Course Descriptions
As the official seminary of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA), Calvin Theological Seminary is proud to prepare students for ordination within the CRCNA as well as for ordination within other denominations.
What Courses are Offered at Calvin Seminary?
An introduction to the theology, message, literary shape, and general historical setting of the Old Testament. Emphases include the Missio Dei (Mission of God) and Israel’s covenantal vocation. This course will explore theological themes like covenant, divine presence, kingdom, and eschatology. Students will complete this course with an understanding of the Old Testament's importance for ministry and theological thinking in the context of the Church.
An in-depth study of the Old Testament in its ancient context and reflecting on how it speaks to the Church today. This course offers a focus on one of these areas of study: an Old Testament canonical section, an Old Testament book or collection of books, an Old Testament topic, or Old Testament hermeneutics.
A study of Old Testament narratives, specifically: Genesis through Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. Students will practice close reading methodology and theological analysis of these books of Christian Scripture, with select passages analyzed in Hebrew.
An introduction to biblical Hebrew. Students will be equipped with the basic knowledge and skills necessary for exegetical study of the Old Testament.
The first of two biblical Hebrew courses preparing students to use biblical Hebrew in ministry. Students will be introduced to vocabulary, grammar, syntax, and elementary exegesis, beginning with the basics of the Hebrew alphabet and pronunciation to the initial introduction to the Qal verb stem.
The second of two biblical Hebrew courses preparing students to use biblical Hebrew in ministry. Students will continue their studies of vocabulary, grammar, syntax, and exegesis. They will also learn the remaining Hebrew verb stems and sharpen their exegetical skills.
An introduction to biblical Greek. Students will be equipped with the basic knowledge and skills necessary for exegetical study of the New Testament.
The first of two Greek courses preparing students to use New Testament Greek in ministry. Students will be introduced to grammar and basic function of the parts of a Greek sentence, and will learn about Greek morphology and its significance for exegesis.
The second of two Greek courses preparing students to use New Testament Greek in ministry. Students will continue their studies of grammar, vocabulary, and syntax. They will also read the Greek New Testament, with an emphasis on the use of Bible software as well as the exegetical application of the genitive case, adverbial participles, and conditional sentences.
A study of New Testament narratives, specifically: the Gospels and Acts, with an introduction to the unique phenomenon arising from a four-fold witness to Christ. Students will practice exegetical skills and will grow in their awareness of the historical context of the Gospels, their theological message, and their model for ministry.
An introduction to basic principles for interpreting the Bible in the Reformed tradition. Students will be shaped for the fundamental task of responsible and relevant interpretation of the biblical text.
A study of New Testament letters. Students will practice giving attention to Greek grammar, historical context, social setting, and epistolary structure, as well as theological themes and their message for the church today.
An introduction to the theology, message, literary shape, and general historical setting of the New Testament. Emphases include the Missio Dei (Mission of God) to redeem and restore a fallen world. This course will explore theological themes like the image of God, covenant, blessing, suffering, community, and shalom. Students will complete this course with an understanding of the New Testament's importance for ministry and contemporary issues for the Church.
A study of Revelation chapters 2 and 3, in relation to the Book of Revelation as a whole. Students will be equipped to preach and/or teach a series on the "Seven Letters to the Seven Churches."
The first of two systematic theology courses, focused on the triune God, Christ, humanity, and creation. Drawing from Scripture, the Christian tradition, and contemporary thought, this course raises fundamental theological questions, connecting Gospel proclamation, Christian worship, life together in community, Christian witness, and more. This course aims to renew participants’ sense of wonder at who God is, deep awareness of our need as bearers of God’s image who have fallen into sin, and gratitude for God’s gracious action in creation, providence, and redemption.
The second of two systematic theology courses, focused on the Holy Spirit. Drawing from Scripture, the Christian tradition, and contemporary thought, this course examines work of the Holy Spirit in applying the benefits of Christ both to individual lives, and to the Christian community. This course aims to renew participants’ sense of gratitude and wonder at the grace of God while strengthening our knowledge and love of God, and our passion for God’s mission in the world today.
An introduction to Reformed theology through a study of confessions. Studying confessions from the Reformation era (Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, Canons of Dort) and the more recent past (Contemporary Testimony, Belhar Confession), students will understand the connections between these historical church documents and Christian theology.
The first of two church history courses, and an introduction to the Christian church from the first century to the late Middle Ages. This course brings together missiology, discipleship, worship, theology, and history in an engagement with the story of the Christian church from a global perspective. Students will study monks, martyrs, leaders, and lay people and learn how their practices and teachings continue to shape Christian witness today.
The second of two church history courses, and an introduction to the global history of Christianity from 1300 to the present. Students will explore how Christians have been shaped by various contexts and struggled to follow Christ amid a variety of major challenges. Key themes include reformation, conflict, colonialism, missions, racism, secularization, and globalization.
An introduction to a Christ-centered understanding of the moral life. Students will explore and practice following Christ in obedience, love, service and suffering, as individuals and as the church, witnessing to the Gospel in every area of life. This course prepares students to practice, teach, and apply this Christ-centered ethic in various contexts of ministry.
Spiritual preparation for theological education. Students will develop habits to nurture spiritual formation through their seminary education, preparing student to be formed holistically for ministry.
A masterclass in Christian Reformed Church (CRC) policy. Students will be prepared for effective leadership, ministry, governance, and administration in the CRC by studying polity structure, case studies, Church Order, and Synodical Regulations.
A masterclass in Christian Reformed Church (CRC) history and theological positions. Students will be prepared for effective leadership in the CRC through a focus on its key historical elements of a struggle for liberty, Christian education, and tensions about Americanization.
Spiritual and practical preparation for effective caregiving. Students will engage in complex biblical and theological reflection, considering how pastoral caregivers can journey with people and communities to help them live more faithfully in a fallen and broken world. Students will be equipped for effective pastoral and spiritual care that is socially, culturally, and contextually appropriate and relevant.
Spiritual and practical preparation for effective worship planning. Students will engage in a pastorally and prophetically oriented exploration of Trinitarian, covenantal public worship practices and their connection with ministries of public witness, evangelism, discipleship, pastoral care, and congregational leadership. Students will be equipped to lead contextually fitting public worship services and for equipping worshipers and worship leaders to participate more actively and deeply.
A guided application course centered on the Calvin Symposium on Worship. Students will engage symposium learning as reflective practitioners—setting goals for formation, doing pre-symposium research on speakers, reflecting on sessions, and prioritizing resolutions for ministry.
An introduction to Kingdom leadership through a life of ministry. This course combines theory and praxis for the sake of the church by helping students explore and engage Scripture, understand themselves, and reflect on knowing others and the contexts in which they have served or will serve.
An introduction to foundational theology and essential practices that guide Christian engagement with people of other cultures and religious communities. Students will explore the complex and interwoven nature of culture and religion is explored from a biblical-Reformed theological perspective. Students will also engage in Christian practices of receptive humility and reflective commitment which honor the universal common humanity of God’s image bearers while upholding the unique and universal salvific significance of Jesus.
Practical preparation for sharing the good news of Jesus and making disciples. This course examines the biblical teachings about the nature, beauty, power and glory of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as well as the diverse ways in which this message is “good news” to those who receive it. Students will be equipped to minister effectively in diverse cultural, ethnic and socio-economic settings.
An introductory preaching course. Students will learn basic components of sermon composition, using Paul Scott Wilson’s The Four Pages of the Sermon as a template to learn sermon construction. This course instructs students on the art of proclaiming the Gospel in every sermon.
A cornerstone course asking: What is the person and role of a servant leader in our ministry context? This course invites students to investigate, construct, and discover more clearly who it is that Jesus has redeemed them to be in their lives with God, their community, and broader societal structures and contexts. Students will learn postures and practices that will enable them to be confidently curious about these matters both in their studies and over the span of their lives, reflective of their development as a person and in their specific calling. Learning will include comprehension and practice of personal and communal reflective investigation, the normalizing of peer-to-peer mentoring, and the ability to draw on interdisciplinary learning and pedagogy.
A cornerstone course asking: What is our ministry context? This course introduces students to the practice of discerning and interpreting context for Christian praxis that includes a variety of ministries and vocational callings. Students will first be invited to reflect on a biblical and theological basis for discerning context. By the end of this course, students will demonstrate a foundational understanding of contextual analysis, and the basic methodology tools that are necessary for developing a life-long investigatory posture of curiosity and humility as they endeavor to serve the global church and the Kingdom of God.
A cornerstone course asking: How does the Gospel engage our ministry context? This course will intentionally integrate Scripture and theology (historical, philosophical, moral, and systematic) for the purpose of understanding the Gospel as it has been received in various times and places, and connecting the Gospel to Christian discipleship and vocation in the world.
A cornerstone course asking: What is God calling us to in our context? This course engages students with the ancient Christian practices of the priesthood of all believers, the teachings of the reformed theologians in the 16th century, and case studies of global Christian communities who have centered their discipleship and worship on this doctrine. Students will be equipped to disciple Christians to be responsive to the Spirit’s activity in their social context, impart Gospel teachings and practices to others, and form faithful witnessing communities through their worship, proclamation, and public life.
A capstone course that includes guided study, preparation of a portfolio, and taking an oral exam based on the portfolio.
A capstone course that prepares students for ordination exams and equips them to integrate wisdom, practices and insights from each area of the seminary curriculum through case studies from ministry settings.
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