How is that anyone and everyone is a Dr. these days?

I belong to the school of hard knocks. In fact I have attended this school all of my life contributing daily.
Is it possible that I might get such a degree.
I recommend this school only to those that don't want outrageous student debt. But this does not nullify paying the piper now and again.😱😉😉😀

yes please understand I’m not against people going to seminary at all. I believe the Bible to be sufficient if one believes what’s there.

I believe it’s God who is behind most translations English , Korean , Russian ect every language has a version of what was originally ancient Aramaic language, Sanskrit also and some forms of Hebrew, of course the New Testament in Greek

no one speaks those languages now days my faith tells Me God can reach us through the Bible no matter what language it’s written in. I believe it’s his work that got it to the corners of ther earth in all the languages of the nations

if one is Korean speaking person they need a Korean version , if one speaks Chinese they need the same in tbier language ect

the words are different in different languages concepts are even offered different rly in different t languages but my view is the message is the same in any language

there is definately benefit in study however. My view is the best way is to just get slot of humble believers who are students of scripture together and start discussing what the scripture has to teach us I don’t myself personally see why we need a worldly institution approving how we understand and shape our faith I believe the aye what the gospel is for

but again we should all believe and study as isn beneficial To us I’m positive there are some good seminaries out there and it benefits people

my point was just that a doctorate is only as good as the seminary of instructors who taught the person and printed out thier dilloma it doesn’t approve anyone for ministry in Gods eyes just in the worldly systems eyes

man tends to want to gain contrik over things and that to me is what seminary is born of man needing to approve what is believed and taught to people but the Bible was sent Tony’s all to believe and learn from from the least to the greatest through faith and receiving the Holy Ghost Christ can teach us better than a college

just my own personally belief as a church we need to all gather under the flashing humility sign and become a group of students of scripture and even if one another equally that’s where anointing happens that moves mountains and starts holy fires in us as a group

If I am not mistaken, all of the OT was written in ancient Hebrew except for the first part of Daniel and Ezra in Aramaic This is really not much Aramaic at all.

And we don't actually have copies of the OT in ancient Hebrew. The Hebrew copies that are used are from the Masoretic Text that was done between the 6th and 10th century AD. They translated the Septuagint Greek copy which was the copy Jesus quoted from and called scripture. They had the Samaritan Pentateuch to use as an example of ancient Hebrew to help them with that project.


It would be great if humble Spirit Filled Christians could read the context of a passage and agree correctly on the proper interpretation that was intended by the author and the Holy Spirit that inspired the author.

I don't think being educated at a formal seminary is necessary to being Biblically literate. Any one can become self educated by reading good books.

And I don't believe you have to be super educated to understand the intended meaning of the bible and how to apply what the Holy Spirit inspired, as he can certainly open your mind to understand the scripture and how to live it. We know that the scriptures make a point about the early disciples being uneducated and I think that is to inspire us all that we don't have to go through some elite religious education to understand the scriptures and be used by God.

On that we agree.

As far as I know its a publishing ploy as far as books go
In academia the thing is 'publish or perish' meaning, if you havent published a book or journal article about your topic of expertise...you wont get tenure so its kind of expected that you will publish something.

Every graduate of course needs to write a thesis or dissertation...this is just what is expected. Or a research project. I needed to write a bibliography to obtain my masters degree. I could put MLIS after my name but I dont bother as for most people they dont even know what that is!

Most teachers will have letters after their name though they wont use this in everyday life but that is their credential whether its a diploma of teaching, a bachelors of education, a doctor of divinity. Accountants have to be certified, nurses need registration, lawyers need a legal degree.

I think with ministers it is similar in that you would need to have undergone some kind of training whether its applied theology, or something more academic. Though the reputation of ones alma mater also needs to be checked out.

I agree that solely online learning is probably not the best way to learn.

I recommend Global University. It is an online path to accredited degree programs that use the same text books as other very expensive seminaries. I used it for non accredited training for ministry where we also met at campuses once a month for lectures and exams.

However I am planning to pursue the accredited path they offer and it will take just as long as a normal seminary to obtain a doctorates and I will have to do all of the same scholarly work, but I can do it at my own pace. You can do one course at a time if you like as long as you complete it within 6 months. And it averages $500 per course. Maybe more for some of the later advanced courses toward the final years but the point is that one can do this without going in debt and take enough time to actually retain what they are studying.

I am not in a hurry and I am doing it for the benefit of learning, not for the title or the paper. It will help me stay focused on learning the things that I can actually use as a minister and a bible teacher and not be scattered all over the place as to what books I am reading so that I can accomplish more by following a path of learning that has proven results.

https://globaluniversity.edu/

But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
Matthew 238-11 KJV

I am not against education: in fact, education is usually very helpful for effective preaching of the Word.
But for a pastor, minister, evangelist, or Christian worker to use a title or a degree as proof of status or efficiency as a teacher or preacher I believe is unbiblical and detrimental to the cause of Christ.

If a degree of some kind/level is the requirement to be on the teaching faculty of a school -- then do not go there for pastoral/religious training. Find a school's whose requirements for teachers is character and being a person of prayer.

If you are looking for a pastor, and an applicant puts a bunch of letters after his name, deposit the application in the wastebasket!

Academic training for vocation is a different field - then I want my doctor to have letters after his name! But for spiritual teaching I will take the man of character and prayer long before the educated man. If the man of character and prayer is educated, then I view that as an asset.

I am not sure which degree this is, but I read something about Randy Cark's doctoral dissertation committee. He had Jon Ruthven on it, a Charismatic theological scholar, and even medical people. I am not sure the university. I read he had two doctorates. Maybe one is more rigorous than another, Doctor of Divinity, and Doctor of Ministry. I have also read elsewhere that he documents healings and such. I read his dissertation was about back healings (read it before it was defended, I think.) He also has an MDiv from a Baptist seminary.

Some of the people on your list might have real credentials.

After Ravi Zecharias died, I was watching videos about him, and one of is critics who exposed some exaggeration said he didn't have a real academic degree, or that might have been someone else commenting on it. But that isn't true. Trinity gives real degrees. There are people who consider seminaries not to give real academic degrees. What is real scholarship varies.

Personally, I am skeptical of some of the women's studies, and some of the degrees that are more on the liberal left wing woke stuff. Critical race theory has gotten a lot of attention recently. If it's kind of a sociology method of arguing that is not based on real states, and they just keep repeating and expanding on these ideas that are based on ideology-- what is there to learn really? Literature, in some cases quite damaging literature, in the field. 'Theory' with no empiricle testing. I do not think all fields have to measure results with statistics. English can be it's own field. Degrees in extreme harmful ideologies are damaging to society, IMO.

I read there was a Portland professor who got a study published in 'Gender, Place, and Culture' that was a spoof of the articles therein, about dog rape that examined all kinds of various tropes and academic theories about rape, then got redacted. The name of the 'ungendered' something or other organization that sponsored it did not exist. I think the writer was making fun of the field of study, and if you read it knowing this, it is kind of mocking the whole topic. It's kind of dark, too if you know it's a spoof. I kind of skimmed it a while back but cannot find it now. I think it talked about the dogs enjoying the rape, people not helping to stop it, and various feminist themes that had to do with rape.

Anyway, people in one field could look down on another. What constitutes a doctorate is relative, especially when you are looking at less prestigious accreditation organizations.

I guess it depends on what kind of teacher. If they are just using basic rules of hermeneutics and doing their best to teach the meaning of the scripture in their original context it does not require a doctorates.

If they are trying to explain why certain English words are the best ones to translate a passage from the ancient Hebrew or Koine Greek, I want them to be expert in the field and know what they are talking about. In that case having a doctorates in Biblical Studies where at least 3 years of Greek is required gives me more confidence that their reasonings are valid as to which English wording closest matches the Greek for that passage.

A doctorates isn't needed for basic pastoral ministry.

These yahoos that are calling themselves doctors all over the TV and internet are not even teaching anything of substance. It is silly. Doctor of What? There is no doctorate degree for the nonsense prosperity message, motivational speaking, "your breakthrough is coming" repetitious, non biblical message they are promoting. They are calling themselves doctor for no comprehensible reason.

The bright side of this obnoxiousness is that they are wearing a big sign that says "Don't listen to me I am a liar"

yes your sort of making my point as language evolved from ancient sandscrit , to Hebrew Aramaic , to Greek and on and on to English and every other language in the world

as language evolved God provided translations into those languages so everyone could hear the message of Jesus Christ when it was sent into the nations from the gospel forward ehat I’m saying is God made this happen

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:15-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

for the gospel to be preached to all people it’s God who we must rely on for the translation he willed his word to be preached to all so it’s now in all known
Languages

the words are very different in a different language the order of the words different the presentation of the ideas different because language is different

each word of ancient Aramaic , or Greek or Hebrew whatever we think the original was written in doesnt actually
Matter unless we begin with the idea it’s wrong in our translations.

I don’t think we now by going to a seminary or studying ancient languages are going to discover that all man had it wrong all along. The kjv for instance was translated by 54 of the worlds too linguistical and literary experts I don’t think beginning a study now of ancient languages we do t speak or really understand is going to trump the experts and the fool proof way it was translated and passed between these groups of experts

to simplify I trust that God has gotten his word To us in any language we speak or understand I myself don’t see immense value in trying to become ancient language expert in the end we still argue about what we think those words meant even if two have studied the same language we interpret it differently

I just trust that Gods word has always been written and presented to people in thier language as the gospel spread to all nations I don’t think man did that I believe God inspired men to accomplish his Will

I’m just saying it’s better to try to understand the concepts presented than to try to find some mistake the translator made because it doesn’t change the concepts that repeat themselves from beginning to end of the Bible if anything is true in scripture it doesn’t rely on one appearance of any one word it’s repetitively made clear in different ways and words in scripture

but I think we should all study the things that work for us I just don’t have any doubt about translations as many do some of the modern ones these days I haven’t read or looked into because I have an original niv and original kjv and read and trust them both some words are different but it doesn’t change the message in either

I’m more of a topical student , I look for repetitive concepts from the ot spanning through the new so a word or two. It being the same doesn’t affect me or change what’s there in those studies of what Gods actually trying to get across To mankind which I believe a thats ehat the Bible is for

but again it’s reslly It’s of a personal cchoice for us each of we feel a need to look into ancient languages we should . I actually did that long ago and found the translators had it right much more than I could do.

but if one finds value in any form of study they should definately pursue it and they would then most likely learn some things in that pursuit. Others eill
Study and trust thier Bible on thier shelf and will pursue that and learn Gods word also without ever knowing how to read or speak ancient languages like Hebrew , sandscirt , Aramaic , Greek or any language other than what they speak and understand

I believe God took care of getting his word to folks it’s up to us to open it up is my belief but honestly we should stick to what we personally believe and pursue those things

anyways thanks for the talk and God bless you In Your studies whichever path you choose to accomplish them may God impart wisdom upon wisdom to you

We each have gifts that God has called us to serve the body of Christ.

You may be right: 0ne's legit and the other is an avenue to boost book sales.

amen brother I agree completely with that God is good and able whenever we are not

Do you claim to have prophetic insight into a certain individual's motivations for getting a doctorate?

Hindu scholars have religious documents in Sanskrit (e.g. Vedic Sanskrit or the grammatically parallel made-up language). The theory is that there was a Proto-IndoEuropean Language and a Proto-Semitic language. I think Hammitic is a branch or Hammitic and semitic are seen to be another older group.

Anyway, Greek, Latin, Sanskrit, a language that got labeled Hittite, Armenian, Tokarian A, Tokarian B, Slavic languages, Germanic languages, Celtic languages, and a bunch of other languages evolved out of Proto-IndoEuropean. I do not think any scholar thinks they came from Sanskrit. Then Hebrew, Aramaic, Arabic, Akkadian, etc. are believed to have evolved from Proto-Semitic.

This is based on similarities between words, grammar, and structure of the languages and knowledge from written sources over time that show how languages evolve. The principles of how they evolve are applied to the oldest ancient languages to derive how they think theoretically the languages evolved from ProtoIndoEuropean, and they try to construct these theoretical proto languages without direct written documentation.

yes I’m saying mankind began with one language until God divided them and confounded language my point is no matter what we try to figure out now it was Gods work that created the languages so he’s capable of getting his word to all in all language as it spread and evolved regardless of how we decide we believe it evolved language became different here by Gods Will when they built the Tower of Babel until then it was one and it really makes no different which

“And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭11:6-9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

That’s the only reason there is a difference In languages. God declared it my simple point is God speaks any and all language and is capable of reaching us now with the language we speak no matter what nation we were born into or language we speak because this os the other end of that bringing one understanding to all those nations and languages

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬
I trust God was able to get his word to us in the languages we speak that he created is my only point.

There’s no reason for us to go back to ancient language we only think we really grasp it anyways based on interpretations of language experts who already translated the Bible into the different languages it’s like a distraction from the same message that’s in every Bible in my thinking. But that’s just my own view


I’m not a linguistical expert that was my point I trust those who God worked trhrough to bring me an English Bible I don’t think man did that but God did that through man so it’s worth learning in my own language and not worrying if God was able to get it to us correctly.

I don’t think the evolution and how it happened ofnlanguage makes any difference at all We don’t speak or understand mans original langauge before he seperate the nations and tongues anyways we just observe history and parts of its evolution

for me it’s a rabbit hole and distraction that people interpret and figure out differently anyways no one actually knows what language was first. The most ancient written manuscripts don’t exist anymore the older ones exist in sandskrit , Aramaic and blends of ancient Hebrew language leading later to Greek leading into all nations and language when Gods word was sent to all people

my point is that it doesn’t change what’s there to learn any one language Hebrew , Septuagint , even sandskrit which no one actually understands with any confidence I think we think we know more than we do in the modern world but really I think we’re getting further away from any understanding as time goes on



People should follow thier own faith on matter like this if we doubt our Bible to begin with it seems beneficial to go searching for ancient languages I don’t though I trust it so I don’t find the value according to faith in liguistic studies . Others do I personally don’t I’m more concerned with learning what God is communicating To us in scripture

if you are actually witnessing to people that speak Hebrew, like in Israel, then probably pays to learn the language!

as with anyone who's doing Bible translations. Its much easier to read and understand scripture when its in your native tongue.

the point in all this learning isnt to elevate oneself. Rather its just establishing ones credentials like you havent just made up everything you learned, in most academia there is a process of peer review and its quite rigorous. Obtaining a degree isnt alway a piece of cake you have to put in the hours and do the long slog of studying.

Sometimes I think people dismiss our more educated brothers and sisters because they have never passed an exam themselves or had the opportunity or inclination to. Scholarship can be meticulous research and study it isnt slapdash multi choice questions. You do have to sacrifice a large part of your life to pursue it.

plus for most people training is not cheap and they do also need to work and pay tuition fees at the same time, Not everyone has priveliged access to a trust fund or parents willing to invest in an education or think its important. But with an education, you can never lose it because no matter what you learn, its the DISCIPLINE of learning that matters. Jesus called his disciples disciples why? cos they were learners, they were students. They were NOT a bunch of know it alls. they wanted to learn from Him.

Have a blessed day.

Formal education also isn't the same quality that it used to be. And with the opening of the internet, our access to information has opened up to everyone that knows how to look.

The world has changed and the way we look at formal education should change with it.

One thing I find especially curious is how so many Charismatics insist on the Holy Spirit only; yet on the other hand they're maniacal about their degrees and titles.

What's even more curious is how so many people fail—or refuse—to notice their glaring hypocrisy.

So true!
"Ignorance is championed only by the ignorant." (Amanuensis)