Posted on 02/27/2018 12:57:23 PM PST by BEJ
Has anyone done their doctorate in theology in the required four years or does it generally take longer? I'm thinking of doing my doctorate and am curious to know if there are some general tips or good practical advice to follow. I have heard that you are being rigorously trained and it requires a big commitment where other things in life are pushed aside as less important. I don't know how true any of this is. Thanks.
Well, linguistically speaking:
If your focus is on the Bible, then Greek/Hebrew would be part of the program I’d imagine.
For Catholic theology, I am sure that Latin would be helpful...
Its such a broad field! So it depends on what your concentration is *within* theology. Sure it’d be incredibly rewarding especially if you combine academic intent with spiritual growth in regards to your personal relationship with God. :)
took me a full seven years, part time student.
I would guess it depends heavily on what seminary you are looking at, but beyond that I don’t know.
I know in some mainline seminaries you can now get an M.Div. without taking a single Bible course or knowing any Greek or Hebrew (which just blows me away), but that is the present state of the mainline denominations.
Where do you plan on going to school? Some seminaries are cesspools where the Bible is ridiculed and Traditional Christianity is considered obsolete. My pastor went to the school of hard knocks. I don’t think he spent any time in college. He preaches the gospel. He believes in the inerrancy of scripture. He isn’t a theologian... praise God.
Why would you think it necessary to spend 4 years of your life studying the philosophies of men when you could spend that 4 years preaching the gospel to the lost or volunteering with a mission like Samaritans Purse? Obviously you aren’t going to school to get rich.
Strictly from a secular POV, a family member went for a PhD in etymology - and he was critically hindered by weak mentoring. You have to have an advocate to get critical mass of professors to critique your work. He got a break, and external influences motivated his university to get its act together and give him a proper hearing. His break came at a symposium when his presentation was heard by someone in the field from a different university.He was far from alone in that situation; he said others who were in limbo same as him went overboard celebrating his break, and it was all he could do to keep from getting falling down drunk from people wanting to buy him a drink.
Probably irrelevant to the theology field, but FWIW.
There is no congruence among doctorates in theology. It depends on your church and your interest. That is going to dictate the emphasis of your study, the network of pastors that will/won’t be there to help you, etc.
Whichever seminary you are investigating will answer those questions at their website, typically with course requirements, etc.
In the seminary I went to, Greek, Hebrew, German were all required.
I think this answers your question...
Nineteenth century theologian Augustus Strong told of a student who asked the President of Oberlin College if he could take a shorter course than the one prescribed. “Oh yes”, the President replied, “but then it depends on what you want to make of yourself. When God wants to make an oak, He takes a hundred years, but when He wants to make a squash, He takes six months.” (Systematic Theology, Volume 3)
Why Seminary? Exhibit A: Joel Osteen
Instead of making my case by argument, I’d like to simply present some evidence and then let you, the reader, come to your own verdict.
Written by Clint Archer | Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Let’s start with Exhibit A: Joel Osteen
Any pastor who regularly addresses even a handful of souls from God’s word knows the burden of wanting to be faithful to communicating accurately what God has said to his people. Every preacher feels the weight of Paul’s injunction,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15 [Open in Logos Bible Software (if available)] ).
This is why seminaries offer four year degrees that cover Greek and Hebrew, Theology and Counseling, Preaching and Pastoral Care. The more training preachers get the better........... more at link
https://www.theaquilareport.com/seminary-exhibit-joel-osteen/
If the school doesn't require at least two Greek and two Hebrew classes, it's a useless degree. The MDiv I've checked out requires this.
The PhD requires more depending on your concentration.
I would add that the minimum requirements of the Greek/Hebrew are just those....the minimum.
I would encourage you to take as many Greek/Hebrew classes as you can.
Without a solid working knowledge of the original languages you miss a lot of the message.
Kudos to you for your studies.
Yes, there are preliminary courses of Greek/Hebrew that’s needed for entry. I was thinking about the commitment and dedication involved that I’ve heard is grueling — they are preparing you for a single path in life. I’m just not sure about that. Thanks.
Yeah, I’ve heard 7-8 years as well. Thanks.
This program will be at a university (Mac Masters in Hamilton). It also requires you to have either Greek or Hebrew as prerequisite entry language (with French later on). Thanks.
So it really depends on what seminary you attend. And not all people who have the urge to go to seminary are called by God to preach the gospel, and many who have never been to a seminary are called by God to preach the gospel.
I’m planning to go to MacMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. I like theology because it allows me to clarify my own thinking and I enjoy being exposed to new ideas. I also have a background in history and philosophy and those also work well with theology. Thanks.
Yeah, I don’t know about that kind of overlap. I’m happy for your friend. Thanks for the advice.
Alright. Thanks for that insight!
Yes, there are prerequisite language courses to the degree. We can chose either Hebrew or Greek. And then French is also required later on. I was wondering if the degree was too all consuming — I’ve heard things of that nature, that they want you to commit as if your being is at sake, at the exclusion of other things. Thanks.
Isn’t that a publicly funded University in Canada? Do they teach the traditional tenants of the historical church? Since it is in Canada and funded by the Canadian government, I suspect that any teaching that homosexual marriage is an abomination would result in the professor being fired and possibly jailed. I personally would be concerned that being in that atmosphere for 4 years will be detrimental to your faith rather than faith building.
Have you considered a truly Christian University such as Biola or Cal Baptist?
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