Biblical Language Certificates

The study of the Biblical languages of Greek and Hebrew allows ALS students to study the writings of Scripture in the languages in which they were written.  ALS offers a Certificate of Biblical Hebrew and a Certificate of Biblical Greek. These certificates are required prerequisites for respective exegetical courses at the master’s level but are open to all ALS students. Through these courses, students will be equipped to engage with the Greek and Hebrew languages and will begin to use them to study God’s word. 

Asia Lutheran Seminary uses the same methods that are used to learn any living language. Students will hear, imitate, speak, and respond to commands in Hebrew or  Greek already during the first hour of the course. Rather than simply memorizing vocabulary, forms, and grammar, students participate in vocabulary and fluency-building exercises such as story-telling and acting out stories. Our interactive learning process is non-threatening, requires little textbook study,  and yet is an efficient way to learn a language.

ALS prepares students for advanced scriptural exegesis of each language in just one year. The course begins with 3 weeks of intensive study (multiple hours a day, 6 days a week) at the beginning of the school year. This is followed by online live classes during the fall semester, another intensive week between the fall and spring semesters, and online classes again through the spring semester. A final intensive week at the end of the spring semester ends the course. 

The Certificate of Biblical Hebrew and the Certificate of Biblical Greek will each be awarded after the completion of 12 credits of language study. Since these certificates are prerequisites for study at the M.Div. level, they will normally not count toward cumulative degree credits.