching false teachings and erroneous practices within some churches of Ethiopia, the persistent request by students for an advanced biblical and theological training, and also the lack of enough theological schools that provide competent, accredited, and advanced theological training compel us to address the above needs within the Ethiopian context. The program will empower students who will be able to teach, equip and train current and future leaders with the knowledge, skills, and credentials at the Bachelor’s level for ministry in the church or in an academic setting.
Goal of the Program
The goal of the M.A. in Biblical Studies is to prepare competent exegetes, Bible expositors, Pastors, Bible translators, apologists, resident scholars, and professors who will be able to defend and confirm the Gospel truth (Phil 1:7) in their respective churches and academic settings.
Expected Learning Outcomes of the Program
Upon completion of the program, the graduates in the M.A. in Biblical Studies will have
- been equipped to rightly handle the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15) in their preaching and teaching.
- identified and addressed erroneous teachings and practices in a way that is faithful to the Scriptures and relevant to their contexts.
- produced relevant materials both for the church and in the academic arena by providing a contextualized training in biblical studies.
- assisted in efforts to reach out to Bible-less people groups through oral Bible storying, Bible translation, and literacy training.
- helped the local church to engage with the Bible effectively, passionately and practically.
- become conversant with and contribute to the global theological conversation in order to participate in what God is doing around the world.
Structure of the Program
The M.A. in Biblical Studies program consists of 66 semester credit hours: 45 credit hours of Biblical Studies courses, 12 credit hours of electives and 9 credit hours of Research, Thesis and Field Ministry. Students without a theological background are required to take 21 additional credit hours in Biblical and Theological courses.
Mode of Delivery
Most of the courses in the Master of Arts in Biblical Studies will be offered on campus in a semester-long format with the exception of a few courses that will be offered in a two-week modular residency format mainly in the rainy season.
For more information regarding the admissions process, and to download application forms, please visit the admissions page.