NationsUniversity's Approach to Scripture

Two Assumptions

Many aspiring students ask about NationsUniversity’s approach to Scripture. There are two commonly held basic assumptions about the Bible. (1) The content is historically correct, and its message is relevant within proper contexts. (2) The content is flawed, biased, and relevant only as determined by human judgment. The first does not guarantee correct interpretation, but it makes it possible. The second closes the door prior to critical analysis.

It is the first of these assumptions that guides the NU curriculum and instruction. But this is only a general assumption about the biblical text. The student must be willing to engage the biblical text with an openness that allows honest investigation and critical analysis. This openness is essential because NU challenges inherited or supposed conclusions that cannot be justified by the biblical text. Further, NU is equipping students to exegete, then apply the biblical message. Only then can the power and relevance of Scripture become known.

Questions

Questions such as, “But what do you teach?” become irrelevant, because they set aside learning in favor of pre-determined conclusions.  To start with “theology” is to start with human rationale. This is the wrong place to begin, unless one’s personal theology becomes a hypothesis to test exegesis.

The truth is that many conflicting theological stances are rarely questioned by those who hold them.  The stances receive their authority based on tradition, acceptance, and lack of critical analysis. A valid theology is one that starts with sound exegesis—i.e., with textual implications and what a particular text will allow. That is why NU is attractive to students of diverse religious orientations. It does not start with humanly-derived theological explanations but with the biblical text.

Watch this video from Chancellor Dr. Mac Lynn to learn more about how the curriculum was developed and NU’s approach to scripture.

NationsU personnel have spent twenty years researching, developing, launching, enhancing and demonstrating that its offerings are credible, effective, and biblical. Visit our Academics Overview page.

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