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Black Belt in Biblical Languages....who's got "POW!!!"

Discussion in 'Baptist Colleges & Seminaries' started by Dobberfly, Apr 26, 2006.

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  1. Dobberfly

    Dobberfly New Member

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    Hi Brothers and Sisters,

    This is my first post so please have mercy. I'm planning on going to Southern Baptist Seminary for an M.Div. However, I could always change my mind.

    I'd really like to focus on Biblical Exegesis, so my question is this: which schools do you think have an excellent biblical languages program. If I wanted to get a black belt, I wouldn't want a brown belt instructor, but a 13th Dan Silver Sash master.......or even Batman! If I joined the infantry, I wouldn't want to be trained by Private Pile......I want Rambo!

    So what opinions and experiences do you guys have.
    The school doesn't necessarily have to be Baptist, but they must be Christian and reputable, and the program must be at a graduate level. I'm also looking at the department as a whole versus just an individual teacher.

    Thanks for any feedback.
     
    #1 Dobberfly, Apr 26, 2006
  2. TomVols

    TomVols New Member

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    SBTS is best for Biblical languages.
     
    #2 TomVols, Apr 26, 2006
  3. Convicted by the Spirit

    Convicted by the Spirit New Member

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    DobberFly,

    While I will probably get taken to the wood shed for this commment I will go ahead and say it anyways:

    I think Dallas Seminary has the best and most challenging biblical language department. Of course I don't know how good SBTS is in this area in comparison, but I do know all of my theology professors went to DTS and they know greek front to back. Have spoken to many grads from there and they all say the greek classes they took about taxed them out.

    When its said and done with I will probably end up at Southern (or southwestern) as well.
     
    #3 Convicted by the Spirit, Apr 27, 2006
  4. Pipedude

    Pipedude Active Member

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    Your mastery of biblical languages will depend much more on you than on the choice of schools.

    Most evangelical seminaries have strong language departments. If you are dedicated to the subject, the teacher will shovel more data your way than you will be able to keep up with. That's how teachers are. The rest is up to you.
     
    #4 Pipedude, Apr 27, 2006
  5. Bible-boy

    Bible-boy Active Member

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    SEBTS hands down...

    David Alan Black Professor of NT and Greek

    N. Allan Moseley Professor of OT and Hebrew

    Andreas J Kostenberger Professor of NT

    Maurice A. Robinson Senior Professor of NT and Greek

    John H. Sailhamer Senior Professor of OT and Hebrew

    You get the picture. [​IMG]
     
    #5 Bible-boy, Apr 27, 2006
  6. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    Well said, Pipedude. This is very true.

    Oh, and by the way, I just have to say this, about the only martial art that has rank beyond 10th degree black belt is ninjutsu. So, you wanna be a Greek ninja? :D
     
    #6 John of Japan, Apr 27, 2006
  7. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    a couple of years ago I would have suggested that SWBTS had several of the best language instructors...but they're all gone now so:

    1. Dallas Theological Seminary is the best place to go...if you can afford it

    2. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School has some serious academic studs up there

    3. in the SBC, Southern is the the hands down best seminary right now for languages...well for anything kind of seminary degree
     
    #7 preachinjesus, Apr 27, 2006
  8. StefanM

    StefanM Well-Known Member
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    preachinjesus, I think many would take exception to saying that SBTS is "hands down" the best in the SBC.
     
    #8 StefanM, Apr 27, 2006
  9. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

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    I agree with Preachin'...and I attended Southwestern for a few years.

    Joseph Botwinick
     
    #9 Joseph_Botwinick, Apr 27, 2006
  10. Charles Meadows

    Charles Meadows New Member

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    The true "blackbelts" in languages are probably the linguists and not the exegetes/theologians.

    DTS is very good - arguably one of the best choices for NT Greek. I'm not sure as much about the best schools for Hebrew.

    If you want to be a pastor then any of the major seminaries mentioned in the post would be fine.
     
    #10 Charles Meadows, Apr 27, 2006
  11. Dobberfly

    Dobberfly New Member

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    :D Thanks for speedy replies. About DTS, I seem to get negative vibes about them from everyone. Is it because they're not Baptist?
     
    #11 Dobberfly, Apr 28, 2006
  12. Convicted by the Spirit

    Convicted by the Spirit New Member

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    Over half of the peeps that attend DTS are from Baptist backgrounds. SBC seminaries these days are hiring a few DTS grads. The reason for the negative vibes is DTS holds to a dispensational view of Eschatology and Soteriology.
     
    #12 Convicted by the Spirit, Apr 28, 2006
  13. Dobberfly

    Dobberfly New Member

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    From reading some of the older posts, I kinda gathered that, but I thought maybe there was more to it than that. The reviews for SBTS all seem to be very good, and considering the cost, as well as the living arrangements and campus facilities, it seems to be an excellent choice.
     
    #13 Dobberfly, Apr 28, 2006
  14. Convicted by the Spirit

    Convicted by the Spirit New Member

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    I am currently trying to convince my wife we need to move to Louisville.
    [​IMG] [​IMG] :D

    So far her answer is lets wait until that time comes.
     
    #14 Convicted by the Spirit, Apr 28, 2006
  15. Humblesmith

    Humblesmith Member

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    DTS is a great school. I would have no hesitations at all about recommending it. I've been exposed to many pastors that were from there, and as far as teaching people to exegete a passage of scripture, there is none better.
     
    #15 Humblesmith, Apr 28, 2006
  16. Dobberfly

    Dobberfly New Member

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    What do you guys think about going to both schools? :eek: DTS has the entire summer filled up with courses. I could go to SBTS during the year and take one or two courses at DTS in the summer. The courses would transfer back into my program, and even if I only took a couple of classes, I would have the privelege of studying under some of their faculty.
     
    #16 Dobberfly, Apr 29, 2006
  17. StefanM

    StefanM Well-Known Member
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    I hope you have a significant cash reserve if you plan to do that!
     
    #17 StefanM, Apr 29, 2006
  18. Pipedude

    Pipedude Active Member

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    If variety is your goal and money is no object, you'd do well to gallivant down to Orlando and study with the big guns at Reformed.
     
    #18 Pipedude, Apr 29, 2006
  19. Dobberfly

    Dobberfly New Member

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    I rob banks part-time. Seriously though, you could be right. I'll just take the wait and see route.
     
    #19 Dobberfly, Apr 29, 2006
  20. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

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    I have to admit that I find this name to be particularly impressive at Reformed.

    Joseph Botwinick
     
    #20 Joseph_Botwinick, Apr 29, 2006
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