What is Biblical Studies?

 Biblical Studies generally includes three major disciplines: Old Testament, Biblical Theology, and New Testament/Early Christianity. It is certainly much more than just a reference to a chapter and a verse in an English translation of the Bible. 

Old Testament Studies is about the text and history of the Hebrew Bible. Students and lecturers read the Old Testament in its original language and attempt to understand the history of Jewish thought. Considering that the Hebrew Bible covers thousands of years, students of Old Testament Studies will attempt to understand the historical events taking place at the time of the Biblical books to gain further insight as to the meaning of the scriptures. 

Biblical Theology includes the study of key doctrines such as Baptism, the Lord's Table, and church government. It comprises the theology of both the Old and New Testaments. 

The Study of New Testament Studies and Early Christianity are closely aligned. At some seminaries, the two are paired as one degree. 

New Testament Studies addresses discussion of the first century. Theologians and historians within this field attempt to understand its connections to the Old Testament, analyze the texts, and study the world of the first century including the theology of Judaism and the culture of ancient Rome. Those who study the New Testament not only read it in Koine Greek but are familiar with much more than the texts themselves. Sometimes, those who study the New Testament at the university level will read from Philio, Josephus, and the Didache. New Testament Studies is sometimes even extended into the study of early second-century Christianity. Textual criticism is also connected or included within this discipline. Those engaged in New Testament Studies will also look the family of Biblical manuscripts and how they differ from each other.  

According to most contemporary historians, early Christianity began with Pentecost (A. D. 33) and ended in the early fourth century. Spanning a time frame of three hundred years, the history of the ancient church is both a continuation and a distinction from the study of the Hebrews beforehand. For three hundred years until the Edict of Milan in 313, Christians were heavily persecuted by the forces of the Roman Empire. 

In general, many of the historic symbols associated with Christianity are from the services of the ancient church. For example, the early Christians would use the symbol of a fish to demonstrate where they met for worship. Likewise, we don't know what the cross looked like that Christ died upon. Typically, we in the western church, probably think most often of the Latin Cross as it has been the representative to us of the tree that our Lord was cast upon. 

Just as no one can understand the Modern Church without knowledge of the Reformation, the Reformation cannot be understood without knowledge of the Medieval Church, and the Medieval Church cannot be understood without the study of early Christianity. To study historical theology and church history means studying all two thousand years of the church's existence. Additionally, those who understand the history and thought of Judaism both before and during the time of Christ will also help themselves better understand Christian history as Christianity is the successor to Judaism. 

It is vital to understand both Judaism and early Christianity in order to understand the New Testament. Those unfamiliar with historic Judaism, for example, will miss many of the references to Jewish thought within the texts. 

Why should people study Biblical Studies? While there are many reasons to study the Bible at the academic level, perhaps the most important is familiarizing oneself with Greek and Hebrew. Unless one knows Biblical languages, one is dependent on another person's translation of the original text, and every translation, no matter how well intended it is, is still an interpretation of the original by the translator. For this reason, it would be ideal that every Christian knows Biblical languages. 

Some of the most renowned Biblical scholars in the world today achieved doctorates in Biblical Studies: Wayne Grudem, N. T. Wright, Craig L. Blomberg, Michael F. Bird, John Piper, Scott Hahn, and D. A. Carson. Even those, however, who don't go far as a Ph.D. in this discipline will find themselves greatly benefited from the study of the original languages.