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Should Preachers Go to Bible College and/or Seminary?
- Thread starter TheZookeeper
- Start date
Do you consider yourself a Fundamentalist?
I am a fundamentalist, holding and defending the fundamentals of the faith (as contrasted with a liberal who denies them or an evangelical that holds them but will not defend them).
I am reformed Baptist
How old are you?
72, saved at age 9, called to preach at age 15, preached simple "sermons" to children when I was in high school, first full sermon to my home church at age 17 (to 800 people), preached throughout college, seminary, and grad school and started full-time pastoral ministry Dec 1970 - 50 years ago!!
Do you agree with this statement: It is better for a preacher NOT to go to Bible college and/or seminary?
Pure foolishness, propagated in ignorance and a reproach on our Lord. What part of formal study, education, understanding history/language/logic/rhetoric should a pastor neglect?
Do you agree with this statement: I am not opposed to Bible college and/or seminary, but I think that in many (or most) cases, a preacher is better off without them?
More foolishness, probably by someone who wants to be a preacher but could not handle the simple rigor of actually learning/mastering biblical truth.
It would be a rare person who was highly educated enough to step into the pulpit who would not desire MORE learning and understanding of the Word of God.
Even some famous preachers with little formal education (think Spurgeon or Moody) KNEW the importance of such and immediately started training schools for those under their pastoral care
Do you agree with this statement: A preacher should not go to Bible college or seminary, but should receive formal training in addition to the weekly church teaching program (such as a Bible institute)?
Sadly, these questions tell me more about you that you realize. A Bible institute is basic training for lay workers to give some added teaching (to gain knowledge to help them be a SS teacher or lead family devotions) or because they are under weak pastors who do not provide such in their normal weekly ministries.
A Bible Institute would be high-school level thinking/learning. Bible college would have Bible + college skills in all the humanities. Bible seminary would have in-depth classes
BTW, after my call to ministry I enrolled in a Bible Institute night classes after school in 9-10th grade. I then took seminary classes before school 11th-12th grade (our large Baptist seminary was a few blocks from my house and a block from my high school so I could have dual enrollement.
I earned a B.A. from a Bible college, B.S. from the University, and M.A. from seminary.
After that I earned a Doctor of Ministries and a Doctor of Education later in life, and never completed by Ph.D. by choice.
I am a fundamentalist, holding and defending the fundamentals of the faith (as contrasted with a liberal who denies them or an evangelical that holds them but will not defend them).
I am reformed Baptist
How old are you?
72, saved at age 9, called to preach at age 15, preached simple "sermons" to children when I was in high school, first full sermon to my home church at age 17 (to 800 people), preached throughout college, seminary, and grad school and started full-time pastoral ministry Dec 1970 - 50 years ago!!
Do you agree with this statement: It is better for a preacher NOT to go to Bible college and/or seminary?
Pure foolishness, propagated in ignorance and a reproach on our Lord. What part of formal study, education, understanding history/language/logic/rhetoric should a pastor neglect?
Do you agree with this statement: I am not opposed to Bible college and/or seminary, but I think that in many (or most) cases, a preacher is better off without them?
More foolishness, probably by someone who wants to be a preacher but could not handle the simple rigor of actually learning/mastering biblical truth.
It would be a rare person who was highly educated enough to step into the pulpit who would not desire MORE learning and understanding of the Word of God.
Even some famous preachers with little formal education (think Spurgeon or Moody) KNEW the importance of such and immediately started training schools for those under their pastoral care
Do you agree with this statement: A preacher should not go to Bible college or seminary, but should receive formal training in addition to the weekly church teaching program (such as a Bible institute)?
Sadly, these questions tell me more about you that you realize. A Bible institute is basic training for lay workers to give some added teaching (to gain knowledge to help them be a SS teacher or lead family devotions) or because they are under weak pastors who do not provide such in their normal weekly ministries.
A Bible Institute would be high-school level thinking/learning. Bible college would have Bible + college skills in all the humanities. Bible seminary would have in-depth classes
BTW, after my call to ministry I enrolled in a Bible Institute night classes after school in 9-10th grade. I then took seminary classes before school 11th-12th grade (our large Baptist seminary was a few blocks from my house and a block from my high school so I could have dual enrollement.
I earned a B.A. from a Bible college, B.S. from the University, and M.A. from seminary.
After that I earned a Doctor of Ministries and a Doctor of Education later in life, and never completed by Ph.D. by choice.
Hello Zookeeper,
1) No, I consider myself a Bible believer, and not necessarily an adherent to any particular set of beliefs.
2) I am 77 years old, was baptized at age 15, and am a member of a local church.
3) No, scripture tells us to study to show ourselves approved.
4) No, training is important. Paul stayed put where he planted and trained leaders.
5) No, nothing wrong with going to Bible college or seminary.
6) Answered no, no, and no.
7) It is easy to find fault with those teaching a particular view of scripture, because you can find other "experts" teaching another view. Thus fiction is being presented as fact by our Bible colleges and Seminaries.
Should a doctor be well trained? Yes, for he takes care of your body.
Should a dentist be well trained? Of course, for he takes care of your teeth.
Should a teacher be well trained? Indeed, for he takes care of your brain.
Should an insurance agent be well trained? Indubitably, for he takes care of your car and house.
Should a mechanic be well trained? By all means, for he takes care of your vehicle.
Should a tax consultant be well trained? Naturally, for he takes care of your money.
Should a preacher be well trained? Nah, he only cares for your eternal soul and spirit.
Should a dentist be well trained? Of course, for he takes care of your teeth.
Should a teacher be well trained? Indeed, for he takes care of your brain.
Should an insurance agent be well trained? Indubitably, for he takes care of your car and house.
Should a mechanic be well trained? By all means, for he takes care of your vehicle.
Should a tax consultant be well trained? Naturally, for he takes care of your money.
Should a preacher be well trained? Nah, he only cares for your eternal soul and spirit.
Ive never understood the no argument!!
How can anyone ever say no
How can anyone ever say no
Well certainly The mother of harlots and abominations on the earth created and enforces this concept with all her branches throughout "Christ" claiming sects and denominations. Centralized credentialing and degrees are absolutely critical to maintain the various nuances of apostasy which create false "christs" infecting all last-days nicolaitan "churches" until the mother of harlots is destroyed. After this destruction God declares that only the "true sayings of God" will be allowed from that point throughout eternity. For example, It took me 3 years of daily listening only to His Word to shed all the apostate teachings of fundamentalist Bible colleges and their promoters.
https://www.jesussaidwhat.com/bread-of-life
https://www.jesussaidwhat.com/bread-of-life
I am sorry.
Sorry for you and what you've personally experienced. Like to hear more details (if the teaching is "apostate", then the school is not "fundamental" - those are mutually exclusive terms)
Sorrier for any who now would listen to foolish advice not to gain thorough, disciplined, systematic training in understanding the Bible before preaching and teaching the Word.
Not joking here - if I were a member of a church under such an untrained novice who feels he knows enough without education, I would run fast and never look back and only pity that church.
Whether a preacher should go to seminary varies. Did God call you to go to Seminary? The best preachers I personally know have never been to seminary. The worst ones I know have Dr. In front of their name or are working very hard to get it there. I know some pretty good preachers who have Dr in their title.
Understood completely friend. I traveled the road of mammon, vanity and esteem of men for over 30 years before simply listening only to His Word convinced me of His Truth and helped me rid myself of the errors in all of the Harlot's denominations and their institutions of higher apostasy.
And they are all under the harlots influence in differing ways including the IFBs.
Curious where in the NT do you find this "institutional" instruction of men? Was it our Lord who underwent it or promoted it? Was it His Disciples who underwent it? Or was it only the Sanhedrin and their temple proselytes who loved that tradition of formal instruction resulting in credentials to display broadening their phylacteries, and enlarging the borders of their garments?
I know many justify these institutions through Timothy's on the job instruction. However, Timothy was led to Truth and instructed by Paul. Saul felt the same way you do until he was regenerated by the Spirit (not an accusation but a Scriptural Truth). His institutional training stopped at that point and was replaced by the Word and His Spirit. The example in Scripture is home grown by those who lead you to Truth, not in some far away institution by strangers.
Food for thought friend.
atpollard
Well-Known Member
Just like the Galilean fishermen! (Oh, wait ... never mind).
Um, the Galilean fishermen knew both Hebrew and Greek. Seems like a good idea for nowadays, too.Just like the Galilean fishermen! (Oh, wait ... never mind).
I'm having a hard time figuring out what poor-in-spirit thinks is apostasy in having a Bible college. I wonder which of these courses we teach in our Bible college would be wrong for a young preacher to study:
Greek--learn to read the Bible just like the early Christians did.
Soul-winning--learn from successful evangelists and soul winners how to be filled with the Spirit and win souls
Pastoral Epistles--learn right from the Bible how to be a good pastor.
Church History--learn the mistakes of the past, and especially the doctrinal errors (like Arianism, that denied the deity of Christ)
Missions--learn how to serve Christ cross-culturally from experienced missionaries (like me
)
Hermeneutics--learn how to interpret the Bible correctly so that you don't get confused when trying to figure out apostasy (my son absolutely loves teaching this)
And you learn all of this, and much, much more in the bosom of a thriving, Biblical church. Our college is not independent of the church of Jesus Christ, but under the authority of our local church. So, where's the apostasy? Anyone???
Greek--learn to read the Bible just like the early Christians did.
Soul-winning--learn from successful evangelists and soul winners how to be filled with the Spirit and win souls
Pastoral Epistles--learn right from the Bible how to be a good pastor.
Church History--learn the mistakes of the past, and especially the doctrinal errors (like Arianism, that denied the deity of Christ)
Missions--learn how to serve Christ cross-culturally from experienced missionaries (like me
)Hermeneutics--learn how to interpret the Bible correctly so that you don't get confused when trying to figure out apostasy (my son absolutely loves teaching this)
And you learn all of this, and much, much more in the bosom of a thriving, Biblical church. Our college is not independent of the church of Jesus Christ, but under the authority of our local church. So, where's the apostasy? Anyone???
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For the record, the Apostles went to the very first seminary at First Baptist Church Jerusalem studying at the feet of the Master Teacher for just over 3 yrs.
Not even an MDIV
Straight to a PHD
Not even an MDIV
Straight to a PHD
Not to mention the Apostle Paul, who had the best religious education possible in that day.
Imagine Paul as your teacher of Romans!
And yet some so called teachers, like in WoF, claim to understand scriptures better then the very ones who wrote it!
I came out of Pentecostal circles, and just seemed that many were suspect of knowing Hebrew and greek, almost as if just needed the "learning of the Holy Ghost"I'm having a hard time figuring out what poor-in-spirit thinks is apostasy in having a Bible college. I wonder which of these courses we teach in our Bible college would be wrong for a young preacher to study:
Greek--learn to read the Bible just like the early Christians did.
Soul-winning--learn from successful evangelists and soul winners how to be filled with the Spirit and win souls
Pastoral Epistles--learn right from the Bible how to be a good pastor.
Church History--learn the mistakes of the past, and especially the doctrinal errors (like Arianism, that denied the deity of Christ)
Missions--learn how to serve Christ cross-culturally from experienced missionaries (like me
Hermeneutics--learn how to interpret the Bible correctly so that you don't get confused when trying to figure out apostasy (my son absolutely loves teaching this)
And you learn all of this, and much, much more in the bosom of a thriving, Biblical church. Our college is not independent of the church of Jesus Christ, but under the authority of our local church. So, where's the apostasy? Anyone???
Think about it
Jesus was at least Tri-lingual
Hebrew
Greek
Aramaic
Maybe Early 17th Century English? Just for the KJO crowd
Jesus was at least Tri-lingual
Hebrew
Greek
Aramaic
Maybe Early 17th Century English? Just for the KJO crowd
And basically used none of it. His formal training drove him to kill Christians. He had to be re-trained.
Only if you are preaching to Jews and Greeks.Um, the Galilean fishermen knew both Hebrew and Greek. Seems like a good idea for nowadays, too.