Doctoral Program Part 1 Doctoral Program Part 2 Doctoral Program Part 3 -
Doctorial candidate: for Theology/PhD
Email the assignments listed below to students@wisdomschoolofchristiantheology.org.
Doctoral candidate: for Theology/PhD
Assignment 11
Write a 5000-word paper on:
The Divine Presence in Every Aspect of Daily Living
Explore the concept of “The Divine Presence in Every Aspect of Daily Living” through a detailed study of Scripture. Examine how the Bible reveals God’s presence, involvement, guidance, provision, correction, redemption, and relationship with His people, and how these truths apply to Christian life today.
Draw from representative passages throughout both the Old and New Testaments, giving attention to the major divisions of Scripture and the different ways God’s presence is revealed throughout biblical history.
Trace significant themes such as creation, covenant, redemption, forgiveness, guidance, provision, worship, suffering, obedience, sanctification, the work of the Holy Ghost, and God’s continuing presence with His people.
Use appropriate scholarly resources, including biblical commentaries, theological works, academic articles, concordances, and other reliable sources, to deepen your study. Give careful attention to the historical, literary, and theological context of the biblical passages used.
The paper should move beyond identifying examples of God’s presence and develop a coherent biblical and theological understanding of what it means for God to be present and active in the daily life of His people.
Examine how an awareness of God’s presence should shape the believer’s relationship with God, understanding of Scripture, prayer life, worship, obedience, decision-making, response to suffering, relationships with others, ministry, and daily conduct.
Conclude by explaining how a biblical understanding of the divine presence should affect Christian faith, worship, obedience, decision-making, suffering, ministry, relationships, and everyday living.
By completing this assignment, the doctoral candidate will demonstrate the ability to integrate biblical exegesis, biblical theology, scholarly research, theological reflection, and practical application in developing a biblically grounded understanding of God’s presence in every aspect of Christian life.
Doctoral candidate: for Theology/PhD
Assignment 12
Write a 5000-word paper on:
The nature and practice of a preaching ministry
Show the Bible to be the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God.
As a potential ministerial doctoral candidate, it is essential to have a solid understanding of how to use every book within the Bible to demonstrate the nature and practice of a preaching ministry, while also affirming the Bible as the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to achieve this:
Begin by familiarizing yourself with the overarching themes of the Bible, such as redemption, grace, justice, and the sovereignty of God. Understand how these themes are woven throughout the Old and New Testaments.
Start with the Old Testament and consider how each book contributes to the understanding of God's character, His relationship with humanity, and His redemptive plan. For example, use Genesis to showcase the importance of creation, the fall, and God's promises to His people.
Move on to the historical books, such as Exodus, Joshua, and Kings, to illustrate the faithfulness of God, His deliverance of His people, and the consequences of disobedience. Highlight how these narratives serve as examples for modern-day believers.
Study the wisdom literature, including Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, to emphasize the importance of seeking God's wisdom, living with integrity, and trusting in His sovereignty. Use these texts to inspire and instruct your congregation on how to live a godly life.
Explore the prophetic books, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, to demonstrate the role of prophets in delivering God's messages to His people, foretelling future events, and calling for repentance. Show how these prophecies were fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ.
Transition to the New Testament and examine the Gospels, particularly Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, to reveal the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Emphasize how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecies and exemplifies God's love and grace.
Delve into the Acts of the Apostles to highlight the spread of the early church, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the courage of the apostles in proclaiming the gospel. Show how the apostles' preaching ministry is rooted in the teachings of Jesus and the Old Testament scriptures.
Doctoral candidate: for Theology/PhD
Option 1: Assignments 13/14/15
Write 3 papers on 3 subjects of your choosing within the confines of Christian Theology, ministry, or Christian living. Papers must align with biblical teachings and not endorse anything that Scripture identifies as sin, such as promoting an LGBTQ+ lifestyle.
Doctoral candidate: PhD
Assignment 16
Instructions for the assignment: Conduct an advanced ministry case study involving a significant issue, challenge, or opportunity within a local church, ministry organization, or Christian community. The paper must be a minimum of 5,000 words.
Select a real ministry situation that requires serious biblical, theological, and practical evaluation. Possible subjects may include declining church participation, discipleship failures, evangelistic effectiveness, pastoral leadership, church conflict, spiritual formation, generational differences, ministry to families, community outreach, church growth, doctrinal confusion, leadership development, cultural pressures upon the church, or another significant ministry concern.
Clearly describe the ministry context and identify the specific problem, challenge, or opportunity being studied. Explain why the issue is significant and how it affects the spiritual health, biblical faithfulness, or effectiveness of the ministry.
Develop a clear research question or thesis statement that will guide the study. The paper should move beyond simply describing the situation and seek to determine why the issue exists, what biblical principles apply, and what response would be most faithful and effective.
Conduct thorough biblical and theological research related to the issue. Examine the relevant passages of Scripture in their proper context and establish the biblical principles that should govern the church’s response. Scripture must remain the primary and final authority throughout the study.
Engage with appropriate scholarly research in biblical studies, theology, pastoral theology, leadership, Christian ministry, church history, sociology of religion, or other relevant disciplines. Evaluate these sources carefully rather than simply accepting their conclusions.
Analyze the ministry situation in light of both Scripture and the research. Identify significant strengths, weaknesses, contributing factors, assumptions, practices, or conditions that may be influencing the issue.
Where appropriate, compare different approaches that churches or Christian ministries have taken in addressing similar situations. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of those approaches and determine whether they are consistent with biblical teaching.
Develop a biblically grounded ministry response or strategy. Explain what should be preserved, what should be corrected or strengthened, and what practical steps could reasonably be implemented.
The proposed response must arise from the biblical, theological, and scholarly analysis presented in the paper rather than from personal preference or ministry trends.
Conclude by explaining how the findings of the study may contribute to greater biblical faithfulness, spiritual health, and effectiveness within Christian ministry.
By completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your ability to integrate advanced biblical and theological research with critical analysis of an actual ministry situation and develop a biblically faithful response to the practical challenges facing the church.
Doctoral candidate: PhD
Assignment 17
Verse-by-Verse Commentary on the Book of Ephesians
For this assignment, Doctoral candidates are tasked with providing a verse-by-verse commentary on the Book of Ephesians. Ephesians is a rich and theological letter written by the Apostle Paul that addresses various themes such as unity in the body of Christ, the mystery of the gospel, spiritual warfare, and instructions for Christian living. Candidates are encouraged to explore the historical context, theological significance, and practical applications of each verse in this epistle.
Provide background information on the authorship, date, and audience of the Book of Ephesians.
Discuss the cultural and historical context of the letter, including the religious and social landscape of Ephesus during the time of writing.
Exegetical Analysis:
The candidate will examine each verse of Ephesians, providing detailed explanations, interpretations, and reflections on the original Greek text, historical background, and theological implications of Paul’s message to the Ephesian church
Consider the literary structure of the book and how each verse contributes to the overarching themes and message of Ephesians.
Explore the theological themes present in each verse, such as the predestination of believers, the unity of the body of Christ, the purpose of spiritual gifts, and the armor of God. Discuss how the verses in Ephesians contribute to the broader narrative of salvation history and God's redemptive plan for humanity.
Provide practical insights and applications for contemporary readers based on the teachings found in Ephesians. Reflect on how the principles and instructions given in the book can be applied to personal faith, Christian community, and ministry in the present day.
The assignment should be submitted as a written document, following the scholarly conventions for citations and references. The commentary should be a substantial work that showcases the candidate's exegetical skills, theological acumen, and capacity for original research and analysis in biblical studies.
Doctoral candidate: for PhD
Assignment 18
Use the readings below the instructions to write a 5000-word minimum paper.
The doctoral candidate will give a comprehensive literature review of various hermeneutical approaches used in New Testament exegesis, including historical-critical methods, literary approaches, theological hermeneutics, and others. The candidate will analyze and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each approach, considering their implications for interpreting and understanding the New Testament texts.
The candidate will then select a specific passage or theme from the New Testament and apply at least three different hermeneutical approaches to interpret and analyze it. The candidate will compare and contrast the results of each approach, discussing how they impact the interpretation of the passage and the theological significance of their findings.
The research project should culminate in a comprehensive paper detailing the methodology, findings, and conclusions of the comparative analysis, as well as implications for future research in the field of New Testament exegesis.
This assignment will require the candidate to demonstrate a mastery of key concepts in hermeneutics, critical thinking skills, and the ability to conduct independent research and analysis at a doctoral level.
Biblical Studies.org.uk Approaches To New Testament Exegesis
Biblical Studies.org.uk Biblical Hermeneutics in Theory and Practice
The Gospel Coalition Hermeneutics: a brief assessment of some recent trends
Primary Sense and Plenary Sense
The Interpretation of Nature & the Bible
Doctoral candidate: for PhD
Assignment 19
A Verse-by-Verse Commentary on the Book of Galatians: Exploring Paul's Letter in Light of New Testament Theology
Use the book of Galatians and any resources you may need to provide the following.
The doctoral candidate will conduct an in-depth verse-by-verse commentary on the Book of Galatians, engaging with the text, historical context, and theological themes present in Paul's letter. The commentary should include citations and references to scholarly sources used in the analysis.
The candidate will examine each verse of Galatians, providing detailed explanations, interpretations, and reflections on the original Greek text, historical background, and theological implications of Paul's message to the Galatian churches. The commentary should explore key themes such as justification by faith, the role of the law in salvation, the relationship between Jews and Gentiles in the new covenant community, and the implications of freedom in Christ.
The candidate will be expected to offer insights into Paul's argumentation, rhetorical strategies, and the broader theological perspectives of the New Testament regarding the gospel, grace, and the Christian life. The commentary should demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the text, critical engagement with scholarly debates, and the ability to communicate complex ideas in a clear and scholarly manner.
The assignment should be submitted as a written document, following the scholarly conventions for citations and references. The commentary should be a substantial work that showcases the candidate's exegetical skills, theological acumen, and capacity for original research and analysis in biblical studies.
Doctoral candidate: for PhD
Assignment 20
The Influence of Gnostic Thought on Modern Churches
The doctoral candidate will conduct a comprehensive study on the historical development of Gnosticism, its core beliefs, and its condemnation by the early church. The candidate will analyze how Gnostic thought has influenced modern churches, particularly in areas such as theology, spirituality, and ecclesiology.
The candidate will then examine at least three contemporary theological movements or church trends that exhibit Gnostic tendencies and analyze them in depth. The candidate will compare these movements with historical Gnosticism and evaluate their impact on modern Christian doctrine and practice.
The candidate will also provide a biblical response to Gnostic influences, using Scripture and theological reasoning to refute Gnostic errors. The research project should culminate in a comprehensive paper detailing the historical background, theological analysis, and practical implications of Gnostic influence in modern churches.
This assignment will require the candidate to demonstrate a mastery of historical theology, critical thinking skills, and the ability to conduct independent research and analysis at a doctoral level.
Examples:
1. Denial of the Trinity.
2. Denial of Christ as the Son of God.
3. The Rejection of the Material World and Physical Resurrection.
4. The Reinterpretation of Christ’s Nature and Mission.
5. The Influence of New Age Spirituality in Churches.
6. The Denial of Sin and the Need for Repentance.
Doctoral Program Part 1 Doctoral Program Part 2 Doctoral Program Part 3 -