Biblical Studies (MABS)
The Master of Arts in Biblical Studies (MABS) program at Capital Seminary & Graduate School is designed to provide individuals the opportunity to pursue an integrated program of study in Bible and theology. The program provides an understanding of and appreciation for deeper biblical truth that transforms students' minds, with a goal of motivating them to sacrificial ministry and service within the contexts of church and community (Romans 12:1-2). The Master of Arts in Biblical Studies focuses on the head, heart, and hands of students preparing for a leadership role in multiple ministry contexts.
Program Competencies
The Master of Arts in Biblical Studies program equips students for ministry in the church and society by developing:
- A foundational knowledge of the narrative, content, and interpretation of the Bible for the purposes of the development of a biblical worldview.
- The skill sets necessary in effectively communicating the Scriptures.
- The skills necessary in the process of personal spiritual formation and discipleship of others.
- The character and competencies necessary to be an authentic servant leader.
- The skills necessary to study the Bible using the tools of biblical interpretation and language study.
- Experiential learning and research skills for maintaining life-long education.
Program Effectiveness
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Locations Offered
Washington, DC
Lancaster, PA
Program Information
Continuous Enrollment
Continuous enrollment is encouraged and expected in all Capital programs. It is understood that extenuating circumstances occur which may prevent a student from enrolling in a given semester. However, this should be viewed as an exception so the program can be completed within the five-year limit. Should a student not enroll for a 180 day period, he/she will be placed on non-student status and will need to reapply. A readmission application is available from Adult Learner Services (717-560-8282). Student records will be reviewed once a year during the summer months. See Planned Return Policy for further details.
Program Completion
The maximum length for program completion is five years from the date of admission. An application for an extension may be obtained from Adult Learner Services (717-560-8282). Students not completing their degree or certificate within five years and not receiving an extension will be placed on non-student status. A Readmission Application may be obtained from Adult Learner Services. Student records will be reviewed once a year during the summer months.
Graduation Requirements
The following requirements must be successfully completed in order to receive a Seminary degree or certificate:
- Satisfactory completion of all course work
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
- Fulfillment of all financial obligations
- Adherence to biblical standards and ethics in living one’s lifestyle
Graduate Certificate in Bible
The Graduate Certificate in Bible is a 24-credit program for individuals who do not need the MABS degree. For additional information, please refer to the Graduate Certificates section of this catalog.
Curricular Structure
The Master of Arts in Biblical Studies program consists of 48 credits and a non-credit Orientation Seminar. The curriculum is designed as follows:
| Biblical and Theological Studies |
12 Credits |
| Ministry Praxis |
6 Credits |
| Biblical Languages |
12 Credits |
| Concentration courses |
12 Credits |
| Open elective |
6 Credits |
| Program Total |
48 Credits |
Biblical and Theological Studies (12 Credits)
The following Biblical and Theological Studies courses are required unless the student has entered the program with advanced standing. Advanced Standing is granted to those students who have completed 30 hours or more of undergraduate Bible and theology courses. Students with less than 30 hours may receive partial Advanced Standing credit proportionate to undergraduate or graduate Bible and theology studies completed. Student’s official transcripts will be evaluated during the admissions process and the student will be informed of their Advanced Standing status during their admissions interview.
| BTC 523 | Biblical Narrative - Old Testament | 3 |
| BTC 533 | Biblical Narrative - New Testament | 3 |
| BTC 563 | Biblical Interpretation | 3 |
| BTC 573 | Introduction to Christian Theology | 3 |
Ministry Praxis (6 Credits)
| MIN 504 | Communicating Biblical Truth | 3 |
| MIN 509 | Spiritual Formation & Discipleship | 3 |
Biblical Languages (12 Credits)
Open Electives (6 credits)
Concentrations (12 Credits)
MABS in Christian Apologetics
God’s people are called to love him with all their minds, in addition to their hearts and strength. With the increasing pluralism and antagonism to Christianity, believers must be prepared to give a defense for their hope. This concentration prepares students to think critically about the various religious and non-religious belief systems that challenge the truth of Christianity. It equips them to effectively engage any person or thought-system with the truth of the Christian faith. This is a benefit to the church and the cause of Christ as a whole.
Required Classes (6 Credits)
| APO 540 | Christian Apologetics | 3 |
| APO 545 | New Testament Issues in Apologetics | 3 |
Elective Classes (6 credits)
| APO 515 | Old Testament in Apologetics | 3 |
| APO 510 | Philosophy for Apologetics | 3 |
MABS in Bible Exposition
Each week both professional and lay Christian ministers, who are tasked with preaching and teaching God’s Word, engage in a two-fold journey. First, they journey from the contemporary world back to the biblical world (interpretive journey). Second, they journey back from the biblical world to the contemporary world (communicative journey). Thus, Christian ministers need to know how to interpret and communicate God’s Word. To do so with integrity, they need to know how to accurately interpret God’s Word. To do so with relevancy, they need to know how to appropriately apply God’s Word to a contemporary audience. This particular concentration is designed to prepare the Christian minister to both interpret the Word accurately and communicate the Word relevantly. While heavier weight is given to the interpretive journey in the concentration, ample time is given to the communicative journey.
This concentration effectively equips pastors, elders, lay teachers, youth leaders, and para-church leaders who desire to sharpen their skills for expository communication of the scriptures.
Required Class (3 Credits)
| BIB 535 | Introduction to Biblical Preaching | 3 |
Elective Classes (9 Credits)
Students may select from a variety of exiting elective courses, which include courses focus on the hermeneutical process as well as courses focused on exegesis of the Old and New Testaments
MABS in Cultural Engagement
Christians today often struggle to engage our rapidly changing and diverse culture. At Capital Seminary & Graduate School, our cultural engagement program equips students to understand culture biblically and theologically and to engage it effectively. This concentration provides a bridge from the theological training which is the foundation of the traditional seminary program to the world beyond the walls of the church.
Graduates of this program will develop a theology of culture and be equipped to apply that theology to church and personal ministry that reaches into their community. This program will be helpful to any vocation or ministry where engagement with culture is important. In addition to training in biblical and theological studies, this degree program equips individuals to engage the diverse worldviews that are encountered in the contemporary world. It also enables them to provide support to Christians in their diverse vocations outside the church context. Finally, it helps individuals understand the various cultural trends and issues that shape our secular and religious worlds and to respond to those issues with biblical and theological wisdom. The goal is to create leaders who can impact and transform both the church and society.
Required Classes
| THE 535 | Christianity in the Contemporary World | 3 |
| THE 541 | Foundations of Theology of Culture | 3 |
| THE 542 | Theological Interpretation of Media | 3 |
| THE 543 | Cultural Analysis and Engagement | 3 |
Elective Classes 6 credits
Application and Admission
Individuals seeking admission to Seminary programs must complete the following application steps. Decisions for admission to these programs are made using each application piece listed as criteria.
- Application Form: Complete the online application and submit the $40 application fee. Once your application has been received, you will be contacted by an Admissions Representative who will guide you through the application process.
- Autobiographical Essay: Write an autobiographical essay. Guidelines for the essay are found here or from Adult Learner Services (717-560-8282). This essay is designed to provide applicable life content as well as demonstrate the applicant's writing ability. Applicants will be evaluated on: confirmation of acceptance of Christ as personal Savior, developments in spiritual growth, statement of ministry goals, and rationale for desiring a master's degree. This autobiography has specific guidelines (please follow link above) and is designed for assessing the above content as well as writing ability.
- References: Ask two people who are qualified to evaluate your ministry/work experience and potential, to complete the reference form on your behalf. Reference forms are located online here.
- Request Official Transcripts: Contact all institutions through which degrees have been awarded to request official transcripts to be sent to Adult Learner Services (717-560-8282). These must be official transcripts sent directly from the degree granting institution(s). There must be a transcript from an accredited institution showing completion of a bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 2.5.
- Computer Proficiency Form: Please complete the online computer proficiency form.
- TOEFL Score: Non-native speakers of English must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). If the applicant has an undergraduate degree from an accredited American college or university, he/she is exempt from the TOEFL requirement. If required, the TOEFL test score must meet the following minimum for admission: paper score 550; computer score 213; or internet score 79. The applicant's skill score in writing will also be considered in the admissions decision.
- Personal Interview: Following receipt of the above items, a personal interview will be arranged with a faculty member.
Advanced Standing
For seminary programs, the following Biblical and Theological Studies courses are required unless the student has entered the program with advanced standing. Advanced Standing is granted to those students who have completed 30 hours or more of undergraduate Bible and theology courses. Students with less than 30 hours may receive partial Advanced Standing credit proportionate to undergraduate or graduate Bible and theology studies completed. Student's official transcripts will be evaluated during the admissions process and the student will be informed of their Advanced Standing status at the admissions interview.
| BTC 523 | Biblical Narrative - Old Testament | 3 |
| BTC 533 | Biblical Narrative - New Testament | 3 |
| BTC 563 | Biblical Interpretation | 3 |
| BTC 573 | Introduction to Christian Theology | 3 |
Application Response
Applicants will be notified within three weeks of the submission of all application materials with regards to their acceptance into a program. Five decisions are possible.
- Full Acceptance: The applicant is fully accepted with no deficiencies or leveling requirements.
- Accepted with Deficiencies: The applicant is accepted into the program with admission's academic deficiencies identified. The applicant will be informed as to the necessary steps required to achieve full acceptance.
- Accepted on Review Status: The applicant is admitted pending further review. This may be because a part of the application was incomplete (e.g. a score was not received in time) or because the applicant did not meet one of the admission's requirements.
- Delay: The applicant may receive an application delay. This may be due to the program being filled, a change in the applicant's life situation, or an event preventing the applicant from attending the first program session. Delayed status applicants will not have to reapply to the program but must pay the program down payment fee.
- Declined: The applicant who is declined will be notified by mail or email. Specific reasons for the decline are not provided.
MABS Faculty
Resident Faculty:
G. Gordon Gregory, Jr., DTh
Samuel Harbin, DMin
Thomas W. Hudgins, EdD
Victor Jacobs, PhD
Joseph A. Kim, ThM
Harold A. Kime, EdD
Mark R. Meyer, PhD
Timothy Nicholls, MA
Carl E. Sanders II, PhD
John M. Soden, PhD
Adjunct and Visiting Faulty:
Mark Eckel, PhD