During the fall semester, Calvary Baptist Seminary of Lansdale, PA is offering two excellent classes that deal with biblical prophecy, Daniel and Revelation. These classes are offered in the evening, one day a week, to make it more convenient for you to participate and are taught by two veteran professors from Calvary’s faculty.

Those participating have the option to audit the class(es) or even to take it for credit. The cost to audit a class as a visitor is $100, normal tuition rates would apply to take a class for credit.

Evening classes start August 23, and meet once a week for fourteen weeks.

Evening Class Schedule

Monday Evening, 7–8:45 pm
Daniel, Dr. Charles McLain

Tuesday Evening, 7–8:45 pm
Counseling Principles, Pastor Ron Jones

Wednesday Evening, 7–8:45 pm
Revelation, Dr. Al Huss

For more information call the seminary office at 215.368.7538.

When one thinks of “systematic theology,” one typically thinks of the traditional doctrinal loci: Bibliology, Theology Proper, Christology, Pneumatology, Anthropology, Hamartiology, Angelology, Soteriology, Ecclesiology, and Eschatology.  These ten doctrines have been the primary categories in which theological content has been arranged for roughly the past 400 years.  The traditional approach to systematic theology largely reflects a scholastic perspective that treats the Bible as an academic textbook full of doctrinal facts.  While this approach to Scripture uncovers much truth, it also carries with it some glaring weaknesses.  Chief among these is a tendency to attach proof-texts to theological propositions that may not be fully legitimate.  Verses used to “prove” this or that doctrinal point are often torn from their context and misapplied.  At times, we use Scripture to defend our theological positions, rather than using theological language to explain what Scripture actually teaches. 

Here at Calvary Baptist Seminary, we are re-packaging our systematic theology courses in a way that adheres more closely to the biblical narrative, even while retaining a doctrinal focus.  We want our systematic theology to draw its content from Scripture itself.  To that end, we are unveiling a new sequence of systematic theology courses that will hopefully result in a more biblical approach to systematic theology.  Instead of our current six-course track, we will cover the tradition doctrinal loci with four courses that treat the major doctrines as they appear in the flow of God’s progressive revelation.  The four courses are as follows:

1. God, Revelation, and Creation:  In this course, the student is introduced to the task of theology and theological methodology. The student then begins working through the biblical narrative with a doctrinal focus on the Triune God and his attributes, general and special revelation with an emphasis on Scripture, and the created order, including particular attention to spirit beings and man.

2. Fall, Atonement, and Messiah:  In this course, the student continues working through the biblical narrative from the Fall of mankind through the coming of Jesus Christ. The doctrinal focus of the course is on man’s sin and its consequences, God’s redemptive plan in the establishment of Israel, God’s Law and its individual and social significance, the nature of atonement and the anticipation of Messiah, and the person of Jesus Christ.

3. Reconciliation, Community, and Spirit:  In this course, the student continues working through the biblical narrative from the coming of Jesus Christ through the work of the Spirit in the birth of the Church. The doctrinal focus of the course is on the work of Jesus Christ, the nature of the salvation we have in Christ and its implications, the person of the Holy Spirit, and the beginning and nature of the Church.

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At the 2010 Commencement Service we had the privilege of hearing testimonies from all of our graduates. Here are a few testimonies we thought you might like to read. These are highlighted in our 2010 Fiscal Year End mailer that was recently published. To view complete mailer  click here .

“Having heard the professors from CBS preach and teach, we knew we wanted to learn from them. The most important question to us, however, was ‘Will we be mentored and discipled and not just taught?’ After both finishing degree programs, we can say that we were taught, and mentored, and discipled. In spite of challenges of the educational process, the time the faculty spent investing in us as individuals was priceless. We would highly recommend CBS to anyone looking for a biblically sound education relevant to today’s culture.”

Mark and Sarah Hanson, 2010 Graduates

“As a teenager, the Lord opened my heart to vocational ministry. While on an overseas missions trip, I became burdened specifically for those who have never heard the Gospel. Seeking further training my wife Christine and I moved to attend Calvary Baptist Seminary.

I recognize God’s working throughout this process, and without His purpose and direction, any accomplishments so far would be meaningless. In our immediate future, we anticipate our role in the great work that God is doing in Asia and would ask you to join in prayer that God would find us to be useable vessels in this unique ministry.”

Travis Ulrich, 2010 Graduate

Professor and Registrar Paul Gibbs (pictured here with Sam Harbin at the 2010 Commencement) recently wrote the following article for one of our newsletters, the Partners Update. Paul and Hollie will be missed greatly here, but the Calvary family is excited to see them following God's leading in their lives.

"Later this summer, my family and I will be relocating to the Dominican Republic. For some time now, Hollie and I have been strongly impressed by the tremendous needs in the developing world and made a commitment this year to take concrete steps to making a difference through the profession we know best: education. The countries we were considering--factored in part due to educational need, poverty levels, and relative security for my family--were India, the Solomon Islands, and the Dominican Republic. Our thought was that the process would take several years to raise support and train for a career in international education.

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