Online Undergraduate Certificate in
Contextual Theology
⚜ Rarely Offered in Christian Universities, Bible Colleges or Seminaries
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Undergraduate Certificate in
Contextual Theology?
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The Undergraduate Certificate in Contextual Theology challenges students to examine and evaluate their own situational contexts in light of the biblical context. The program equips students to understand how theology has been done and lived out in a variety of contexts, including the first-century biblical context and different global, racial, ethnic, culture, and worldview contexts. The purpose is to prepare students to serve God and to participate in his redemptive mission in the unique context where God has called them.
A critical concern for most students is an unawareness of their own situational contexts, which largely shape and inform their theological presuppositions and spiritual formation and practice. The Undergraduate Certificate in Contextual Theology leads students to recognize, study, and evaluate their own particular contexts and prepare them for missional service in that context or other contexts where God may call them through an understanding of how theology has been done and lived out in different historical and global contexts.
Program Features
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Integrated practicums allow you to gain valuable real-world experience
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Learn from academic practitioners from around the world
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Credits earned in this certificate program can apply to a Missional University Bachelor degree program
Course Effort
Course Length
Credits Required
Program Cost
What Will I Study?
We offer the most comprehensive approach to studying the scriptures in the mission of God.
Examines the biblical theological foundations of God's plan for global redemption throughout the Old and New Testament. The student will explore the eternal purpose of God for humanity, the state of those who have not heard the gospel, and the application of the missional mandate to various cultures.
Explores key theories and practices necessary for local (indigenous) communities to receive the Christian faith and apply its message to their life contexts, expressing it through local cultural forms and traditions, reflecting upon it in writings, art, music, drama, dance, etc., while addressing issues, needs, problems and questions which have arisen within and are pertinent to those specific contexts.
Explores the communal nature of the theological process and identifies the role and necessity of the local faith community in theological education. The student will identify basic skills for cultivating healthy learning environments within the local, missional community and discover that this is the essential theological process.
Various models of contextualization throughout the New Testament will be explored. The student will survey: Jesus’ engagement of his context and his relation to the powers, the Apostles’ various cross-cultural experiences in the book of Acts, and Paul’s contextualization with the Epistles.
Explores Christologies found in non-European cultures. The student will gain an understanding and appreciation for how the doctrine of Christ has been developed theologically, expressed ecclesiastically, and applied ethically in majority world contexts.
An exploration into various contextual approaches to the Bible, mission, and congregational studies. It will identify different models of contextual theology, and explore the way in which the classic theological disciplines of biblical studies and systematic theology relate to and interact with the theory and practice of contextual theology.
Optional Additional Courses
Examines the development of Christian theology in modern Africa, with attention to political and cultural issues behind the various expressions of African Christian theologies. The origin, motivations, and legitimacies for doing African theologies will be explored, and the missionary character of the contemporary quest for African Christian theologies will be emphasized.
In light of the shift of focus in Global Christianity from the North to the Global South, this course focuses on the Asian context in exploring the paths Christian theology has treaded. Various current trends in theology will be compared in their diversity in order to help the student learn to do robust theology in context.
Surveys the development of the Latin American theological panorama. The student will explore the development of Latin American theology from the Conciliar, Evangelical and Roman Catholic perspectives, including a brief introduction to Liberation Theologies and the contextual theological thrust behind the development of the Latin American Theological Fraternity.
Introduces and explores the diverse new religious movement known as “Messianic Judaism,” that combines Jewish traditions with the belief that Jesus Christ is the Jewish Messiah. Through select readings and discussion, students will understand the beliefs of the Messianic Jewish community and the theological challenges, questions and issues with which Messianic Jews grapple. Students will gain an understanding of ways in which faith in Jesus Christ can flourish, in which missional churches may be planted, and Christians may establish relational rapport in Jewish contexts.
A critical theological reflection in light of the deconstruction practices of postmodern thought. Students will identify and contrast key aspects of biblical, orthodox, and historical Christianity within the context of cultural relativism and pluralism. This course will help students name their own practical theology within this current theological reality.
When Can I Get Started?
We offer multiple start dates each year to give you flexibility in your education, life and work schedules.
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How Much Will it Cost?
We offer tuition based upon country of residence. According to the Human Development Index, all countries around the world fall into one of four categories:
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(Tier 1) - Very High Human Development
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(Tier 2) High Human Development
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(Tier 3) Medium Human Development
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(Tier 4) Low Human Development
Our tiered global tuition makes higher education affordable for everyone world wide.
TIER COUNTRIES
100% Tuition
$295
per credit hour
3 credit course
$885
TIER COUNTRIES
80% Tuition
$236
per credit hour
3 credit course
$708
TIER COUNTRIES
60% Tuition
$177
per credit hour
3 credit course
$531
TIER COUNTRIES
40% Tuition
$118
per credit hour
3 credit course
$354
Tiered tuition based on country of origin and scholarships available. Find your country of residence here for more information.
Tuition may be further reduced by participating in the Sponsorship Program.