Spring 2026 Courses
BI 801: Seminar in Biblical Studies: The Minor Prophets
Day: 4 Mondays: 2/9, 3/2, 3/30, 4/27
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Format: Live video conference only
Course Description:
This course uses a study of the history, content, milieu, text, structure, and theological meaning of each book of the Minor Prophets to illustrate current academic issues in the Old Testament. These include the redactional history of the Book of the Twelve, and how to read them as a single work. Detailed attention is given to ethical and doctrinal themes within each book.
Professor: Dr. George Schwab
Professor of Old Testament
Email: schwab@erskine.edu
Phone: 864-379-8882
BI 801: Seminar in Biblical Studies: Intertextuality & Interpretation
Day: 4 Mondays- 1/26, 2/23, 3/23, 4/20
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Columbia
Format: In-person and live video conference for distance students
Course Description:
The focus of this seminar is the phenomenon of inner-biblical allusion, often referred to as biblical intertextuality. Students will study both Old and New Testament authors’ use of Old Testament texts and will consider the implications for biblical exegesis and contemporary hermeneutics. Different types of allusion as well as the interpretive methods common within Second Temple Judaism and the Greco-Roman world will be examined. The book of Esther will form a frequent starting point for discussion of inner-biblical allusion within the biblical canon. The seminar format includes lectures, student presentations, classroom discussion, and exegesis of selected texts.
Professor: Dr. Max Rogland
Research Professor of Old Testament
Email: rogland@erskine.edu
HT 801: Seminar in Historical Studies: English Reformation and Puritanism
Day: 4 Mondays- 1/12, 2/16, 3/16, 4/13
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Format: Live video conference only
Course Description:
In this course students examine the dramatic changes in the English Church through the Tudor and Stuart monarchies. We focus on the causal factors of the English Reformation, the origin of Puritanism and the struggles between the Church of England over church governance, worship and theology.
Professor: Dr. Dale Johnson
Distinguished Professor of Church History Emeritus
Email: djohnson@erskine.edu
HT 801: Seminar in Historical Studies: The Westminster Standards
Day: 4 Saturdays: 1/17, 2/7, 3/7, 4/11
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Columbia
Format: In-person and live video conference for distance students
Course Description:
In this course students will investigate the historical background and context to this influential assembly, its doctrinal achievements, and its views on church government and worship. This will help students to understand better the doctrinal history of the Protestant churches from the seventeenth century to the present, and especially the churches in America. It will assist them in formulating their own views on matters of doctrine, worship, and church government. Depending on the students’ projected thesis topic, they will be able to choose a research topic in Bible, church history, historical or systematic theology.
Professor: Dr. Mark Ross
The First Presbyterian Church – John R. de Witt chair of Theology | Associate Dean for Erskine Columbia
Email: ross@erskine.edu
Phone: 803-392-3748
ST 802: Seminar in Contextual Theology
Day: 4 Saturdays: 1/24, 2/21, 3/21, 4/18
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Format: Live video conference only
Course Description:
This course focuses on the relation between culture and the Christian faith in a post-Christendom, postEnlightenment, 21st century North American context. Students reflect on the nexus between theology and ministry in light of their own theological tradition, in conversation with a wide range of theological perspectives. Students read and discuss significant theological thinkers and their understanding of Church and ministry. The course culminates with a final Theology of Ministry paper in which students describe their own theological perspective on ministry in the Church today. May be taken as Area Seminar for Th.M. students majoring in theological/historical studies (focusing on systematic theology, historical theology, or Church history) in lieu of ST801; elective for other Th.M. students. D.Min. students may take this course as a Norms elective. Three hours.
Professor: Dr. Daniel Janosik
Research Professor of Apologetics
Email: janosik@erskine.edu
TH 800: Becoming a Christian Scholar
Format: Asynchronous, with several live video conference discussion sessions required
Course Description:
This course provides advanced guidance on the tasks of choosing a research topic, conducting theological research, using technology in research, analyzing and articulating one’s findings, and writing academic-level theological papers or theses. Student research and writing is approached from a Christian perspective. Students are also given an overview of the Th.M. program. Required in one of the first 2 semesters. Two hours.
Professor: Dr. Richard Winston
Associate Professor of New Testament | Director of the MATS and Th.M. programs
Email: winston@erskine.edu
Phone: 864-379-8828