A fully online degree, MA in Christian Studies program by Marina Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Religion (MCISR), in partnership with Third Millennium Ministries, offers the academic groundwork to prepare Christian leaders to be enriched in core Biblical principles and theological reflection. This degree helps students to be effective leaders in their context with a rigorous course work in Biblical and theological studies with a practical component. The continuous assessments will let students find personal meaning in learning and the final creative project helps relating their learning to lived reality by engaging people for the project.
This degree is structured to suit both those who are in ministry and working professionals who could not go to seminary to study theology. Students are free to login at their own convenience to learn.
Aim: With the changing dynamics of our society, learners need to find new ways of thinking and relating with one another to make sense of Christian faith. The aim of the programme is to provide learners with sound base in the Bible and theology, in order to fulfill their Christian calling effectively in a diverse context like India and the world at large.
Duration: Minimum 2 years and Maximum 4 years
Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university or theological institution.
Understand some of the Biblical books deeper and draw implications for living a Christian life that is relevant today.
Examine the basic Christian doctrines to make sense of Christian faith in the contexts of conflicting worldviews and diverse cultures.
Appreciate the history of Christianity and draw insights for today.
Network with diverse group of pastors, missionaries, activists, and secular professionals through collaboration in classes.
Communicate ideas with clarity and supportive arguments through the discussions with faculty and fellow learners in the class.
Analyze various issues from biblical and theological perspectives in the light of field research projects.
Early bird discounts are available and will be intimated to selected students.
31 August
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To ensure quality, we admit only a limited number of students. Apply as soon as possible to avoid any disappointment.
The gospels are the key books of the Bible, since they narrate the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This module is based on the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John to study the Life and ministry of Jesus. Each gospel has a unique perspective and a unique purpose. This course explains the background, the structure, the main contents, and the major themes of each gospel. It is based on the lecture series, The Gospels, produced by Third Millennium Ministries and hosted by Dr. Pete Alwinson, with contributions from several international scholars.
Modern theology is flooded with conflicting viewpoints. Many of these disagreements arise between denominations, while others arise within denominations and individual churches. How are followers of Jesus to determine what to believe? And how committed should we be to specific doctrines and traditions? This module deals with the basics of theology and is produced by Third Millennium Ministries and hosted by Dr. Vincent Bacote with contributions from other international professors.
Paul passionately proclaimed the good news of individual salvation in Jesus Christ, but this wasn’t the heart of his gospel. According to Paul, salvation is not primarily about individuals being saved from the wrath of God. Rather, the gospel is about the triumph of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God. This module will unpack Paul’s theology expounded in Galatians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and 1 and 2 Corinthians. You will gain a better understanding of the kingdom of God and rejoice in Jesus’ amazing plans for his people and his world. This course is based on the lecture series, The Heart of Paul’s Theology, produced by Third Millennium Ministries and presented by Dr. Reggie M. Kidd.
This module traces the origin of Christianity presented by Luke in the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles. The Gospel of Luke presents the Jesus Movement within the Jewish community and the Acts of The Apostles presents the expansion of this movement beyond Judea and to the Roman world. This module deals with the background, structure, and content of the book, including a study of the major themes and guidelines for applying the lessons of the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles, to life. The first unit on the Gospel of Luke is based on the lecture series by Dr. Pete Alwinson and the rest of the three units on The Book of Acts, are based on the lecture series, produced by Third Millennium Ministries and presented by Dr. Hans F. Bayer.
This module introduces the Old Testament, examining the themes of kingdom, covenants and canon. We will see that the Old Testament is not a random amalgam of episodes, genealogies and prophetic tidbits. Instead, it is unified around the central theme of the kingdom of God which was administered through covenants and applied to life through the Old Testament as a “canon,” or guideline. This course is based on the lecture series, Kingdom, Covenant, & Canon of the Old Testament, produced by Third Millennium Ministries and presented by Dr. Richard L. Pratt, Jr.
Many Christians are intrigued by biblical prophecy but at a loss when it comes to understanding them. Feeling overwhelmed by their complicated history and literature, we often disregard them altogether, but when we understand the prophets’ motivations and methods, we are better equipped to discover the significance of their words in today’s context. This module dispels common misunderstandings about prophets, provides guidelines for interpreting prophecy, and gives the student confidence to begin studying prophetic literature. This course is based on the lecture series, He Gave Us Prophets, produced by Third Millennium Ministries and presented by Dr. Richard L. Pratt, Jr.
There are many denominations, divisions and theological disputes in the modern church, but despite these types of disunity, there is a common core of belief that all faithful Christians have affirmed throughout history. For almost two millennia, this core of belief has been summarized in the Apostles’ Creed. This module deals with the doctrines of God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, and the Church as well as the details and significance of each doctrine based on the Apostles’ Creed. It is based on the lecture series, The Apostles’ Creed, produced by Third Millennium Ministries and hosted by Dr. Van Gayton with contributions from several international professors.
This module traces the origin of Christianity to the ancient times of the apostles and deals with St Thomas tradition. Further it maps the growth of Christianity in India during the missionary’s era and the emergence of indigenous missionary movements. It also touches on the place of Indian Christianity in World Christianity. In addition to mapping history, this module also addresses issues related to different eras. This module is based on lectures by various scholars on Indian Christianity and produced by THEOn. This is an optional module; students can opt for either Indian Christianity or Hermeneutics of Culture.
The module investigates the nature of culture for the purpose of developing an understanding of the ways in which, particular phenomena in a context affect ministry. Special attention is given to theological and theoretical approaches to understanding culture, to its influences on ministry, to practical skills for meaningfully observing and analyzing culture, as well as to skills for creating relevant ministry in a given context. It will also deal with effecting a cultural change in the light of the gospel. This module is based on a lecture series by Dr Joshua Iyadurai and produced by THEOn. This is an optional module; students can opt for either Hermeneutics of Culture or Indian Christianity.