Are you ready for seminary? As one explores the options of a seminary education, questions about preparation become a major concern.

Many incoming students have asked what they should do in order to prepare for seminary. To that end, WSC has created this resource in order to help students get the most out of their time at WSC.

Preparing for seminary can be divided into three major areas: ecclesiastics, academics and languages.

Ecclesiastics
WSC recommends preparing for seminary by developing strong relations and personal growth within a Christian church. It is within this context that one will grow in the knowledge of God’s revealed word and be built up into maturity. Within the Church where God’s word is preached, all members of Christ’s body will grow in Christ-likeness, develop important spiritual disciplines and be able to test gifts for the service of others. A consistent prayer life, study of the scriptures, and involvement with and commitment to a Christian congregation are integral and vital to your preparation for seminary and to your own spiritual life in Christ.

Academics
It is also important to have strong academic knowledge in areas related to Biblical studies, such as history, philosophy and language studies. A strong understanding of the liberal arts in general not only helps in understanding language, literature and historical contexts, but also helps establish clear, concise, and cogent writing skills that are essential to the completion of a seminary education. WSC also requires, unless under special circumstances, the completion of a bachelor’s degree. A degree within the liberal arts is preferable, but not required.

Languages
WSC places a high emphasis on primary sources in original languages and strongly believes that knowledge of both Greek and Hebrew is essential for proper biblical exegesis. Although WSC offers Greek and Hebrew courses, preparation in these languages before seminary will be extremely beneficial for you.

We suggest the following resources for Greek and Hebrew: S.M. Baugh, A New Testament Greek Primer and A First John Reader and Mark D. Futato, Beginning Biblical Hebrew.  These are the primary texts used for language study at WSC.

There are many reading materials that can help you develop your theological categories so you will get the most out of your seminary education from the beginning. This suggested reading list is a great place to start.