Master of Arts in Biblical Studies Program Details
Program Overview
The Master of Arts in Biblical Studies program at Jerusalem Seminary is designed to provide students with robust, masters level instruction that is rooted in the idea of the importance of understanding the roots of the Bible in the Jewish world, as well as the conviction that the Hebraic tradition is not merely past, but a living tradition that should contribute to the Christian community.
The Master of Arts in Biblical Studies program at Jerusalem Seminary is designed to provide students with robust, masters level instruction that is rooted in the idea of the importance of understanding the roots of the Bible in the Jewish world, as well as the conviction that the Hebraic tradition is not merely past, but a living tradition that should contribute to the Christian community.
The course of study of the MABS is built on four pillars of study: learning Hebrew as a living language, a deep engagement with the Eretz (land) of Israel, direct study of the biblical texts from a perspective of faith and submission to God’s Word, and biblical theology from a Judaic perspective that seeks to tie the elements together into a unified perspective on the significance of the Jewish people and the land of Israel for Christian life and ministry.
At the heart of the program, its fifth pillar, is a desire to leverage academic study for spiritual development, and thus the individual courses will be surrounded by mentorship systems to foster each student’s personal and ministerial development.
While many classes at Jerusalem Seminary will be given through online instruction, each student will be required to visit Israel twice for direct engagement with the concrete reality of the setting of the Bible. More than just another “Holy Land tour,” these in-the-land intensive sessions will provide integrative learning experiences by interfacing with the ethnogeography of Israel as a past and present reality.
What You’ll Study
| Biblical Hebrew | The Land | The Bible | Biblical Theology |
| Four semesters of innovative Hebrew instruction from our experienced “Hebrew for the Nations” team which teaches Hebrew as a living language. | Two in-person intensive trips augmented by courses which situate biblical narratives and events within a real context. | Learn to study the Bible as a text written by Jewish people and received by Jewish and Gentile audiences alike. | Integrative classes on Israel as a land and people, which frame the story of Scripture and inform paradigms for theological reflection. |
The Five Pillars
God instructed the Israelites to build five pillars to hold up the doorway into the Tabernacle. Similarly, the MABS at Jerusalem Seminary is supported by five areas of learning.
God instructed the Israelites to build five pillars to hold up the doorway into the Tabernacle. Similarly, the MABS at Jerusalem Seminary is supported by five areas of learning.
Spiritual Development
Jersulem Seminary has a particular emphasis on Biblical Studies as a concrete discipline, one which is rooted in real people in real situations. This means our desire is to couple high quality, master’s level education, with training to develop each person in their walk with Yeshua within the communities to which they belong. This includes intentional mentorship programs where we at the seminary partner with you and your ministry context to maximize this period of study for spiritual development.
Jersulem Seminary has a particular emphasis on Biblical Studies as a concrete discipline, one which is rooted in real people in real situations. This means our desire is to couple high quality, master’s level education, with training to develop each person in their walk with Yeshua within the communities to which they belong. This includes intentional mentorship programs where we at the seminary partner with you and your ministry context to maximize this period of study for spiritual development.
Hebrew as a Living Language
While many programs require the study of original languages, these are almost always taught as “dead” languages for study only. Hebrew, however, is alive and actively spoken, and learning it as such is integral to seeing the Hebraic tradition as not just a thing of the past, but foundational to the future of biblical studies. Our “Hebrew for the Nations” team has developed an innovative approach to Hebrew instruction that is highly effective at producing deep learning of the Hebrew language which is vital for careful study of the Biblical texts.
Ha Aretz (The Land)
Jerusalem Seminary has always believed that “the land is our classroom,” and that any study of the Bible is best done with direct reference to the real peoples, history, and geography where the drama of Scripture takes place. Every student in the MABS program will be required to participate in an intensive class held in the land of Israel, and this class will be supplemented by coursework on the ethnogeography of Israel.
Jerusalem Seminary has always believed that “the land is our classroom,” and that any study of the Bible is best done with direct reference to the real peoples, history, and geography where the drama of Scripture takes place. Every student in the MABS program will be required to participate in an intensive class held in the land of Israel, and this class will be supplemented by coursework on the ethnogeography of Israel.
The Biblical Text
The MABS at Jerusalem Seminary seeks to study the Biblical texts deeply from a position of faith rooted in a “Hebraic Perspective” which is developed from the previous pillars.
The MABS at Jerusalem Seminary seeks to study the Biblical texts deeply from a position of faith rooted in a “Hebraic Perspective” which is developed from the previous pillars.
Judaic Biblical Theology
Students will take a number of carefully selected courses which will integrate the themes which emerge from the study of Scripture into a cohesive whole which is rooted in both the people of Israel and God’s plan for the whole world through the Jewish Messiah. These courses will help develop a vision for the relationship between Israel and the nations, the church and the Synagogue, and the Past and the Present.
Students will take a number of carefully selected courses which will integrate the themes which emerge from the study of Scripture into a cohesive whole which is rooted in both the people of Israel and God’s plan for the whole world through the Jewish Messiah. These courses will help develop a vision for the relationship between Israel and the nations, the church and the Synagogue, and the Past and the Present.