Graduate degree programs offer men a unique opportunity to pursue deep, Bible-saturated, theological and language studies while concurrently serving and worshipping alongside the pastors and saints of Bethlehem Baptist Church. Think of it as at-the-church training for pastoral ministry, missionary service, and future academic ministry and elder-level leadership.
Each graduating class is comprised of a cohort of 15-18 men who share all four years of academic, church, vocational, and family life, together. Students in the cohort study in close relationship with pastor-professors who are as engaged in their spiritual growth as they are with their academic performance.
Marriage and family life are celebrated, encouraged, and lovingly supported in this unique church-based environment where there are many programs, activities, small groups, and ministries throughout the year to engage students, as well as their wives and children. Many students are employed, during their courses of study, in part-time jobs either in the church or the local community.
“I am most grateful for a place and a people who loved us enough to always remind us that study serves worship.”
The Master of Divinity is the foundational four-year program for those called to vocational ministry as pastors, missionaries, or other full-time Christian workers at the elder level. The program’s emphasis is intense, whole-Bible exegesis in the original languages with a special focus on the unfolding of God’s sovereign plan throughout all of redemptive history.
| Year 1 | Credits |
| Intermediate Greek | 4 |
| Old Testament Background & Message I | 3 |
| Principles of Biblical Interpretation I | 2 |
| Theology of Worship | 3 |
| Mentored Ministry | 0 |
| Topics in Practical Theology I | 1 |
| Greek Exegesis: Epistle | 4 |
| Old Testament Background & Message II | 3 |
| Principles of Biblical Interpretation II | 2 |
| Missions and the Local Church | 3 |
| Mentored Ministry | 0 |
| Missions Practicum | 1 |
| Year 2 | Credits |
| Beginning Hebrew I | 4 |
| New Testament Background & Message | 3 |
| Counseling & the Local Church I | 3 |
| Preaching as Worship I | 2 |
| Mentored Ministry | 0 |
| Topics in Practical Theology II | 1 |
| Greek Exegesis | 4 |
| Counseling & the Local Church II | 2 |
| Preaching as Worship II | 2 |
| Beginning Hebrew II | 4 |
| Mentored Ministry | 0 |
| Elective | 2 |
| Year 3 | Credits |
| Church History I | 3 |
| Intermediate Hebrew | 4 |
| Intro to the Thought of Jonathan Edwards | 2 |
| Counseling & the Local Church III | 2 |
| Mentored Ministry | 0 |
| Elective | 2 |
| Systematic Theology I | 3 |
| Church History II | 3 |
| Biblical Eldership | 2 |
| Hebrew Exegesis | 4 |
| Mentored Ministry | 0 |
| Elective | 2 |
| Year 4 | Credits |
| Use of the Old Testament in the New Testament | 2 |
| Systematic Theology II | 3 |
| Biblical Ethics | 2 |
| Pastoral Internship I | 2 |
| Mentored Ministry | 0 |
| Elective | 2 |
| Biblical Theology: The History of Redemption | 4 |
| Systematic Theology III | 3 |
| Pastoral Internship II | 2 |
| Mentored Ministry | 0 |
| Year 1 | Credits |
| Intermediate Greek | 4 |
| Old Testament Background & Message I | 3 |
| Principles of Biblical Interpretation I | 2 |
| Theology of Worship | 3 |
| Mentored Ministry | 0 |
| Topics in Practical Theology I | 1 |
| Greek Exegesis: Epistle | 4 |
| Old Testament Background & Message II | 3 |
| Principles of Biblical Interpretation II | 2 |
| Missions and the Local Church | 3 |
| Mentored Ministry | 0 |
| Missions Practicum | 1 |
| Year 2 | Credits |
| Beginning Hebrew I | 4 |
| New Testament Background & Message | 3 |
| Counseling & the Local Church I | 3 |
| Preaching as Worship I | 2 |
| Mentored Ministry | 0 |
| Topics in Practical Theology II | 1 |
| Greek Exegesis | 4 |
| Counseling & the Local Church II | 2 |
| Preaching as Worship II | 2 |
| Beginning Hebrew II | 4 |
| Mentored Ministry | 0 |
| Elective | 2 |
| Year 3 | Credits |
| Church History I | 3 |
| Intermediate Hebrew | 4 |
| Intro to the Thought of Jonathan Edwards | 2 |
| Counseling & the Local Church III | 2 |
| Mentored Ministry | 0 |
| Elective | 2 |
| Systematic Theology I | 3 |
| Church History II | 3 |
| Biblical Eldership | 2 |
| Hebrew Exegesis | 4 |
| Mentored Ministry | 0 |
| Elective | 2 |
| Year 4 | Credits |
| Use of the Old Testament in the New Testament | 2 |
| Systematic Theology II | 3 |
| Biblical Ethics | 2 |
| Pastoral Internship I | 2 |
| Mentored Ministry | 0 |
| Elective | 2 |
| Biblical Theology: The History of Redemption | 4 |
| Systematic Theology III | 3 |
| Pastoral Internship II | 2 |
| Mentored Ministry | 0 |
The goal of this concentration is to provide biblical foundations and practical training for those sensing God’s call to be pastors, particularly of new churches or churches needing revitalization.
Students in the concentration take three specialized courses as electives. Also, the student completes a two-semester internship in the context of a church plant. Courses unique to the Church Planting and Revitalization concentration are:
| CORE COURSES | CREDITS |
| The Gospel and Personal Evangelism | 2 |
| Church Planting and Revitalization | 2 |
| Cross-Cultural Church Planting | 2 |
| Church Growth and Renewal | 2 |
| Church Planting Internship I | 2 |
| Church Planting Internship II | 2 |
This concentration is designed to equip men who are gifted in worship leadership and sense that this is how God is leading them to use their pastoral and artistic gifting. Courses unique to the Worship Pastor concentration are:
| CORE COURSES | CREDITS |
| Worship Pastor Internship I | 2 |
| Worship Pastor Internship II | 2 |
| The Heart and Role of the Worship Pastor | 3 |
| The Worshiping Church: A Historical Survey of the Development of Christian Worship | 2 |
| Worship and Culture: The Local/Global Church Worships Together | 3 |
| Liturgy and Song | 2 |
| Worship Design and Leadership | 3 |
| Hebrew Tools | 4 |
The Master of Theology is offered for student who desire to sharpen their expertise in a specific topic of theological learning. Students may work on the M.Div. and Th.M. degrees concurrently or may complete the 20 credit Th.M. in approximately one year following the M.Div. Master of Theology candidates author a thesis during their final year under the supervision of a Bethlehem College & Seminary professor.
| Core Courses | Year 3 | Year 4 |
| Research Seminar |  | |
| Thesis Proposal | | |
| Thesis Independent Study | |