Expert: Thurman C. Petty, Jr. - 6/14/2006

Question
Hi Mr. Thurman, I am a young man about to go on to bible school: majoring in bible studies, I'm excited, but I need to know something.
First if you don't mind I would like to keep asking you questions concerning this issue, if you don't mind.
Second I would like to ask what can I do with a bible studies major.
If you need me to ellaborate I will but that should be a good enough question.
Please email me back ASAP, please.
Thank you for your time, have a good one.
Take care.

Answer
Dear Anthony,

I’m filled with joy to hear of your interest to prepare for full-time work for Jesus.

In planning for doing that, as you’ve already inferred, you need to get an education that will
prepare you for His work. God expects us to do everything we can in preparing our minds for His
work. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit will bring to our minds what to say when we come
before princes or judges (or ordinary people). But how can the Holy Spirit bring to mind things
that we’ve never put there? So it goes without saying that we need to spend a great deal of
personal time in the Word.  If we don’t, then no amount of training will do us any good.

If you want to do the most good, you need to chose an accredited school that can issue you a
degree that will be accepted by higher schools of learning. Who knows but what God will call you
to teaching others how to work for Him, or to any number of works for which you will need an
accredited degree. To do that you will need a thorough education, not only in Bible, but in many
other subjects as well. I find that I often draw upon things I learned in different courses—other
than Bible—in my work as a pastor and Bible Instructor. So, choose a school that can give you a
Bachelor of Arts in Bible, or in what is called a BA in Theology. I received mine at Union College
in Lincoln, NE.

I discovered, after spending 2 years in God’s work, that I need more education, so I studied to
receive a Master of Arts at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. There are other
schools I could recommend: Atlantic Union College in South Lancaster, Mass; Columbia Union
College in Tacoma Park, MD; Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, TN (just south of
Chattanooga, TN; Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, Texas (south of Dallas/Ft.
Worth); Loma Linda University near Riverside, CA; La Sierra University in Riverside, CA; Pacific
Union College in St. Helena, CA; Walla University in Walla, WA; Canadian Union University
College, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

I recommend these because they teach every class in a Christian way, and their theology follows
the Bible more closely than other Bible colleges with which I’m acquainted.

What can you do with a Bible studies major? I became, for 27 years (before retirement) a pastor
and missionary to Pitcairn Island in the South Pacific. I also taught elementary school for two
years. Since retirement, I’ve written books and articles, and have become a volunteer Bible
instructor for both Allexperts.com, and for Bibleinfo.com.

As a Bible studies major at an accredited college, you are in the position, should you decide to do
so, to get a number of graduate degrees—Master of Arts; Master of Divinity; Ph.D.; Ed.D.; and
any one of several other degrees—all of which prepare you for becoming a professor in a college
or university, preparing others for work in Bible ministry, both as pastors, Bible workers, Bible
teachers in high school or college, in America and in other churches or universities around the
world. In other words, there is no end to what you can do for the Lord if you get a Bachelor of
Arts in Bible (Bible theology) in an accredited college or University.

If you have other questions, I’d be happy to do my best to find answers for them.

Sincerely,
Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
Instructor, Christian Bible Studies
Allexperts.com

I suggest that any further questions you have may be sent directly to me at Petty@hyperusa.com .
That will save the time it takes to go through Allexperts.com

Check it out: Visit my web site, www.PettyPress.com. You’ll find 40 Bible lessons; over 100
Bible questions answered; 14 of my books; articles, stories, sermons, etc.