“One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts… They will celebrate your abundant goodness, and joyfully sing of your righteousness.”
(Psalm 145: 4,7, NIV)
Theologians help us fulfill God’s mandate to teach our children and proclaim to the world who he is, what he has done to create and redeem us, and how he continues to work in our midst. It’s not a vocation to be taken lightly. In fact, teaching theology is one of the most demanding jobs in the world. But to those with the gift, the call, and the right training, it can also be one of the most rewarding.
Is teaching your gift? Do you feel God’s call to prepare Asian pastor and church leaders to defend the truth, spread the gospel, and equip the saints? Then AGS is the place for you to get the training you will need.
As a participant in the Theological Studies Program, you will learn to handle the Bible in its original languages, dealing with broader hermeneutical issues and gaining new exegetical insights. You will immerse yourself in the history of the church around the world and across our region, coming to a deeper understanding of Asian evangelicalism’s roots and fruits. You will read the works of classic theologians like Augustine, Calvin, a and Wesley as well as contemporary scholars like Kitamori, Koyama, and Song. When you are finished, you will be well prepared for classroom ministry or for work on an advanced academic degree such as a Th.M. or Ph.D.
Equipping asians called to teach
Admission to the Program
Students are admitted to the Diploma in Theological Studies after completing 15 hours of course work, 12 units of which are in Bible and theology, with an overall GPA of 1.75 or better and a GPA in Bible and theology courses of 1.6 or better. They are admitted to the M.A. and M.Div. in Theological Studies after completing 30 hours of course work, 24 units of which are in Bible and theology, with an overall GPA of 1.75 or better and a GPA in Bible and theology course of 1.6 or better. Admission is based on the recommendation of the professor with agreement from the Academic dean. Continuation in the program requires maintenance of an overall GPA of 1.75 or better and a GPA in Bible and theology courses of 1.6 or better.
The right program for a student will depend on prior experience and personal goals:
The Diploma in Theological Studies is designed for those who would like to pursue a year of theological study to enrich ministry effectiveness and deepen understanding of the Christian faith.
The M.A. Theological Studies is designed for those planning on or already engaged in a teaching ministry who want a solid academic foundation that will both better prepare them for the classroom and enable them to pursue a higher degree.
The M.Div. Theological Studies is designed for those who want the further theological and historical grounding by an additional year of study.
Program Strengths:
| -Faculty with a wide range of scholarly and ministerial experience. |
|
-Commitment to equip men and women for leadership in the church |
|
-Balanced, comprehensive curriculum taught at a high academic standard |
|
-Emphasis on relating study to Asian cultural contexts |
|
-Excellent library resources and access to computers |
|
-International student body |
|
-Family atmosphere |
|
-Guided personal growth |
| |
Diploma (30 units) |
M.A. (64 units) |
M.Div. (96 units) |
| Core Curriculum |
|
|
|
| Research Seminars |
|
2 sems |
2 sems |
| Growth Groups |
|
4 sems |
4 sems |
| Bible |
9 units |
12 units |
12 units |
| Biblical Languages |
|
12 units |
24 units |
| Theology |
9 units |
9 units |
9 units |
| Christian History |
6 units
History Elective 3 units |
6 units
History Elective 3 units |
6 units
History Elective 3 units |
| Leadership & Spiritual Formation |
|
6 units |
6 units |
| Professional Electives |
3 units |
6 units |
18 units |
| LIFE |
|
4 units |
4 units |
| Education Electives |
|
|
6 units |
| Open Electives |
|
6 or 0 w/thesis |
2 units |
| Thesis |
|
6 (optional) |
6 units |
| |
|
|
|
| Professional Electives |
Open Electives |
- Doing Theology in Asia
- Theology in Practice
- Roman Catholic Theology
- Modern Evangelicalism
- Theological Methods and Systems
- Old Testament Theology
- New Testament Theology
- Hermeneutics
- Philosophy of Religion
- Education Courses
- Teaching-learning process
- Effective Teaching
- Curriculum Design
|
Other courses from other programs in consultation with the program director. |
An exploration of the nature, necessity and limitations of systematic theology; general revelation and natural theology; special revelation and Biblical inerrancy; the existence and attributes of God; and the doctrine of the Trinity. Students gain an understanding of the connections among these doctrines, differing perspectives on them, and implications for the contemporary world, as well as their own lives and ministries.
An examination of God’s work of creation and providence; the nature of created and fallen humanity; the nature and impact of sin; and the person and work of Christ. Students gain an understanding of the connections among these doctrines, differing perspectives on them, and implications for the contemporary world, as well as their own lives and ministries.
A study of the Person and work of the Holy Spirit; the believer’s election, justification, experience of salvation, and growth in sanctification; the nature, role, government, sacraments, and unity of the church; death and the intermediate state; and the return of Christ, the millennium, and the last judgment. Students gain an understanding of the connections among these doctrines, differing perspectives on them, and implications for the contemporary world, as well as their own lives and ministries.
A study of the process by which the Bible’s teaching on topics like revelation, the nature of God, and the person and work of Christ was elaborated by the first Christian apologists, defined in the early ecumenical councils, further developed by generations of Christian theologians, and restated in the Reformation-era confessions. Students gain insight into what is transient and what is permanent in these culture-specific expressions of scriptural truth, and thus what in them is of value to present-day believers.
An analysis of the history of Catholic thought from the Council of Trent through Vatican II and beyond with attention to classic as well as current theologians. This course looks at the traditionalist, modernist, and evangelical parties that struggle today for control of Catholicism’s future.
How should a Christian defend and explain his faith? This course examines the principles and methods of apologetics, giving special attention to the issue of cultural context and careful consideration to which apologetic models may be most effective in the modern, pluralistic urban environment.
An examination of the philosophical and theological foundations of morality and decision-making and the critical analysis of political, economic, and social issues in light of Christian faith. Students gain an understanding of the Biblical and theological bases of ethics and learn to relate Christian moral principles to the economic, political, and social problems of modern society.
A study of the theological issues which concern Asian Christians in view of the religious, political, and cultural forces at work in the region. Students become acquainted with the theological issues and missionary challenges in the region as understood from Roman Catholic, conciliar, and evangelical perspectives.
A survey of the history of the church from the Apostolic Age to the eve of the reformation. This course explores the Christian community’s origins, its missionary expansion across Europe and Asia, the zenith of medieval Christianity, and the subsequent spiritual decay that led to the birth of Protestantism. Students gain an understanding of the unity and diversity of early and medieval Christian faith and practice, knowledge of how the church shaped and was shaped by its cultural settings, and an appreciation for the relevance of the pre-Reformation church’s experience for believers today.
A survey of the history of the church from the Reformation to the present day. This course explores the development of the major Protestant traditions as well as the Catholic response. Students consider the interaction, good and bad, between the church and its social context and gain an appreciation for the relevance of the post-Reformation church’s experience for believers today.
A family portrait of the worldwide evangelical community, looking at its background in 19th-century revivalism and dispensationalism, its traumatic birth in the Fundamentalist-Modernist controversy, its years of isolation and eventual return to prominence as Neo-Evangelicalism, its response to the challenge of Pentecostalism and the Charismatic Renewal, its development into a genuinely global movement, its engagement with contemporary problems of social concern and critical scholarship, and its prospects for the future. Students gain an appreciation for the evangelical community’s astonishing diversity and fundamental unity.
A consideration of the origins and history of the church in the Philippines. This course examines the arrival of Catholicism with the Spanish, the arrival of Protestantism with the Americans, and the distinctive twist given to both of these traditions by Filipino believers.
This course probes the origins, development, and present-day prospects of the church in Asia. Students gain an understanding of the historical background and reasons for the growth/setbacks of the Christian church in Asia and an appreciation for lessons from the past that apply to today’s situation.
This course is a philosophical analysis of the arguments of the existence of God and non-existence of God through the existence of evil and suffering. The course shall also discuss the issues concerning the validity of religious experience and religious language. Models of relationship with other religions will also be considered.
Please consult the program director for the requirements.
|
