Academics
Master of Arts [M.A.] in Biblical Languages
The purpose of this degree is to strengthen the full-time Christian worker or earnest layman who hungers for a greater knowledge of the Scriptures and to equip him for greater effectiveness in ministry.
Objectives
Graduates of this program will be able to
- articulate and defend the integrity of the original text of Scripture (Masoretic Text in the Old Testament and Received Text in the New Testament), as well as the reliability of the Authorized Version;
- teach biblical doctrine by means of expository discourses that rightly divide and expound individual books and passages of the Bible;
- explain and apply Bible content through witnessing, counseling, and teaching or preaching to evangelize the lost and edify the saints;
- translate and interpret God’s Word accurately and transparently from the original languages (M.A. in Biblical Languages).
This program focuses on God’s Word in the original languages. The biblical doctrines of inspiration and preservation are stressed to instill a loyalty to the Masoretic Text/Textus Receptus and a reverence for the accuracy and integrity of the Authorized Version (KJV). Students acquire and apply sound tools for studying the Scriptures and rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
Course Requirements |
Hours |
| BI 640: Doctrine and History of Preservation of the Text | 3 |
| BI: Bible Elective | 3 |
| BL 620: Greek—Ephesians | 3 |
| BL 630: Greek—I & II Thessalonians | 3 |
| BL 640: Greek—James | 3 |
| BL 650: Greek—Romans | 3 |
| BL 645: Hebrew I | 3 |
| BL 646: Hebrew II | 3 |
| TH 553: Biblical Theology | 3 |
| TH 554: Biblical Theology | 3 |
| Total Hours 30 | |
Residence Requirements
The M.A. degree must be completed within 7 consecutive years.
Courses are offered in four consecutive fall/spring semesters.
Distance Learning
Up to three biblical languages courses may be taken by distance learning.
Admission Requirements
See General Admission Requirements. Biblical languages requires at least two years of undergraduate Greek with a minimum grade of “C.”
Transfer of Credits
Up to three credit hours of work completed prior to beginning the M.A. program will be considered for transfer.
Candidacy
A Master of Arts student is required to maintain a 3.00 grade point average (based on a 4.00 scale) while completing his seminary studies. A student may not consider himself a candidate for an advanced degree until all undergraduate deficiencies have been removed and he has completed at least one full semester (a minimum of 9 hours) with a 3.00 grade point average as a student at PTS.
Master’s Graduation Requirements
The Master of Arts degree is conferred on students who satisfactorily complete the course of study outlined in the catalog and the following requirements.
- Complete at least 30 credit hours, including all courses required for this program of study.
- Earn a 3.00 grade point average (on a 4.00 scale) at Pensacola Theological Seminary and receive at least a “C” in all courses. (A student is permitted to repeat up to two courses in which he has already received a grade of “C” or above to improve grade point average. With the approval of the Seminary Committee, a student lacking grade points may take additional courses to make up the grade point deficiency.)
- Complete the residence requirements at Pensacola Theological Seminary.
- Complete a Petition for Graduation form in the Records Office no later than registration for the first class of the summer of anticipated graduation or by the end of the drop/add period of the fall or spring semester of anticipated graduation or while on campus for your final module. (Graduation fees are assessed based on stated anticipated graduation date.)
- Settle all financial obligations to the Seminary.
All graduation requirements must be completed prior to participation in convocation. If a student has completed the graduation requirements and is on campus, he must participate in convocation.