Every sermon begins somewhere. Every Bible study has a foundation. Every ministry decision, whether in a local church, a mission field, or a classroom, is shaped by how well a leader understands and interprets the Word of God.
For ministers, lay leaders, and lifelong learners in the Pentecostal and Charismatic tradition, the call to understand Scripture deeply is more than academic. It’s personal. It’s pastoral. And it’s essential. North Central University’s Master of Arts in Biblical Theology was built with that conviction in mind.
A Program Built for the Church and the Classroom
The Master of Arts in Biblical Theology at NCU is designed for two types of people: those already serving in ministry who want to sharpen their interpretive skills, and those preparing for further graduate study in theology or biblical studies.
Whether you’re preaching weekly, leading a Sunday school class, preparing for doctoral work, or simply hungry to understand the Bible at a deeper level—this program meets you where you are and it does so from a distinctly Pentecostal and Charismatic perspective. A perspective that takes the full witness of Scripture seriously, honors the work of the Holy Spirit, and prepares graduates to teach and preach with both scholarly rigor and Spirit-led conviction.
What You’ll Learn and Who You’ll Become
The Master of Arts in Biblical Theology isn’t just a transfer of information. It’s a transformation of perspective.
Graduates leave the program able to:
- Analyze, interpret, and explain Scripture with theological sensitivity
- Engage major theological themes within the Bible from a Pentecostal or Charismatic lens
- Understand the history of biblical interpretation and how theology shapes how we read the text
- Conduct meaningful academic research
- Produce a scholarly thesis that makes a distinctive contribution to the field
These aren’t abstract competencies. They’re tools that show up in sermons, Bible studies, mentoring conversations, and every moment a leader is called to speak truth from the Word.
Six Tracks. One Mission.
One of the distinctive strengths of the Master of Arts in Biblical Theology is its flexibility. Students choose from six specialized tracks, each designed to go deeper in a specific area:
- Biblical Languages – Gain reading proficiency in Greek and Hebrew, engaging the biblical text in its original languages
- Historical/Systematic Theology – Trace how Christian doctrine developed through the Patristic period, the Middle Ages, the Reformation, and into the modern era
- Old Testament/Hebrew Bible – Develop advanced skills for interpreting the Old Testament in theological contexts
- New Testament – Dive deep into critical New Testament scholarship and learn to apply it in ministry
- Worship Studies – Explore how worship, sacred time, and sacred practice are understood across both Testaments
- General Track – A flexible path for students who want a broad, integrative study of the Christian Scriptures
No matter which track you choose, the foundation is the same: rigorous biblical scholarship anchored in faith.
Designed for Real Life and Ministry
North Central University understands that most people pursuing graduate theological education are also leading churches, raising families, and serving their communities. That’s why the Master of Arts in Biblical Theology is offered fully online.
Most courses run in an eight-week format. Biblical languages classes and the thesis course are offered over a full 16-week semester. Students can expect to invest 16–17 hours per week in meaningful, substantive study that fits around a life of ministry.
For those who want to go even deeper, NCU also offers an optional in-person summer course in one of the Holy Lands of the Bible to Israel, Egypt, Greece, Italy, or Turkey. It’s an extraordinary opportunity to walk the land where the Scriptures were written and lived.
An Assemblies of God University That Invests in Its Ministers
North Central University is a nationally accredited Assemblies of God university with a long history of preparing Spirit-filled leaders for ministry. The Master of Arts in Biblical Theology reflects that heritage offering Pentecostal and Charismatic theological formation that you won’t find at every institution.
NCU also provides financial support for those already serving in the AG: credentialed Assemblies of God ministers, full-time AG church employees, and NCU alumni all receive a 25% tuition discount.
Because the church deserves leaders who are equipped and NCU is committed to helping make that possible.
The Word Deserves Your Best
There’s a reason Scripture calls us to study, to rightly divide the word of truth, to be students of God’s Word throughout our lives. The people you preach to, teach, and disciple deserve leaders who have done that work.
The Master of Arts in Biblical Theology at North Central University is an investment in that calling. Applications are now open for Fall 2026.
