Talbot School of Theology

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Last updated: Dec 09, 2014
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Academic History
Talbot School of Theology is a seminary located on Biola's campus.

The first classes began at Talbot Theological Seminary in 1952, and was named after Louis Talbot, the Australian pastor/missionary who served two terms as Biola's president.

Student Life

In its early years, the seminary had a strict dress code which mandated shirts, ties and short hair. Classes met in small rooms in Sutherland Hall, and daily chapel was mandatory. Most students enrolled full-time and pastored churches in their free time. Before earning their degrees, students were required to take the pulpit at an all-seminary chapel and deliver a Senior Sermon under the scrutiny of their peers and professors.

Deans

The school's first dean was Dr. Charles L. Feinberg, a New York-born intellectual who converted to Christianity from Judaism at the age of 20. He is remembered by fellow faculty as stern, disciplined and caring.

Feinberg served as dean of the seminary until 1970, and he is also the namesake of Feinberg Hall.

Women in the Seminary

In YEAR, the formerly male-only school opened its doors to women. At first, women were only welcome in the Christian Education program, but it wasn’t until YEAR that Talbot made the controversial decision to open the MDiv program to them as well.

Transition to "School of Theology"

By the early 1980s, as Biola’s population inched upwards, Talbot followed suit. When Biola College metamorphosized to Biola University, the seminary had a crucial decision to make. Should it break free and begin as an independent seminary, or should it melt into Biola and turn to a school? In 1982, administrators decided to incorporate the seminary as Talbot School of Theology, an entity of Biola University.

This structure has allowed Talbot to collaborate with professors from a variety of departments. For Biola undergrad students, the union opened the door to Greek and Hebrew classes. Faculty say this interaction is what sets Talbot apart.

Theological Controversy

But as the epicenter of Biola’s doctrinal views, any of Talbot’s theological movements can set off a university-wide earthquake. During the 80s, Talbot had trouble when some biblical studies professors began questioning the inerrancy of the Bible and a number of prominent Talbot faculty split from the seminary to start The Master’s seminary. Out of fear that Talbot was abandoning its conservative foundation, the splintering continued for several years, until the enrollment dwindled from 700 to about 400.

The administration released the straying faculty, revamped it curriculum, and recommitted to stay faithful to the Bible. Recovery was gradual, but two decades later, Talbot returned to its peak population.

Developments after the year 2000

The full-time student model has largely given way to a night-school model. And to the delight of some students, the senior sermon lives no more.

But new things have come. The school now offers MDiv. and Ph.D degrees, among others. New extensions in Kiev, Ukraine and Manhattan, N.Y. are working to equip Christians for ministry.

New Building

Plans are also underway to convert Myers Hall into a multi-building complex. The structures will be Biola’s first LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) buildings on campus, a designation that requires buildings to meet a strict set of criteria for environmentally sustainable construction. The University has decided to pursue LEED-certification for all future building projects."New Talbot Building Project ‘LEEDs’ the Way." Biola Magazine, Fall 2008

Timeline

1936?: Biola offers bachelor of theology?

1952: Biola Board of Trustees founds Talbot Theological Seminary (Dr. Louis Talbot, Biola president 1932-1935, 1938-1952) , Dean: Dr. Charles Feinberg

1955: Master of Theology degree first offered (one year beyond completion of Bachelor of Divinity)

____: Dean Glenn O’Neill

____: Dean Wendell Johnston

____: W. Bingham Hunter

1962: Master of Religious Education

1970: Master of Divinity replaced Bachelor of Divinity

1972: M.A. in Biblical Studies degree

1973: M.A. in Theological Studies

1974: M.A. in Missions

____: M.A. in Christian Ministry & Leadership, M.A. in Ministry, M.A. in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, Ph.D. in Educational Studies, Ed.D. in Educational Studies, Doctor of Ministry.

1977: Extension started at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley

1978: Talbot accredited through Association of Theological Schools

1981: Biola moves from college to university

1983: Name changed to Talbot School of Theology (to reflect Biola’s change)

1991: Dean Bing leaves to be dean of Trinity Evangelical Divinity

1985: Dr. John MacArthur becomes President of The Master's Seminary

1986: Talbot loses ninety-five students and three full-time faculty members to the campus of Grace Community Church. These included Doctors Irv Busenitz and Marc Mueller, both of whom had been full-time professors at the extension campus of Talbot Seminary and who made significant contributions to its advancement. Prof. Donald G. McDougall., Professor of New Testament, brought a rich background in Missions and Education, serving for five years at Nigeria's Igbaja Theological Seminary and thirteen years at Talbot Theological Seminary.

1987: The following year, four additional faculty members joined the seminary. Dr. James Rosscup came from Talbot Seminary where he had taught for twenty-two years in Bible Exposition and distinguished himself as a bibliographer of resources for studying Scripture. Dr. Robert Thomas came not only with twenty-eight years of seminary teaching experience, but also with numerous books and articles to his credit, plus involvement in scholarly societies.

1992: Dean Dennis Dirks

Source for timeline: Dennis Dirks' secretary
Source for Talbot story: Personal interview with Prof. Robert Saucy and other faculty/staff, spring 2007

Faculty

1952

Course History

1952

The following were the courses offered during Talbot's first academic year.

Department of English Bible

  • Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus
  • Matthew, John, and Acts
  • Hermeneutics
  • Psalms and Isaiah
  • Romans, I Corinthians, and Galatians
  • Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel
  • Ephesians, I Timothy, Hebrews, and Revelation
  • Biblical Geography
  • The General Epistles
  • The Minor Prophets
  • The Thessalonian Epistles

Department of Systematic Theology and Apologetics

  • Systematic Theology: Prolegomena, Bibliology, and Theology Proper
  • ST: Angelology and Anthropology
  • ST: Soteriology
  • ST: Ecclesiology and Eschatology
  • Millenial Views
  • Theism
  • The Doctrine of Inspiration
  • The Doctrine of Atonement
  • Roman Catholic Theology
  • Theology of the Reformers
  • The Theology of John Calvin
  • Contemporary Theology
  • Theology of Crisis
  • Seminar in Theology

Department of Semitics and Old Testament

English Courses

  • Old Testament Introduction
  • Archaeology of the Bible
  • Archaeology of Mesopotamia
  • Archaeology of Egypt
  • Archaeology of Palestine
  • Old Testament Prophecy

Languages

  • Elements of Hebrew
  • Advanced Hebrew
  • Advanced Hebrew Reading
  • Advanced Hebrew Grammar
  • Old Testament Poetry
  • Reading of Selected Psalms from the Hebrew Text
  • Messianic Prophecies
  • The Book of Job
  • Exegesis of Isaiah
  • Exegesis of Jeremiah and Ezekiel
  • Old Testament Textual Criticism
  • Old Testament Seminar
  • Modern Hebrew
  • Reading in the Septuagint
  • Biblical Aramaic
  • Elements of Syriac
  • Canaanite Cuneiform
  • Elements of Arabic
  • Elements of Babylonian-Assyrian

Department of New Testament Language and Literature

  • Exegesis of the Epistle to the Galatians
  • Exegesis of the Epistle to the Colossians
  • New Testament Introduction
  • Exegesis of the Epistle to the Romans
  • Exegesis of the Epistles of James and I Peter
  • Exegesis of the Epistle to the Hebrews
  • Exegesis of St. Mark's Gospel
  • Exegesis of the Gospel of John
  • Textual Criticism of the New Testament

Department of Church History

  • Early Church History
  • Medieval Church History
  • The Protestant Reformation
  • Modern Church History
  • History of Doctrine
  • Origin and Development of Denominations
  • American Church History
  • History of Revivals
  • The History of Baptists
  • History of Baptists in the United States
  • The History of the Brethren

Department of Practical Theology

Christian Education

  • Christian Education in the Local Church
  • Christian Education of Children
  • Christian Education of Adolescents
  • Christian Education of Adults

Church Music

  • Music in the Church
  • Congregational and Choral Conducting

Homiletics

  • Sermon Preparation
  • Senior Preaching
  • History of Preaching
  • Sermon Materials

Pastoral Theology

  • Christian Ethics
  • Pastoral Work
  • Pastoral Counseling

Degrees Offered

2003-2005

The Bachelor of Arts degree

  • Biblical Studies
  • Christian Education Ministries

The Master of Arts degree

  • Bible Exposition
  • New Testament
  • Old Testament
  • Theology
  • Philosophy of Religion and Ethics
  • Spiritual Formation
  • Biblical and Theological Studies - diversified

The Master of Arts degree in Christian education

The Master of Arts degree in Christian Ministry and Leadership

  • Pastoral Care and Counseling
  • Women’s Ministries

The Master of Arts degree in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care

The Master of Arts degree in Ministry

  • Pastoral
  • Christian Education
  • Marriage and Family Ministries
  • Missions

The Master of Divinity degree

The Master of Theology degree

The Doctor of Ministry degree

The Doctor of Education degree

The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Studies

2005-2007

No Change

2007-2009

Resources

Talbot Theological Seminary Catalog, 1952-1968

Biola University 2003-2005 Catalog

Biola University 2005-2007 Catalog