Criswell College

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Criswell College is a Christian college and divinity school in Dallas, Texas. Previously known as The Criswell Center for Biblical Studies and later Criswell Bible Institute, the college is named after its founder, Dr. W.A. Criswell, long-time pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas.

The first classes began on January 12, 1971. The college has over 400 students from more than 30 states and 30 countries. The college offers diplomas, A.A., B.A., M.A. and M.Div. degrees.

Criswell College is an affiliate of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.

Criswell College is known for its emphasis on sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for training students to teach and preach the Bible. They put an emphasis on evangelism, the original languages, Biblical inerrancy, and viewing academic disciplines through a Christian worldview.



Contents

[edit] Presidents

Dr. Jerry A. Johnson was elected the sixth President of Criswell College on December 5, 2003. He graduated from Criswell College in 1986, receiving the Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies degree. In 1997, he received a Master of Arts in Historical and Theological Studies from Conservative Baptist Seminary in Denver, Colorado, and in 2003, he received his Ph.D. in Christian Ethics from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Johnson previously served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Southern Seminary and as Dean of Boyce College. Past presidents include Dr. Richard Wells, Dr. Richard Melick, Dr. Paige Patterson, and Dr. H. Leo Eddleman.

[edit] Degrees

Criswell offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in the subjects of:

Master of Arts in the subjects of:

Master of Divinity (M.Div) degree with concentrations in:

[edit] Academics

Criswell College is considered highly educational for the following reasons:

  • A high PhD-to-student ratio
  • A well-trained and experienced faculty from respected institutions including: Oxford, Yale, Wheaton, Penn, University of Wales, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dallas Theological Seminary, The University of Texas, Southern Methodist University, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, etc.
  • A requirement of intense theological study
  • A requirement for students to learn the Biblical languages
  • A travel program to Oxford University for a Distinguished Scholars Term where students have one-on-one tutorials with an Oxford professor
  • A status of fully accredited with the regional accrediting agency (SACS)

[edit] KCBI

President Jerry A. Johnson has his own radio program on the Criswell Radio Network (made up of four radio stations across Texas and Oklahoma, including KCBI in Dallas, one of the largest Christian radio stations in the country) called Jerry Johnson Live, a Christian Worldview radio program. Dr. Johnson has hosted some of the most popular guests in the country and discusses the news from a Christian perspective.

[edit] Pasche Institute

The Pasche Institute was started by Prof. Jim R. Sibley and Dr. Todd Bradley as a Master of Arts degree program for Jewish studies. Prof. Sibley was named the first director of the Pasche Institute in 2006. Jewish courses are also offered in the undergraduate and M.Div programs.

[edit] Faculty and alumni works

Dr. W.A. Criswell

  • Why I Preach the Bible Is Literally True
  • Criswell's Guidebook For Pastors
  • Standing on the Promises: The Autobiography of W. A. Criswell

Dr. Daniel L. Akin

  • A Theology for the Church (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2007) ISBN 080542640X. General Editor
  • God on Sex: The Creator's Ideas About Love, Intimacy, and Marriage (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2003) ISBN 0805425969.
  • NAC: 1,2,and 3 John Commentary

Dr. R. Alan Streett

  • The Effective Invitaion

Dr. Lamar Eugene Cooper, Sr.

  • NAC: Ezekiel Commentary

Prof. Daniel Streett

  • Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible: Philimon

Richard Wells & Boyd Luter

  • Inspired Preaching

Steven Zarlengo

  • Daughter of Zion: Jerusalem's Past, Present, and Future. (Dallas: Joseph Publishing, 2007).

[edit] Notable alumni

  • Dr. David Allen; Dean of the School of Theology Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
  • Dr. Daniel L. Akin; President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
  • Dr. Jerry Johnson; President of Criswell College
  • Dr. Ergun Caner; President of Liberty Seminary
  • Mark Tabb; a popular author, having written two New York Times Bestsellers
  • Dan Dumas; Vice President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
  • Tony Nolan; vocational evangelist
  • K.P. Yohannan; Founder and President of Gospel for Asia
  • Numerous professors, pastors, and leaders across the Southern Baptist Convention and across the country

[edit] External links