JUC Online Semester Learning

Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00pm-11:15pm Eastern Time

Instructor: Dr. Paul Wright

Offered as an introduction to ancient Egypt, this course surveys Egypt's history and culture from the Predynastic Period (4th millennium B.C.) through the Ptolemaic Period (30 B.C.). Particular emphasis will be placed on the connection of Egypt with the land of Canaan and Israel, as well as on the connection of persons and events mentioned in the Bible with ancient Egypt.

3 credit hours. Offered online only.
Full semester course. Some dates may be adjusted due to the instructor's schedule.

Faculty Biography

Dr. Paul Wright: B.A., Bethel University; M.A., Institute of Holy Land Studies / Jerusalem University College; M.A., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; M.Phil, Ph.D., Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion. 10th President, Jerusalem University College (2002-2021). Visiting faculty, Tantur Ecumenical Institute for Theological Studies (2002-2020). Excavations at Giloh, Ramat Rahel, and Tel Rehov. Ordained minister. Published author. Began teaching at JUC in 1996.

Wednesdays 11:00am-01:30pm Eastern Time

Instructors: Dr. Chris McKinny and Dr. Kyle Keimer

This course will focus on the history and archaeology of the Judean Shephelah from the Early Bronze Age through the Roman Period. The Judean Shephelah is a transitional region comprised of a series of wide east-west valleys and foothills that separate the hill country in the east and the coastal plain in the west. During much of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament period, the Shephelah was a border region between biblical Philistia and Judah, and later it witnessed interaction between Phoenicians, Idumeans, and Jews. It is the setting of many narratives of major biblical heroes and villains such as Samson, Samuel, Saul, Goliath, David, Shishak, Asa, Hazael, Hezekiah, Sennacherib, Josiah, and Nebuchadnezzar. Beyond what the biblical text has to tell us about this region, the Shephelah has been one of the most intensively excavated regions in all of Israel – which itself is one of the most excavated places on earth. Dr. Chris McKinny and Dr. Kyle Keimer have spent many years excavating at various sites in the Shephelah, working alongside other archaeologists. In this course, they will present on the archaeology and history of the Shephelah and introduce you to other leading experts on the region.

3 credit hours. Offered online only.
Full semester course.

Faculty Biography

Dr. Chris McKinny: B.A., The Master's College; M.A., Jerusalem University College; M.A., Bar Ilan University; Ph.D., Bar Ilan University. Research Fellow, Gesher Media. Excavations at Tel Burna, Tell es-Safi, Kiriath-jearim, and Horvat Eres. Senior staff member, Tel Burna Archaeological Project. Ordained minister. Extensive publications. Began teaching at JUC in 2021.

Dr. Kyle Keimer: B.A., The Ohio State University; M.A., Wheaton College; Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles. Honorary Senior Research Fellow, Macquarie University. Co-Director of the Khirbet el-Ra'i excavations. Co-Host of OnScript: The Biblical World podcast. Excavations at Khirbet el-Ra'i, Azekah, Jaffa, Hazor, and Caesarea Maritima. Extensive publications. Begins teaching at JUC in 2022.

Mondays 12:30pm-03:00pm Eastern Time

Instructors: Dr. John Monson

After revisiting the land through a virtual study tour, students delve deeper into the original context of Scripture and the ways in which the land and its lessons can be incorporated into ministry, Bible study, and teaching. Case studies from both regional and biblical perspectives build upon the JUC short-term and Physical Settings courses. Note: For those who have not studied at JUC, prior completion of the field trip materials is required and can be counted as a substitute assignment (Regions on the Run, Regional Study Guide, and maps).

3 credit hours. Offered online only.
Full semester course.

Faculty Biography

Dr. John Monson: B.A., Wheaton College; M.A., Institute of Holy Land Studies; graduate studies, Hebrew University; M.A., Ph.D., Harvard University. Associate Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Excavations at Jerusalem, Har-Tuv, Timnah, Lachish, Qeiyafa, Abel Beth-Maacah, Ashkelon. Published author. Began teaching at JUC in 1988.

Tuesdays 09:30am-12:00pm Eastern Time

Instructor: Chandler Collins

A study of the physical features of the land of the Bible with an emphasis on the geographical elements of various regions and how geography influenced and affected aspects of biblical and extra-biblical history. Relevant archaeological, historical and biblical material is integrated into the lectures and field studies where it is correlated with the sites visited, the ancient network of roads and geographical elements of the land. Online only. To apply this course toward the JUC M.A. BHG program, all in-land field studies must be completed within 1 year of the end date of this course.

4 credit hours. Offered online only.
Full semester course.

Faculty Biography

Chandler Collins: B.A., Moody Bible Institute; graduate studies, Jerusalem University College; M.A., M.A., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Ph.D. Candidate, Bar Ilan University. Excavations at Khirbet Qeiyafa and Abel Beth Maacah. Administrative Dean at Jerusalem University College. Began teaching at JUC in 2017.

Fridays 08:00am-10:30am Eastern Time

Instructor: Rebecca Pettit

The course is an introduction to the historical, geographical, and social settings of the age into which Jesus was born. Lectures will focus on the history of the Second Temple Period and the years after the destruction of the Second Temple (586 BCE-120 CE), a time of crucial formation for both Judaism and Christianity. This course will thoughtfully consider the cultural background of the society into which Jesus was born and raised and provide the student with a method to enhance biblical study and foundational hermeneutic through archaeology, geography, and textual sources.

3 credit hours. Offered online only.
Full semester course.

Faculty Biography

Rebecca Pettit: B.A., Northland International University; M.A., M.A., Jerusalem University College; M.A., Bar-Ilan University. Award-winning filmmaker. Docent at The Writers’ Gathering. Excavations at Tel Gezer. Published author. Began teaching at JUC in 2018.