PhD in Bible

Really now? I have never yet met a NT Ph.D. from Duke who could convincingly refute Barth, Tillich, Niebuhr & company. They just seem to grovel at their feet. On the other hand, I do know a number of guys who studied under Van Til at Westminster that can handle the whole company.

Furthermore, I can’t see the superior intellectual qualities of these dudes. Tillich, I think, wrote to be obscure intentionally but he had nothing mentally superior. If you can handle the Calculus and quantum mechanics, these guys are a piece of cake. Is there some mystical and esoteric knowledge that I’m missing here? Please clue me in. If you’re looking for something really arcane and obscure, read Swedenborg. Old Kierregard is pretty murky and mystical at times too. Charles Williams and Rudolph Steiner are abstruse.

BTW, thanks for your patient explanation; I do understand it but I just don’t believe it.

 

I do!

 

I have never yet met a NT Ph.D. from Duke who could convincingly refute Barth, Tillich, Niebuhr & company.

True enough. But they have interacted with them. I agree that Van Til could have handled the whole bunch - and he would have done just that, interacting with them and reproving them where he saw fit. He would not have just said, "Oh these guys are just liberal reprobates; I'm going to ignore them."

 

You go me with Penn State. I didn't know they offered a PhD in OT. Which campus; main or another?

 

Perhaps, because they are theologians, not biblical scholars. They are in related but different fields.

So Paidagogos, which schools do you recommend? </font>[/QUOTE]Thanks for asking. The problem is that I am somewhat disenchanted and critical of the whole American system in this field. Frankly, I would probably recommend none of those mentioned for the specifically stated purpose. For the pastor, evangelist, missionary, or Christian worker, any good solid Bible institute, Bible college, Christian college/university or seminary could be appropriate depending upon the intended ministry, the people, and various demographics. As I understand this question, we are exclusively discussing the best education for a Christian scholar who will research, work and teach at an advanced level. IMHO, the American system of theological education, possibly with some exceptions, does not prepare one for this. The American system is more geared toward methodology and applications rather than an academic discipline.

The European model is more intellectual and academic. Additionally, the students are more serious and scholarly. They take their academics very sincerely. European scholars tend to be more intense and focused. They incline toward the rational over the feelings.

Furthermore, I am not sure that one should pursue a degree in theology at all, especially if it entails the study of liberal deviant theologians. IMHO, it’s a waste of time. I would think an academic degree in a related field, such as Biblical languages, would be better. One can always read theology and philosophy. Here’s my idea for the making of a fine academic theologian:

Undergraduate—strong liberal arts degree with breadth and academic rigor (I seriously recommend a heavy concentration in mathematics and the sciences since most theologians are naïve in these areas.)

Graduate—masters in Biblical languages and/or related field with still some breadth of study at an advanced level

Terminal degree with significant research in a theology-related field--this does not include necessarily investigation of minutiae or the study of some dead fellow’s system but it is a real pioneering advance of knowledge. Preferably, this would include study with some ground-breaking and imaginative scholar who has shown the ability to think creatively. A world-class scholar, as opposed to a hack with a doctorate, draws and outlines a new paradigm. The hack with a doctorate colors inside the lines someone else has drawn. Both have their functions.

Along the way, I like the idea of both assistantships and fellowships providing both application and teaching along with time and opportunity for uninterrupted study.

What schools do I recommend for this specific goal? None--stateside. I am partial to the University of Edinburgh, Free University of Amsterdam and UNISA. Oxford and Cambridge are okay. The German schools are highly reputed but their rationalistic theologies skew their academics such as archaeology. The rub is that even academics are prejudiced by our philosophical presuppositions. This is the reason for separatist isolationism among some Fundamentalists.

Years ago, I was negotiating (I think the British call it supplicating) for a doctorate in the philosophy and history of education from the University of Nijmegen (a Roman Catholic university in the Netherlands) on the basis of work already done (research, publication, etc.). These Europeans are less hung up on formal course requirements and credit hours than Americans. They want to see what you can do independently. Show them you have achieved the requisite level of functioning and they will doctor you. I like that! Show me what you can do rather than meeting a lot of perfunctory requirements.

Perhaps these scattered thoughts will generate some interesting discussion. I would be interested to learn if others agree with my basic ideas. Open for discussion and debate.

 

Rhetorician: Thank you for your kind, gentlemanly post. Apology accepted with all gravity and sincerity. I wish you the best as well. You do have insights to offer and perhaps correct my thinking. Don't let this incident hinder your debating my opinions. I will value your views.

Friend, thank you again for your sweet spiritedness.

 

I definitely would not recommend it for the study of theology. However, if you're studying the history of Roman Catholic theology or some obscure aspect of Roman Catholic church history, then it might not be a bad choice.

 

The RCC has produced some of this generation's finest biblical scholars, Raymond Brown and Joseph Fitzmyer in particular.

 

Just my two cents worth.....

I don't know exactly what you guys are looking for, but I might suggest you consider Southern Evangelical Seminary. One of the main thrusts of the school is an apologetic that effectively answers people like Barth, and anyone else who deviates from historic Christian teachings. It teaches not just that a teaching has deviated, but how & where it deviated, and where the teaching has led, then provides an answer that defends historic Christianity in a scholarly way. You don't study the problems just to learn the problems...you study them so that you can prevent further deviations, and win those who've deviated back to the straight and narrow.

What you'll find is that following 'some dead guy's system' is neither good nor bad.....it depends on which dead guy you're talking about. But following some 'new cutting edge' teaching has almost always led to doctrinal problems and deviations. There is nothing new under the sun, and the modern heresies have almost always been dealt with in the past, by one of those dead guys.

At the risk of sounding like a southerner, SES has the best theology/apologetic/philosophy program that I've seen anywhere. I've not seen another that can touch it. For example, I know of no other school that teaches you how to use the Bible and Aquinas to refute the modern followers of Kierkegaard and Bultmann, and win them back to Christ.

Look into it.