Looking for suggestions on Masters programs in Biblical Languages

David Paul
David Paul Member Posts: 6,056 ✭✭✭
edited November 2024 in English Forum

I've spent a lot of time researching this, and I'm finding surprisingly little that suits my purpose. I am looking for LANGUAGE instruction, but it seems most institutions want to inject you with other junk in the process. Anyone have suggestions? Just to be clear, I'm not interested in an M.Div. I'm thinking more in terms of an M.A. or similar.

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"The Unbelievable Work...believe it or not."  Little children...Biblical prophecy is not Christianity's friend.

Comments

  • TCBlack
    TCBlack Member Posts: 10,980 ✭✭✭

    Depending on what you're coming FROM, most (all?) seminaries are going to have you take some of their core curriculum in order to also take the Biblical languages.

    That said I am currently working on a MABL at Lincoln Christian University in Lincoln Illinois.

    At one point I had identified a few locations that offered one, but none that were accessible to me. Lincoln is relatively close to home for me so it is at least workable.

    Hmm Sarcasm is my love language. Obviously I love you. 

  • David Paul
    David Paul Member Posts: 6,056 ✭✭✭

    Thanks for the reply and link. Unfortunately, the Bible Languages listing doesn't have a link to a description of the program. [:(]  I finally found a couple of options that seem like potential possibilities.

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    "The Unbelievable Work...believe it or not."  Little children...Biblical prophecy is not Christianity's friend.

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 54,820

    I'm thinking more in terms of an M.A. or similar.

    Well I've taken a course from a visiting professor from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem whom I'd recommend. Wisconsin and Berkeley are the schools I know with good Hebrew recommendations. GTU and Berkeley have cross-registration privileges to give you the best of both worlds.

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

  • David Paul
    David Paul Member Posts: 6,056 ✭✭✭

    I looked at Wisconsin. It looked more promising that most. I saw Berkeley come up a few times, but I really don't have a lot of interest in going out to Cali-for-any reason. I'm considering Gordon-Conwell. I would normally be averse to anything that far north, but with this year's winter down here in the south, it might be a relief. I might need to pick up some Greek first, though. There's a local university, Athens State (I think there's a pun in there somewhere), where I can do that. I took a year of Hebrew there a few years back.

    I think I will try to attend Hebrew University or Bar Ilan for some classes after I finish these. I may even try a bit of time at a yeshiva, just for the experience. There are scads up in the New York & New England area.

    ASUS  ProArt x570s Creator, AMD R9 5950x, HyperX 64gb 3600 RAM, ASUS Strix RTX 2080 ti

    "The Unbelievable Work...believe it or not."  Little children...Biblical prophecy is not Christianity's friend.

  • David Paul
    David Paul Member Posts: 6,056 ✭✭✭

    I did look at Andrews, Lynden. It didn't seem as focused as what I'm wanting, though. I live near Huntsville, AL, which has Oakwood University. There is a pretty large SDA community in the area as a result. I used to get together for Bible study with a good SDA friend of mine, but he moved about a year ago.

    ASUS  ProArt x570s Creator, AMD R9 5950x, HyperX 64gb 3600 RAM, ASUS Strix RTX 2080 ti

    "The Unbelievable Work...believe it or not."  Little children...Biblical prophecy is not Christianity's friend.

  • Josh
    Josh Member Posts: 1,529 ✭✭✭
  • Rosie Perera
    Rosie Perera Member Posts: 26,194 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Regent College offers an MATS with a concentration in Biblibal Languages:

    http://www.regent-college.edu/graduate-programs/mats

  • abondservant
    abondservant Member Posts: 4,796 ✭✭✭

    http://www.sebts.edu/academics/masters/master-arts/MA_Research.aspx#Biblical%20Languages looks like 36hrs of language, 12 hrs (and a 0 credit class) of other stuff.

    Our former hebrew instructor learned biblical hebrew at a jewish institution in Israel. He retired a little better than a year ago though unfortunately, not sure who the new guy is, but I'm sure I'll find out next semester or the semester after.

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  • Dave Moser
    Dave Moser Member Posts: 473 ✭✭✭

    I'm considering Gordon-Conwell.

    I highly recommend Gordon-Conwell for this. They're excellent at two things: biblical languages and OT studies. In fact, behind the MDiv, the second most popular degree there is the MABL+MAOT combination. In addition to Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic their MABL program offers courses in Akkadian and Ugaritic which many schools do not.

    Of course the only problem is Massachusetts drivers. I've driven all over the US and Boston drivers are by far the worst. No concept of right of way, obeying road signs, etc. Reminds me of driving in Peru...