Apologetics, MA

Commending and Defending the Faith

Contemporary culture brims with ultimate questions about life’s origins, purpose, meaning, and destiny. In an age of widespread uncertainty and unending opinions, the Church needs faithful men and women whose lives adorn the gospel and whose minds are ready to commend and defend that hope with gracious, scriptural answers. BJU Seminary’s brand-new MA in Apologetics is designed to equip students with a solid theological foundation to articulate the Christian faith persuasively in a variety of ministry contexts, such as teaching, missions, and youth ministry.

Graduate-level training in apologetics at BJU Seminary means developing proficiency using evidence within a presuppositional framework to communicate truth in response to worldviews such as Islam, naturalism, and postmodern secularism. The degree consists of 17 credits of Bible and theology, as well as 15 credits of apologetics, including 9 elective credits, all of which can be completed in residence or through livestream, module, and online formats.

Biblical apologetics is concisely stated in 1 Peter 3:15: “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy [faith], always being prepared to make a defense [knowledge] to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you [virtue]; yet do it with gentleness and respect [communication].” We accept the Bible by faith and set apart its Subject, Jesus Christ, as Lord in our hearts. We seek to live out the Bible in growing virtue so that people have questions. And when they are ready to listen, we want to be prepared with knowledge to defend and commend our biblical hope with gracious, persuasive communication that adorns the gospel.

Apologetics Program (32 Credits)

Each student will be able to:

  • Exegete Scripture using a grammatical/historical hermeneutic.
  • Apply biblical and theological knowledge in defense of the Christian faith.
  • Demonstrate skill in researching and explaining evidence within a presuppositional framework.
  • Engage contemporary society with apologetical persuasionusing Scripture.

You will be prepared for:

  • Youth Ministry
  • College Outreach
  • Cross-cultural Missions
  • Evangelism Training
  • Secondary Education

Class Options

  • RESIDENCE
  • LIVESTREAM
  • ONLINE
  • MODULE
  • EVENING FLEX

Residential courses extend over the fall and spring semesters with a two-week break in the middle of each semester. To make them available for distance students, many of these will be live-streamed. Through these various formats, this degree can be earned without living in the Greenville area. All of the credits in this program can be completed locally or through livestream, module, and online formats. Additionally, all credits in this program may be applied toward the Master of Divinity. (Click icons for information.)

Residential, module, and evening flex classes are occasionally live-streamed, making it possible for students to interact live with a class from anywhere in the world. Through these various formats, this degree can be earned without living in the Greenville area. All of the credits in this program can be completed locally or through livestream, module, and online formats. Additionally, all credits in this program may be applied toward the Master of Divinity.

Online courses allow the convenience of working in an asynchronous program, meaning students do not typically meet at prescribed times; rather, most tasks take place on a week-by-week basis for the entire seven-week period. Through these various formats, this degree can be earned without living in the Greenville area. All of the credits in this program can be completed locally or through livestream, module, and online formats. Additionally, all credits in this program may be applied toward the Master of Divinity.

Module weeks are offered during the Fall and Spring semesters and sometimes during the summer. Each module contains a one-week residency, preceded and followed by six-weeks of distant course work. The one-week in residence is often offered through live-stream as well. Through these various formats, this degree can be earned without living in the Greenville area. All of the credits in this program can be completed locally or through livestream, module, and online formats. Additionally, all credits in this program may be applied toward the Master of Divinity.

Students with day jobs can take classes on Monday and Thursday evenings. Five credits of class can be possible on both Monday and Thursday evening, with two-credit classes meeting for one hour and three-credit classes meeting for two hours. Many of the classes will be live-streamed as well. Through these various formats, this degree can be earned without living in the Greenville area. All of the credits in this program can be completed locally or through livestream, module, and online formats. Additionally, all credits in this program may be applied toward the Master of Divinity.

Courses

Required Courses


Apologetics Elective

(Choose 9 credits)

Program Coordinator