Theology (Taught)

The Master of Arts in Theology prepares you for ministry within the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The international character of the Adventist Church and its multicultural context requires great diversity in ministry, on both the educational and on the pastoral level. The MA in Theology is designed to meet these challenges and will offer you a wide variety of study areas that are relevant to contemporary issues in the Church, as well as Adventist and Christian history.

Newbold’s comprehensive training with equip you with:

• A deep and relevant knowledge of Scripture.

• Competence in pastoral skills that are relevant to the needs of the contemporary world.

• Knowledge as you explore Church’s theology, history and mission.

• Clarity for your future as you discover the endless possibilities of all three key pathways offered.

• Specialist training that will enable a wider range of employment opportunities than other similar degrees.

"My experience of studying postgraduate Theology here at Newbold has truly been life-changing and faith-affirming. The journey was humbling and challenging, giving me the opportunity to grow as a person. I discovered that before coming to Newbold my understanding of God and how He interacts with the world had been very limited. However, studying at Newbold has taught me how deep and vast God's love for us is, and the extent that He has gone to in order to save us. I have been blessed to be a part of the Newbold community and have definitely left with lifelong friends."
Sophia Peart, Pastor - Hanworth Community SDA Church.

Three pathways to choose from:
1. Biblical Studies
You will be invited to complete the Old Testament or New Testament route. Either route will present opportunities for developing and mastering skills in translation and exegesis at an advanced level. You will engage in rigorous and independent research of complex exegetical issues and in a self-reflective examination of how the biblical text may be appropriated to complex and unpredictable situations in modern culture through the application of contemporary hermeneutics. Additionally, the Biblical Studies pathway enables the student to investigate the trends of specific texts within the larger biblical and theological context, as well as in the tradition of the Adventist Church.

2. Systematic Theology
The Systematic Theology pathway will provide opportunities for you to master the ability to think theologically and to ‘do’ theology in a critical, reflective and creative manner. You will engage in a rigorous application of the methods and principles unique to the disciplines of biblical and systematic theology. You will examine complex historical theological systems and learn to constructively respond to them. The Systematic Theology pathway is designed to encourage in-depth research of the leading motifs of Adventist Christianity within the context of the wider Christian and philosophical traditions.

3. Pastoral Studies
The Pastoral Studies pathway will provide opportunities for you to respond to the complex and often perplexing issues that challenge Christian faith and ministry in today’s rapidly changing world. You will learn to respond creatively to various complex tasks relating to ministry in the current global context and contemporary European culture. You will learn to master the professional skills essential for successful ministry, scholarship and leadership, both within the diverse and changing context of the Adventist Church and in the wider community.

The structure, content and assessment patterns of the course have been designed to equip you with the critical and analytical skills necessary for employment while instilling a desire and passion for lifelong learning and personal development.