Studying Theology
 

There are many on AFF that believe Seminaries are "against the Bible." That teaching should be passed on among one's own group and teaching elders, without resourcing out to "higher education." My friend, Appy, was one of those, as is MichaelTheDisciple.

What is always missed (or forgotten) are three things:
1) The rabbinic-style training Jesus put into his own disciples (the Son of God himself). The training someone like Apostle Paul received and used.

2) The enormous gulf of time, language, culture between our time and when parts of our canon was written present an incredible challenge. To suggest it's easy is not just simplistic, it's ignorant.

3) Every generation has dimensions of learning that are filtered and shared. The Universities and scholars all have a sphere of influence. As do writers and speakers, who most are educated through a bible school. These shape culture. If we lose our investment in disciplined thinkers, we, in time, will have no bearings of biblical acumen.

Here's a link with a short video on the topic. Curious as to the thoughts on AFF.

http://newtestamentperspectives.blog...e-matters.html

Re: Studying Theology
 

I will offer several points.

Advanced education is a measure of endurance more than intellect
Advanced education is highly beneficial in learning how to learn
Advanced education is efficient in that you can gain a lot in 2-4 years that would take 10 years at your own pace
Advanced education is a tool to improve ones written communication skills.. It offsets many bad habits we get from hacking at keyboards.


As much as a few have denounced it, i think not continuing in higher academic study is wrong. By that I mean, we should never stop taking a stiff class here and there. I even suggest enrolling at University level classes after one retires. One of my uncles is a retired Missionary that ran an institute in Africa. In America he gets free tuition at his age and no degree credit. He does some University language teaching also. It's a mission field and he actually in his spare time started another church and has baptized a good handfull of muslims. He witnesses more than some new saints 20 year olds do at the University.

T French some years ago related his journey to a Doctorate in a quasi friendly environment. It took a while but he did gain respect.

Never retire from serving the Lord
Never retire from increasing education.

Re: Studying Theology
 

Two = many? Maybe you should have said, "There are a couple on AFF..." I'd personally love to go to seminary.

The blog was okay, the video within the blog by Covenant Life Church was excellent!

Re: Studying Theology
 

Thanks for the feedback, Mizpeh!

I named two specifically, but seems over time that I've heard cynical views of bible schools from others as well. So I'll compromise... instead of "a few" or "many" I'll say "several?" :)

I encourage you to go to Seminary. You're a thinker. You'd enjoy it.

Re: Studying Theology
 

I have never been against learning truth. I just hate to see people having to uproot and move somewhere to spend many thousands of dollars to be taught false doctrine.

Re: Studying Theology
 

Curious here, who trained Paul after he came to know Christ?

Re: Studying Theology
 

In his book "The Seven Deadly Sins Today," journalist Henry Fairlie suggests that the motto for our times might be "The Revenge of Failure." If we cannot paint well, we destroy the canons of painting and pass ourselves as painters. If we cannot or will not read, we dismiss linear thinking as completely irrelevant and dispense with reading. In area after area, if we are not incline to submit to the rigors of the discipline ourselves, we destroy the standards and pass ourselves off as acceptable.

A different way to see the sin of envy?

Re: Studying Theology
 

Probably his real-time discipleship with those who walked with the Lord.

Not to mention, this "super Apostle" was formally trained prior to his conversion, and such knowledge added to his ability to pen such letters as Romans, one of the most stellar, articulate letters concerning the Gospel.

Re: Studying Theology
 

Not sure which of your points to comment on, MTD.

What's wrong with uprooting?

Spending money? Is that really your concern?

False doctrine? Haa.... You mean they don't sign-off on your standards for everything everyone should know absolutely? :)

Re: Studying Theology
 

That's speculation. Moreover, here's what Paul himself said:
Gal 2
15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
16To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
17Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

Yeah, his seminary training prior to knowing Christ was helped him to persecute the church bitterly.
In fact, Paul goes recounts in Phil 3:4-8 that all he gained in his pre-converted state, he counted them as loss that he may gain Christ.

It was not his seminary education that made him pen such letters, it was absolutely by inspiration from God. It has always come by revelation from the Holy Spirit, ergo Matt 16:16, 1 Cor 2:14 1 Cor 12:3.

Moreover, we find out about Jesus and his disciples:
John 7
14Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. 15And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. All the discpiles required were to have been with Jesus and filled with the HolyGhost.

Gal 1:1
Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
No seminary ordained Paul.