MASTER OF ARTS IN CHRISTIAN BIBLICAL STUDIES (MCBS)

The purpose of the Master of Arts in Christian Biblical Studies is to equip learners for Christian service through biblical, theological, and practical studies. Regardless of the student’s role in ministry, they will develop advanced skills in the interpretation and application of Scripture. The program requires 36-credit hours and serves as the Core Curriculum for every CTI Master’s Program.

*There is also 15-credit hours of Foundational Courses for students who HAVE NOT achieved the following:

Is an ordained elder.
Has an AMS Certification from CTI.
Has met the Foundational Course requirements with an acceptable transcript from another Biblical Institute.

FOUNDATIONAL COURSES (If Not Exempted)

SOT101 – Survey of the Old Testament
SOT102 – Survey of the Old Testament, II
SNT101 – Survey of the New Testament
SNT102 – Survey of the New Testament, II
ABS501 – Advanced Biblical Studies

CORE CURRICULUM

CRW501 – Masters Research and Thesis Preparation

This course helps students writing papers in the fields of religion and theology. It provides essential guidance for writing assignments typical in graduate programs in religion and has served as a standard for seminary research courses. Today’s research mindset has shifted from “find anything” and “be satisfied with anything” to “choose intentionally” reliable and credible sources. This course will guide students through an overabundance of online and library resources and help them craft excellent essays.

CBH600 – Biblical Hermeneutics

Biblical Hermeneutics has become a standard subject for a generation of students, pastors, and serious laity. It is an enriched on is the authority of Scripture, the relevance of personal Bible study to life, and why these things matter. It also discusses fundamental interpretive topics including: The role of biblical theology in interpretation, how to deal with contemporary questions not directly addressed in the Bible, the New Testament’s use of the Old Testament, and the role of history in interpretation.

COT602 – Old Testament Theology

Old Testament Theology and Exegesis covers the following: Language, Literature, Hermeneutics, and Biblical Theology. The Old Testament and Its Relations to Exegesis and Theology, Old Testament History: A Theological Perspective, and a Hermeneutical Perspective with Literary Approaches and Interpretation. The course also discusses the Theological Implications of Narrative Techniques, Linguistics, Meaning, Semantics, and Discourse Analysis as well as the Principles for Productive Word Study.

CNT603 – New Testament Theology

We must bear in mind that the writers of the New Testament books were not writing set theological pieces. They were concerned with the needs of the churches for which they wrote. Those churches already had the Old Testament, but these new writings became in time the most significant part of the Scriptures of the believing community. As such, they should be studied in their own right, and these questions should be asked: What do these writings mean? What is the theology they express or imply? What is of permanent validity in them? We read these writings across a barrier of many centuries and from a standpoint of a very different culture. We make every effort to allow for this, but we never succeed perfectly. In this course the goal is to find out what the New Testament authors meant, and this not as an academic exercise, but as the necessary prelude to our understanding of what their writings mean for us today.

CHB502 – The Historical Books: In-Depth Study

This course carefully examines content, structure, and theology using rhetorical criticism, inductive Bible study techniques, published scholarship, archaeological data, word studies, and text-critical evidence. It details the events and implications of each book chapter by chapter, providing useful commentary on overarching themes and the connections and parallels between Old Testament texts. Using theological and literary analysis, this comprehensive introduction examines historical issues, attempting to uncover and discover their thrust and theological messages. For those who wish to do additional research, each chapter is appended with a bibliography.

CPW503 – The Poetic and Wisdom Writings: In-Depth Study

The poetic books of the Old Testament—Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon are often called humankind’s reach toward God. The other books of the Old Testament picture God’s reach toward man through the redemptive story. Yet these five books reveal the very heart of men and women struggling with monumental issues such as suffering, sin, forgiveness, joy, worship, and the passionate love between a man and woman. This course delves deep into the hearts of the five poetic books, offering readers helpful details, like: Hermeneutical considerations for each book, Theological content and themes, detailed analyses of each book, and the cultural perspective.

CMP504 – The Major Prophets: In-Depth Study

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel spoke words of warning, comfort, and punishment to the people of Israel in Judah and during the Babylonian Captivity. Though they faced incredible loss and persecution as they grieved the choices the Israelites made, these major prophets of the Old Testament fulfilled their role as God’s voice to a rebellious people. In the book for this course, the highly respected commentary, Dallas Theological Seminary scholars explore the historical and cultural background of the prophets, the literary devices they used, and what these books teach us about God’s call to us to follow Him today.

CMI505 – The Minor Prophets: In-Depth Study

The Minor Prophets is a collection of expositional essays on each of the twelve prophets. This course illuminates the life, times, and major emphases of these men of God. The course book brings to this work an unusual combination of talents and background. In this book, the author carefully presents his own views as well as dissenting views of other biblical scholars. These studies include full treatment of the historical and cultural settings of each of the twelve prophets and their writings.

CGM601 – The General Epistles: In-Depth Study

This course considers the theological richness and practical relevance of the New Testament General Epistles James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, and Jude within a redemptive-historical framework. Although not the most familiar portion of the New Testament, these letters have much to say about the call to discipleship in the twenty-first century. Part One focuses on 1 Peter. Here we see that Christ has accomplished salvation and that his life provides the pattern for faithful living in the face of worldly opposition. In Part Two the truth of 2 Peter and Jude is set in contrast to the destructive doctrines of scoffing false teachers. Part Three reflects on the challenges of the Johannine letters that address who belongs to God’s family. Finally, Part Four looks at the practical teaching of James in light of the teaching of Jesus.

CSE604 – Soteriology and Election (The Doctrine of Salvation)

This course shares the trinitarian exposition of Christian soteriology. The relation of God and salvation is not primarily a problem to be solved. Rather, it is the blazing core of Christian doctrine, where the true nature of God and the truth of the gospel come together. Accordingly, a healthy Christian theology must confess the doctrine of the Trinity and the doctrine of salvation as closely related, mutually illuminating, and strictly ordered. When the two doctrines are left unconnected, both suffer. The doctrine of the Trinity begins to seem altogether irrelevant to salvation history and Christian experience, while soteriology meanwhile becomes naturalized, losing its transcendent reference. If they are connected too tightly, on the other hand, human salvation seems inherent to the divine reality itself.

CES605 – Eschatology (Theology of Death and Judgment)

CCR606 – Comparative Religions

The diversity of the world’s religions has come to the West, but believers are often ill-equipped for any kind of serious engagement with non-Christians. This course introduces all the world’s major religious traditions in a brief and understandable way. It outlines key beliefs and practices in each religion, while also providing guidance on how to think critically about them from the standpoint of Christian theology.

36-Credit hour program