What is a seminary?

what does the bible say?

A seminary is a graduate-level institution designed to deepen understanding of Scripture, theology, and religious tradition, equipping students for ministry and personal spiritual growth. The Bible highlights the importance of rigorous study, from Israelite kings copying and meditating on the Law (Deuteronomy 17:18–19) to the Bereans examining Paul’s teachings with eagerness (Acts 17:11). Seminaries create a structured environment to cultivate knowledge, faith, and the skills needed to teach and lead others effectively. Students in seminary study Scripture, ancient languages, church history, and theology, sharpening understanding and application of God’s Word (Acts 19:9–10; Matthew 22:37). Seminaries prepare leaders who faithfully share and live out God’s message. With programs ranging from two to six years, seminaries combine rigorous study and practical preparation for those called to ministry or committed to deepening their spiritual life. Seminaries exemplify how structured, intentional study can cultivate a lifelong love for God and His Word.

from the old testament

• In Deuteronomy 17:18–19 Israel’s future kings were instructed, “when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them.” Despite the fact that the king was not a priest and would not be performing any religious tasks, his position of leadership required that he have a deep understanding of God.

from the new testament

• Even if we are not trying to be a pastor, a chaplain or a full-time ministry worker, every believer can benefit from studying Scripture. We may also get a richer understanding of Christianity through reading about church history or discussing theological concepts. God calls His people to love Him with all their minds (Matthew 22:37), and one way we can pursue this is through attending a formal learning center like a seminary.
• We can be good students of God’s Word through either formal or informal education, but either way, we should strive to be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, who received Paul’s teachings “with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily” to see if what he was saying was actually accurate. This is the type of dedication we should strive for when it comes to exegeting God’s Word.
• In Acts 19:9–10, we see Paul daily discussing Scripture in a lecture hall for two years to help others underst and the word of the Lord: " [He] took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks." It is good to have profitable conversations about God’s Word in a community of people who are passionate about learning, and seminary is often a great place to do this.

implications for today

A seminary is a graduate-level educational institution that prepares students for a career in ministry. The term seminary comes from the Latin word seminarium meaning “plant nursery” where conditions are maintained that are ideal for seeds to grow into hearty plants. The Council of Trent, a response to the Protestant Reformation in the mid-1500s, first called for the establishment of modern seminaries where a local clergyman’s seed of faith and understanding could be grown into a strong and hearty faith that kept in line with Catholic doctrine and could then be used to nourish the faith of his parishioners. Catholicism, Protestantism, and Judaism all maintain their own seminaries today that prepare students for the ordination process to serve as clergy within the relevant tradition. Sometimes these schools are called a school of theology or a divinity school. At seminary, students learn Scripture, ancient languages, theology, philosophy, and religious history among other things. Nowadays, classes are taught both in person and online, and most programs require two to six years of study to complete. For those who are pursuing ministry as a career, these schools provide preparation for them to serve in a professional capacity. Even those who do not serve in ministry professionally should be eager to engage their minds in loving God by knowing Him better. Seminaries offer one way for people to enhance their study and provide the training necessary for those who are called into ministry as a career.

Recap

understand

• Seminaries provide in-depth study of God’s Word, theology, and religious tradition for ministry or personal spiritual growth.
• Seminaries follow the biblical model of disciplined, lifelong learning.
• Seminaries prepare students to teach, lead, and live out God’s Word effectively.

reflect

• How are you currently cultivating a deeper understanding of Scripture in your own life, and what might a structured approach like seminary add to that?
• How can you emulate the Bereans’ eagerness to examine God’s Word even in seminary?
• How does loving God with all your mind influence the way you live out your faith and share it with others?

engage

• How does disciplined, communal study of Scripture, like in seminary, strengthen believers?
• How can structured learning and theological discussion help believers apply God’s Word more faithfully in today’s world?
• How might pursuing deeper knowledge of Scripture and theology shape the way we lead, teach, or influence others spiritually?