Introduction to Baptist Theology
What is a Baptist? Many people attending Baptist churches understand what Baptists don't believe (baptizing babies and small children), but not what Baptists do believe. This course considers the distinctive principles of Baptist faith based on the new covenant in Jesus Christ. We recommend that you take this course before taking the others.
Offered during the Fall Quarter.
Offered during the Fall Quarter.
Baptist Church History
The Baptist church has its roots in the English separatist movement of the 16th and 17th centuries. Both General and Particular Baptists find their foundations in the struggles between the Churches of England and Rome as all Protestants tried to establish the "right" identities. Being convinced of the regenerate nature of the New Testament Church, Baptists, sought to defend this view while at the same time demonstrating orthodox Christian beliefs. Students will explore the origins of the General and Particular Baptists in the 17th and 18th centuries, including the migration of Baptists from England to America in New England, Pennsylvania, and other colonies.
Baptist Church History I: 17th and 18th Centuries: offered during the Fall Quarter.
Baptist Church History II: 19th Century to Present Day: offered during the Winter Quarter.
Baptist Church History I: 17th and 18th Centuries: offered during the Fall Quarter.
Baptist Church History II: 19th Century to Present Day: offered during the Winter Quarter.
Baptist Doctrine of the Church
The biblical doctrine of the church is one of the most difficult to understand from Scripture. For this reason, there are a variety of governmental models, leadership, approaches to worship, and understandings of the authority of the church in comparison to, and accordance with Scripture. Students will understand the church of Christ through the disciplines of biblical and systematic theology, tracing God's design and implementation of assembly of believers from Eden before and after the Fall, through the patriarchs, the assembly of Israel in the tabernacle and temple, to the New Testament church, and the eschatological church in the new heaven and earth to come.
Offered during the Spring Quarter.
Offered during the Spring Quarter.
Baptist Theological Frameworks
Churches have developed what might be called “theological frameworks” to summarize their understandings of Scripture. Covenant theology, Dispensationalsm, and New Covenant Theology are among the frameworks used by various Baptist churches. This course, with an emphasis on Reformed Baptist covenant and biblical theology, helps the student understand the nature, history, and development of these frameworks to make more informed choices among them and, consequently, among the churches which hold to each of them.
Offered during the Winter Quarter.
Offered during the Winter Quarter.
Baptist Covenant Theology
The term "covenant theology" is most often used to describe the Presbyterian understanding of the relationship of the biblical covenants leading to infant baptism. English Baptists of the 17th century held to a different covenant theology based on their understanding of Scripture: one in which the New Testament Church is a spiritual church different from the physical and spiritual assembly of Old Testament Israel. This course focuses on the Baptist understanding of covenant theology from the eyes of the framers of the London Baptist Confession of 1689.
Offered during the Spring Quarter.
Offered during the Spring Quarter.
Foundations of Baptist Church Leadership
What does the Bible teach about church leadership? Baptist churches are independent bodies, yet often associated with similarly-minded churches. While leadership structures may vary from church to church, this course examines the underlying biblical principles of church leadership that are useful to pastors, elders, deacons, Sunday school teachers, youth leaders, and more. Students will explore the biblical foundations of church leadership as well as consider how those foundations can be applied to church life today.
Offered periodically as indicated in the online schedule.
Offered periodically as indicated in the online schedule.
Local Church Internships
Pastors are made in churches, not seminaries. Education is essential in teaching Christian doctrines, for building up the body of Christ, and teaching the holy things of God to believers. Practical church experience in dealing with the lives of the saints from a pastoral perspective, learning humility in service, grace under sometimes extreme pressure, and to love the Lord's people is what makes caring, effective pastors. This course is structured to the needs of the student and the church and may be taken any number of times. Internships are designed by Institute staff in conjunction with the student and a local Baptist pastor. Seminary students must generally arrange internships through their home institutions.