Biblical Studies

The PhD in Biblical Studies (BS) prepares persons for teaching in colleges and international theological institutions, for scholarship, and for denominational leadership. Students develop a major in either Old Testament or New Testament and a minor in the other testament or another area of the theological curriculum, e.g, theology, ethics, church history (Roman era), to name a few. Students are prepared with a comprehensive understanding of the theological, cultural, hermeneutical and exegetical issues facing contemporary biblical study. In addition, as other students in the Garrett-Evangelical PhD program, students are equipped to address the inter-disciplinary issues in theological study.

Admission

Admission Requirements:

Masters degree in religious or theological studies from an accredited college or university.
Basic knowledge of Hebrew and Greek (one-year each)
MTS or MDiv that includes at least 4 biblical studies courses
Proficiency in the English language. Applicants for whom English is not their first language will be required to give evidence of such competence (demonstrated by a TOEFL score).

A completed application consists of:

Application
Research statement
Professional experience/Resume
Writing sample (15 pages)
3 letters of reference
Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score
Transcripts from all institutions attended
$75 application fee
Background check (conducted by the seminary, may take up to two weeks to complete)
Additional financial and church documents are required of international students in order to satisfy interrnal and federal requirements.

The admissions committee reserves the right to determine in its sole judgment whether an applicant is a suitable candidate for a specific concentration in the Ph.D. program.

Graduation

PhD (BS) Degree - 40 semester hours
BS Degree Grid

7 semester hours of core courses required for all Ph.D. students
9 semester hours in core biblical studies courses
9-12 semester hours for a major in OT or NT
6-9 semester hours for a minor in the other testament or area
6- 9 semester hours in electives (determined with advisor)
3 languages: Hebrew, Greek, and a modern language to enhance international and interdisciplinary study of biblical research and scholarship.
4 written qualifying examinations and an oral examination covering the following areas:
(1) Major area
(2) Minor area
(3) Focused area of research
(4)Open – to be determined with adviser
Dissertation prospectus to be discussed and approved at the time of the oral examination or within three months following the satisfactory completion of oral exam, as negotiated with advisor.
Dissertation

Faculty

Faculty:

Present faculty members in biblical studies have focused research on cultural, literary, and historical approaches to biblical study, the ethics of biblical research, and the impact of biblical studies in global Christianity. Key faculty assisting with the program include:

	Cheryl Anderson Professor of Old Testament Select Bibliography Ancient Laws and Contemporary Controversies: The Need for Inclusive Biblical Interpretation. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009.Cheryl Anderson. Women, Ideology, and Violence: Critical Theory and the Construction of Gender in the Book of the Covenant and the Deuteronomic Law. London: T&T Clark, 2004. "Reflections in an Interethnic/racial Era on Interethnic/racial Marriage in Ezra.” In They Were All Together in One Place: Toward Minority Biblical Criticism. Edited by Randall C. Bailey, Tat-siong Benny Liew, and Fernando F. Segovia. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2009. "The Eighth Commandment: A Way to King's 'Beloved Community'?” In The Ten Commandments: The Reciprocity of Faithfulness. Edited by William P. Brown. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004.
	Charles Cosgrove Professor of Early Christian Literature Select Bibliography Third-Century Christian Hymn with Musical Notation: Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 1786: Text and Commentary. The manuscript of this book is under review by Mohr/Siebeck. In Other Words: Incarnational Translation for Preaching. With W. Dow Edgerton. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2007. Cross-Cultural Paul: Journeys to Others, Journeys to Ourselves. With Herold Weiss and K. K. Yeo. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2005. The Meanings We Choose: Hermeneutical Ethics, Indeterminacy and the Conflict of Interpretations. Editor and contributor. London and New York: T. & T. Clark International (Continuum), 2004. Appealing to Scripture in Moral Debate: Five Hermeneutical Rules. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2002. Elusive Israel: The Puzzle of Election in Romans. Nashville: Westminster John Knox, 1997.
	Julie Duncan Associate Professor of Old Testament Select Bibliography "Book of Deuteronomy." In The Encyclopedia of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Edited by Lawrence H. Schiffman and James C. VanderKam. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998. "Excerpted Texts of Deuteronomy at Qumran." Revue de Qumran 18/69, 1996. “4QDeuteronomy b, e, h, j, k¹, k², k³, l, m.” Discoveries in the Judean Desert XIV.Oxford: Clarendon, 1995. “New Readings for the ‘Blessing of Moses’ from Qumran.” Journal of Biblical Literature 114/2 (1995): 273-290. “Considerations of 4QDeut^jin Light of the ‘All Souls Deuteronomy’ and Cave 4 Phylactery Texts.” Proceedings of the International Congress on the Dead Sea Scrolls, Madrid, 18-21 March 1991, eds. J. Trebolle Barrera and L. Vegas Montaner, 199-215. Leiden: Brill, 1992.
	G. Brooke Lester Assistant Professor of Hebrew Scripture Select Bibliography “Admiring Our Savvy Ancestors: Abraham's and Jacob's Rhetoric of Negotiation”Koinonia XV (2003): 81-94. “Hebrew Bible and Higher Education.” http://anumma.com/" href="http://anumma.com/" data-mce-href="http://anumma.com/">http://anumma.com. (With Jennifer S. Green and Joseph F. Scrivner) Handbook to a Grammar for Biblical Hebrew. Rev. ed. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2005.
	Jim Papandrea Assistant Professor of Church History Select Bibliography The Wedding of the Lamb: A Historical Approach to the Book of Revelation. Oregon: Wipf & Stock, 2010. At Home with the Word. Scripture Commentary Contributor, 2011 Lectionary Year Edition. Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 2010. Pray (Not Just Say) The Lord’s Prayer. Liguori, MO: Liguori Publications, 2009.
	Osvaldo Vena Professor of New Testament Interpretation Select Bibliography The Parousia and Its Rereadings. The Development of the Eschatological Consciousness in the Writings of the New Testament. Studies in Biblical Literature Vol. 27. New York, NY: Peter Lang, 2001.Osvaldo Vena. Apocalipsis (Revelation). Justo L. González, general editor. Series “Conozca su Biblia.” Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 2008. Evangelio de Marcos. Series “Comentarios para exégesis y traducción.” Edesio Sánchez and Esteban Voth editors. Miami, Florida: Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas, 2008. “The Markan Construction of Jesus as Disciple of the Kingdom.” In Mark: Texts @ Context Series. Edited by Teresa Okure, Daniel M. Patte and Nicole Wilkinson Duran. Fortress Press, 2010.
	K.K. Yeo Harry R. Kendall Professor of New Testament Select Bibliography Musing with Confucius and Paul. Oregon: Wipf & Stock, 2008. (Editor) Navigating Romans through Cultures. Edinburgh: Continuum, 2004. Biblical Rhetoric. (in Chinese) Beijing: Religious Culture Press, 2007.