ABTS believes in the holistic formation of leaders and seeks to help transform its students not only intellectually, but also affectively and behaviorally. The curriculum is not based on creating theologians who are detached from the realities of life and of the local church. Rather, it is based on the importance of theological reflection on the local context of the church so that it effectively serves its community. ABTS does not seek to create identical copies of students. Rather, it respects the individuality of each student’s thinking and personality as created by God. ABTS seeks to refine students’ characters through holistic formation, critical thinking, academic research, and theological training.

ABTS works with students through its theological program and faculty to theologically prepare students, as best as possible, without requiring them to leave their ministry, family, or work. ABTS accompanies students throughout the whole period of study to enable them to reach the peak of their potential and fulfill God’s calling for their life. This will reflect positively on their church in its local Middle Eastern context. Because ABTS understands this context, it takes it into account in the formation process. In order to achieve this desired outcome, ABTS has developed its curriculum according to four central lenses: the biblical theological lens, the historical theological lens, the socio-cultural lens, and the personal ministry lens. The ABTS curriculum is born out of its environment, and it seeks to meet the needs of its community.

The first and second years of study each include three basic modules that form the solid theological ground for the subsequent years. Students begin their first year with a prep phase in September followed by a two-week residency period in October where students are introduced to the faculty and their colleagues before they start with the basics of academic research, which will accompany them throughout their study at the seminary. After the two-week residency, students return to their countries to continue their journey of theological education. After the first year and second years, students move on to years 3, 4, and 5. Each of these years includes two core modules, two elective periods, one optional two-week residency or elective period, and some other practical components. A student must complete 180 credits in order to obtain a Bachelor of Theology.

A student needs a minimum of 5 years to complete the Bachelor of Theology.

The student needs to spend 15-20 hours of studying per week.

The vision of ABTS is to serve the Church by training faithful men and women for ministry. If you are a servant in a church or Christian institution, you have their support, and you feel the Lord's calling to study theology for building the body of Christ, then you are a potential candidate for study at ABTS. The new delivery method aims to theologically equip men and women involved in ministry and work, simultaneously, without the need to leave their ministries or jobs.

The Arab Baptist Theological Seminary is an accredited member of the European Council for Theological Education (ECTE) and the Middle East and North Africa Association for Theological Education (MENATE). Our current degrees were accredited in 2015 by the ECTE and re-accredited in 2019. We will also fulfill the requirements of the European Council for Theological Education in order to certify this degree just like its predecessors.

The Seminary offers a Master of Theology degree that students can pursue to further their theological education. Furthermore, because the Seminary’s programs are accredited by the European Council for Theological Education (see Question 7), students are able to pursue a master’s degree after a bachelor’s degree and then a doctorate in theology with colleges all over the world that adopt the same European standards.

Programs currently avaliable:

Certificate in Ministry - Online

Bachelor of Theology - Integrated

Master of Religion in Middle Eastern and North African Studies - Hybrid

Master of Theology - Online

ABTS believes in the ministry of the Church as an integral part of its vision. Therefore, it covers more than 90% of the cost of its students’ education through the generous support of its partners, which makes the study accessible to emerging servants in the MENA region. With that, the student is required to pay the value of 5 US dollars for each credit, in addition to the cost of a ticket to and from Beirut at least twice throughout the program, once during their first year of study, and once during years 3, 4, or 5. This support is only provided for students from the Middle East and North Africa and does not include students from countries beyond this geographical area.