At its most basic level, biblical studies involves studying the Bible. In practice, biblical studies involve the deliberate interplay of diverse disciplines—from ancient history, philology, and theology, to literary criticism, art, and comparative religion—to gain a contextual foundation for making meaning out of the Bible’s Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) and New Testament (Christian Bible).
Because of how these diverse disciplines inform the Bible and the Bible informs these disciplines, biblical studies are relevant to seminarians, whether they intend to preach, teach, write, practice art, or lead an organization.
The core focus of biblical studies is exegesis—a careful, analytical study of biblical texts that emerged from Judaic and Christian written traditions and became the basis for today’s Bible. To inform exegesis, subcategories of exploration include textual criticism, hermeneutics (the scholarly study of interpretation), biblical archaeology, biblical history, biblical languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek), and biblical theology.
Fields that undergird exegesis call for an understanding of the geographic, historic, and linguistic context in which the humans who wrote and translated early texts existed. By examining the location, culture, time, and language in which early biblical texts came into being, we gain meaningful clues for enriching our perspective about modern translations of biblical texts.
As discussed above, biblical studies is concerned with the Bible. Through exegesis, biblical scholars strive to gain contextual knowledge about ancient texts—including the Hebrew Bible, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Septuagint—and the times in which they were created to illuminate biblical comprehension.
Theology, by contrast, is the broader study of God. Instead of solely examining the Bible book by book or passage by passage to discern the meaning of biblical texts, theological scholars use numerous sources to reflect on the nature of Divine reality and construct concepts, ideas, and imaginative descriptions to attempt to articulate ultimate reality. Though different in many ways, theology and biblical studies also complement one another.
United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities offers both a Master of Arts (36-credit) and a Master of Divinity (72-credit) degree in Biblical Studies. Both degrees require students to take classes in:
The MDiv in Biblical Studies degree requires a broader range of exploration that encompasses art and theology courses, world religions and global Christianity courses, a constructive theology course, and a social transformation course. It also features a section of vocational contextualization and skills courses that involve preaching, faith formation, and a congregational internship.
To learn more, visit United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities’ Degree Programs page.
A biblical studies degree gives students an opportunity to deeply engage with the cultural and historical contexts, overarching narratives, theological themes, and critical issues of the Bible, as well as attend to the ethical implications of interpreting Scripture. These skills are well-suited for a variety of ministerial and academic roles—from parish ministry and chaplaincy to textual scholarship and teaching.
A biblical studies degree opens up many meaningful and impactful opportunities for individuals seeking to make a difference in the world. With a biblical studies degree, you can pursue paths aligned with your unique interests, skills, and calling.
A biblical studies degree from United will set you up for success in the following vocational paths and meaningful pursuits:
These are just some of the many examples, as the true possibilities are vast! A biblical studies degree equips you with a strong foundation in theology, ethics, exegesis, and spiritual leadership, enabling you to make a positive impact in the lives of individuals, communities, and society as a whole—in your own unique way.
United’s MA and MDiv in Biblical Studies degrees are both offered online through our distance learning program. Online biblical studies courses allow for greater flexibility in studying and learning, a feature that accommodates students wherever they live and in concert with other demands on their time.
In fact, not only can biblical studies students at United obtain their degree 100 percent online, but many courses are offered asynchronously! Asynchronous courses offer students additional online resources and the freedom to access course instruction and complete coursework at their own pace. Synchronous courses, by contrast, require all students to attend a live online class at the same time. A mix of synchronous and asynchronous biblical studies courses offers both the benefit of community and the flexibility of faculty-guided independent study.
As United students will attest, online courses are no less rigorous than those taught in traditional in-person courses. Like the best biblical studies degree programs at other seminaries, United’s MDiv in Biblical Studies requires students to dive deeply into exegesis through intensive studies related to world religions, art and theology, religious texts, and biblical Hebrew and New Testament Greek.
No matter what faith or belief community you come from, there is a place for you in United’s biblical studies degree programs. Whether you intend to promote biblical scholarship or serve as a teacher, preacher, or community leader, United’s programs will equip you with the knowledge, creativity, ethical grounding, and spirit of curiosity that will enhance your vocation.
We invite you to sit in on a class, view our recorded past events and lunches, or set up a meeting with a faculty member or student to learn more!
Interested in learning more about or pursuing a biblical studies degree at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in Minnesota? Contact our admissions team to explore our 30+ seminary degree programs today!