What is a seminary?

Answer

A seminary is a graduate institution (offering master’s and/or doctoral degrees) that prepares individuals for ministry as pastors, priests, or rabbis. As a result, there are Jewish seminaries, Catholic seminaries, and Protestant seminaries. At times, a seminary may be referred to as a divinity school. A seminary can be affiliated with a larger university or function independently. Protestant seminaries may be overseen by churches or denominations, or they may operate autonomously. Independent seminaries may have a specific focus, such as Evangelical theology or more specialized areas like apologetics, dispensational theology, missions, or church planting. Some seminaries are renowned for their practical ministry training, while others emphasize academic and theological rigor. Some seminaries were initially established by churches or denominations but later reduced or severed their connections with the founding body.

The primary degree offered by most seminaries is the Master of Divinity (M.Div.), although many also provide a Master of Theology (Th.M.), a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.), or a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree.

The term seminary originates from the Latin word for “seed.” A seminary serves as a place where ideas (preferably true ideas) can be sown, nurtured, and take root in the lives of students, eventually yielding fruit that they can share with those they serve.

The Bible does not mention seminaries by that name, but it does refer to formal education and religious training. Paul “studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law” «I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. », (Acts 22:3). Jesus instructed His disciples to tEach other’s (Matthew 28:19-20). Timothy is directed to train church leaders: “The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” «And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. », (2 Timothy 2:2).

In the book of Acts, we find what could be considered an early prototype of the modern seminary. Paul was in Ephesus, where he spoke in the synagogue for about three months, until the Jews’ obstinacy forced him to leave. But the training in the gospel continued: “He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord” (Acts 19:9-10). A daily discussion of theology for two years in a lecture hall—this sounds very much like the practice of the modern seminary.

God’s approved workers are described as “rightly handling the word of truth” «Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. », (2 Timothy 2:15, ESV), a quality that assumes a study of the Word. God can use those who have never been to seminary—the apostles Peter and John were “unschooled” «Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. », (Acts 4:13). But the formal study of Scripture is also valuable.

e can be a tool that God uses as well, and seminaries can provide that training.