Department of Biblical Studies

Academic Programs + Academics

The Department of Biblical Studies promotes the exchange of Biblical, theological, and philosophical thought, so students may pursue either professional ministry or graduate work in these or related fields.

 


Back Row: Dr. Drew Randle, Dr. Peter Held, Matt Benson, Ben Norquist
Front Row: Dr. Ken Turner, Dr. Scott Jones, Dr. Jud Davis, Dr. Paul Boling, Dr. Doug Kennard

Greetings from the Bible department at Bryan College! We are a group of people committed to the inspired Word of God, which is truth about the world and truth for the world. The Bible program at Bryan is rigorous and fulfilling; we introduce you to the Biblical languages, Greek and Hebrew, and we help you begin and/or deepen your lifelong study and exegesis of the Scriptures through in-depth courses in the English Bible. All of our courses build on the foundation established in your very first semester of study here in our unique Biblical Worldview class. We do not teach just one perspective on Biblical issues or doctrines; we teach all views and encourage our students to think and study for themselves within the Biblical framework.

As a department we are excited about the quality of our major, including: Spiritual formation, Pentateuch, Hebrew, Gospels, Acts, Greek exegesis, Biblical theology, Historical theology, Christian theology, philosophy, theological method, worldview, a thesis, and electives. As a major it is one of the strongest undergraduate programs in the country.  To see if you might fit within the major we have a brief Biblical Studies interactive quiz.

Our graduates are engaged in many different pursuits and careers. Many go on to graduate schools and seminaries to pursue further study for ministry and/or teaching. Many are in church ministries. A Bible major can prepare you for many fields because you will learn how to study and think critically. We have graduates as faculty, pastors, and those who have trained for Christianity for life. Our major will help you be a better Sunday school teacher, a better husband or wife, better father or mother, better businessman or lawyer or doctor--wherever God leads you.

So welcome to our program; you will enjoy the journey!

Sincerely,
Dr. Doug Kennard
Biblical Studies Department Head

We welcome Ben Williams into the Biblical Studies department as a world view specialist and Ben Norquist as a specialist in worldview and spirituality.  They will be teaching a section of the freshman worldview class, which is a normal extention of his work with the Bryan worldview teams.  Williams will also continue to lead worldview teams.  Norquist will also assist Matt Benson in Christian life and missions courses.

Doug Kennard's new book is available entitled: Messiah Jesus: Christology in His Day and Ours (New York: Peter Lang, 2008). The book Messiah Jesus argues that Jesus is a complex Messiah in a second Temple Jewish context including: 1) the roles prophesied and expected (King, Healer, Teacher, superior Scribe of the Law, Discipler, Sage, Judge, Prophet, martyr Example, atoning Sacrifice, Priest, and mystical Leader in resurrection); 2) He also became realized to be God revealing Himself; and 3) it is this full realization of who Jesus is that became the Biblical gospel. The book is a critical realist Biblical and systematic theology statement deepening awareness of Jesus, including in each chapter that which is: a) predicted and expected from O.T. and second Temple aspirations, b) presented by the N.T. in the Jewish second Temple context, and c) reflected in the history of theology and interpretation.  The book received a nice review by Craig Blomberg of Denver Seminary.

Alan Corlew has published an article extending an aspect of his Master’s thesis.  The article is “Schleiermacher and Romanticism: Ignored Antecedent of Postmodernism?” in Christianity and Society 17:1(Apr. 2007): 40-51.

Doug Kennard published an article, "Evangelical Views on Illumination of Scripture and Critique” in the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 49:4(Dec. 2006):797-806. Also Doug reviewed the book: Jesus, the Tribulation, and the End of the Exile, which positioned itself in the wake of Doug’s latest book, Deliverance Now and Not Yet (JETS 49[2006]: 844-6).

CORE Journal club: April 1 at 5 pm, Doug Kennard will evaluate and comment on Amos Young's article in Theology and Science 5(2007): 203-221 "God and the Evangelical Laboratory."

Biblical Studies faculty and some students attended the regional meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society and Evangelical Philosophical Society, March 14-15, 2008 in Memphis. Doug Kennard presented a paper in ETS entitled: “A Deuteronomist Perspective or Maybe the New Perspective in the Psalms: Torah and Covenant Renewal Psalms Revel in Israel’s Relationship with Yahweh as that of Covenant Nomism, a View Continuing into the Second Temple Jewish Age.” Doug Kennard is also presented a paper in EPS entitled “Contextualization of Theology.” Mark Baker, one of our seniors presenting his thesis as an ETS paper entitled: “Eden, the Temple and the River of God’s Glory,” and won aclaim in the top three student papers at the conference, competing against graduate students.
Doug Kennard’s review of the book: David CRUMP, Knocking on Heaven’s Door (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2006. 345 pp) has recently been published in the Stone-Campbell Journal.  Crump's book is the best volume on the theology of prayer published to date.
 
Ken Turner completed a youth retreat Jan 18-20 in Gatlinburg on “God Who Redeems,” an application of Exodus. It went well! Ken also conducted another youth retreat Feb. 22-24 in Los Vegas on “How to Read the Bible.” Additionally, Bryan chapel Jan. 25 Ken Turner addressed the issue of the Bible and slavery.
The Biblical Studies Department went to the combined Evangelical Theological Society and Evangelical Philosophical Society meeting November 14-16, 2007, continuing on for the November 16-20, 2007 combined meetings of: Institute for Biblical Research, Society of Biblical Literature, American Academy of Religion, Society of Christian Philosophers, and the Society for Christian Theological Review.  Jud Davis presented a paper at ETS on “Passover and the Meta-narrative of the Bible: Exodus 12 and Leviticus 23 in light of the New Testament.”  Doug Kennard presented a paper at ETS on “Interpreting Jesus’ Parabolic Teaching within a Second Temple Context.”  They both moderated sessions of Bible-Both Testaments. 
CORE journal Club: On Oct 23 at 5 p.m. Doug Kennard discussed an article by Carol Hill “A Third Alternative to Concordism and Divine Accommodation: The Worldview Approach” Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith 59(June 2007):129-134. 
Ken Turner critiqued Ernest Lucas article, "Interpreting Genesis in the 21st Century" September 25 at 5 in Mercer for the CORE Journal Club.

July-August 2007, Ken Turner presented sessions on the Reliability of the Bible and How to Read the Bible at Summit Conference (held at Bryan College).

Doug Kennard and Jud Davis attended the BSG conference June 14-15, 2007. Jud Davis presented a paper and a poster entitled "Thorns in the Meta-narrative of the Bible: From the Curse of Eden to the Crown of Thorns." Doug Kennard presented two papers and two posters entitled: 1) "God Uses Chaos to Fight the Rebellion of the Fall" and 2) "Potential Evil in the Biblical Account of the
Original Good Creation."

Doug Kennard presented two papers at the Society for Christian Philosophers conference April 20-21. The papers were "Biblical Anthropology as a Creation and Revelation Framework for Doing Bio-Ethics: With a Focus on Image of God," and "Biblical Anthropology as a Creation and Revelation Framework for Doing Bio-Ethics: With a Focus on Soul, Life, and Person."

In July-August 2007, Ken Turner presented a sermon series on Malachi at Grace Baptist Church, Taylors, South Carolina.

The department hosts a student-directed discussion called the "Commoner Forum" in memory of William Jennings Bryan's news journal called The Commoner. The last forums were on: 1) Limited and Extensive Inerrancy (a student debate by Mark Baker, Michael Grubbs, Ashley Park & Jason Poarch), 2) Poverty and the Biblical Response to Poverty, 3) Family Planning with at Kurt Wise and Doug Kennard presenting different views, and 4) Human Trafficking and Slavery Today.