Seminary Distance Learning Courses

BT 542 Introductory Greek I (3)
This course gives an introduction to the grammatical elements of Koine (New Testament) Greek using brief passages from throughout the New Testament as a basis for developing proficiency in translation.

BT 544 Introductory Greek II (3)
This course provides a continued study of New Testament Greek grammar with further reading of selected portions of the Greek New Testament.
Prerequisite: BT 542 Introductory Greek I

BT 603 Hermeneutics (3)
A theological study of biblical interpretation that surveys the ways the Bible has been handled in the past and present. Students wrestle with significant issues of biblical interpretation within the context of commitment to scriptural authority and the needs of today. Throughout the course, students are challenged to develop the understanding, discernment, and skills that make an impact on their lives and on the lives of the people to whom they minister.

BT 610 Pentateuch Seminar (3)
This course is a study of the contents of the Pentateuch against its archaeological background, with consideration given to the particular Pentateuchal problems of evolution and higher criticism. The laws that form the basis of Israel’s theocracy are examined with regard to their context, meaning, and applicability today.

BT 631 Introductory Hebrew I (3)
This course is designed to introduce beginning students to the basics of biblical Hebrew so as to provide a clear basis for further study of the language and the texts written in it. Through a variety of approaches, students are familiarized with the basic building blocks of the language.
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BT 633 Introductory Hebrew II (3)
This course builds on the introductory offering by deepening students’ knowledge of the language and developing their ability to identify weak verbs and rare and difficult constructions in biblical Hebrew. Toward the end of the course, students are introduced to the reading of selected portions of the Hebrew Bible.
Prerequisite: BT 631 Introductory Hebrew I
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BT 651 Central Doctrines of Christian Theology (3)
An introductory course for those without theological training which surveys the central doctrines of the Christian faith and seeks to facilitate students in developing a basic understanding of the method and content of systematic theology in the classical and evangelical traditions.

BT 661 Overview of the History of Christianity (3)
Chronologically, this survey covers the history of Christianity from the time of the early church through to the end of the nineteenth century. It includes a study of ecclesiastical organization and practice and is also concerned with the history of theology, doctrine, spirituality, and the impact of Christianity on society and of society on Christianity.
Students who have taken or plan to take BT 663 History of Christian Life and Thought I or BT 664 History of Christian Life and Thought II should not take BT 661.

BT 663 History of Christian Life and Thought I (3)
This course provides a chronological survey of the history of Christianity from the early church to the High Middle Ages. With the companion course, BT 664 History of Christian Life and Thought II, this course serves as an introduction and foundation to church history and historical theology. The focus of this course is upon the changing relationship of Christianity and culture in each period, and from this perspective, special attention is given to the history of theology, mission, spirituality, religious art, and ecclesiastical organization and practice.

BT 664 History of Christian Life and Thought II (3)
This course is designed to provide students with a basic introduction to the development of the Christian church since the time of the Protestant Reformation.

BT 701  Current Issues in Biblical Interpretation (3)
This course is an examination of current issues in hermeneutics, including the problem of meaning, presuppositions behind pre-modern, modern, and postmodern methodologies, the form and function of literary devices, translation theory and its relationship to modern translation debates, the impact genre has on the process of interpretation, the hermeneutics of cultural analysis, and the use of the Old Testament in the New Testament.

BT 711 Introduction to Old Testament Theology (3)
A biblical and theological study of foundational theology applied by the Old Testament for the New Testament and the Christian church. This study identifies and inductively derives the centre or focal point for the theology of both the Old and New Testaments. It also deals with the amount of continuity and discontinuity between the Old and New Testaments. Included are the topics of saving faith, the people of God, the role of the law of God, the worship of God, the doctrine of atonement, the relationship between the law and wisdom theology, and the preparation of the new covenant.

BT 723 Sermon on the Mount (3)
This course is a consecutive exposition of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. The emphasis is upon the distinctive character that is expected of the Christian and upon the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Emphasis is placed on the practical and spiritual application of the Sermon on the Mount and upon the theological issues and historical interpretations of that message.

BT 724 Teachings of Jesus (3)
A chronological, synthetic study of the four gospel records that emphasizes the time, place, circumstances, and persons involved in the events of our Lord's ministry, with the objective of developing a more complete understanding of the significance of his words and works.

BT 725 The Acts of the Apostles (3)
This course is an exegetical examination of Acts with concentration on the biblical theology of the book, the historical background of the events, and the theological emphasis of the speeches. Special attention is given to the relationship between the church and Israel in the early church era.

BT 752 The Doctrine of the Trinity (3)
This course presents the historic, classic, and orthodox doctrine of the Holy Trinity. It follows a biblical, historical, and dogmatic approach and seeks to show how and why the classical doctrine/dogma emerged in the fourth century; what have been the major ways this dogma has been understood; and how crucial this teaching is for a right understanding of the relationship of God to man and of man to God.

BT 761 The Patristic Fathers (3)
Luke, the New Testament historian, sought to write an orderly account of the early church so that he might instruct Theophilus in the historical reliability of the Christian faith. This course begins where Luke left off and provides an introduction to some of the key issues, events, and personalities of the early church up to the Council of Chalcedon (451 CE), including formative issues in biblical interpretation, the development of an orthodox faith, church-state relations, and the seminal work of the early church fathers.

BT 809 Galatians: Bible Study Methods (3)
The purpose of this course is to increase students’ confidence in understanding, applying, and teaching scripture by engaging them in an intensive study of Paul’s epistle to the Galatians, employing ten Bible study methods that thoroughly examine this letter and provide a solid foundation for the study of other books of the Bible.

BT 819 Use of the Old Testament in the New (3)
This course is a study of the use of the Old Testament scriptures in the New Testament canon. Through study of representative texts of the New Testament, the course investigates the hermeneutical methods of the New Testament authors. Central to this investigation is consideration of the hermeneutical principles and appropriation techniques used by the New Testament authors to employ quotations, allusions, or echoes of the Old Testament, along with related questions of the textual forms of canons/their source materials, issues of biblical theology, and a Christian reading and teaching of the Bible.

BT 824 The Epistles and Revelation (3)
Using the English text, this course surveys the New Testament epistles and the Apocalypse. Of concern are the introductory issues and the basic content of the books. Students do an inductive study of a selected passage according to the accompanying Inductive Bible Study syllabus.

BT 854 The Christian Life: An Evangelical Spiritual Theology (3)
With the extensive contemporary interest in spirituality, it is imperative that we establish a comprehensive theology of Christian spirituality that can inform the life and witness of Christian believers. For this theology to be effective in under-girding Christian experience, it needs to have distinctive features. It needs to be biblical, trinitarian, historical, and church-connected. Finally, it needs to be practical and contemporary, which for believers in the twenty-first century means that it must account for and enable spiritual formation and nurture in a postmodern, pluralistic, materialistic society. In all respects, a theology of Christian spirituality needs to provide a theological foundation for a life of prayer from which the Christian life can be lived and sustained.

CM 601  Philosophy and Foundation for Ministry (3)
This course assists students in responding, according to sound scriptural principles, to a rapidly changing culture and often confounding church scene. Attention is given to the biblical foundations of ministry, the development of mission, vision, and cultural responsiveness, the identification of calling, and the formation of core values. Students are guided through the process of developing a well-articulated philosophy of ministry.

CM 736 Principles of Discipleship (3)
This course is designed to assist students in grappling with the theological and practical dimensions of discipleship. Students explore discipleship from the Bible and supporting literature and undertake an assessment of the effectiveness of the formation of disciples in a contemporary ministry setting. This leads to the development of a plan of action for making disciples in the students’ current or future ministry contexts.

LE 742 Power and Conflict Management (3)
This course examines human relationships within Christian organizations, with attention given to communication models, self-concept, non-verbal messages, stress, and other strategies that develop interpersonal communication skills and the productive use of conflict.

LE 743 Coaching and Mentoring Strategies (3)
This course offers a careful study of coaching and mentoring processes that are useful for influencing individuals and groups toward strategic growth. Assignments are given on the benefits of coaching relationships, mentoring, tutoring, and counselling in leadership.

RD 804 Research Design (3)
This course is designed to acquaint students with the tools and tasks necessary for formal research. The development of a research problem and the necessary procedures and processes to be taken in thesis research are explored.