What Do You Study in Bible College?

What Do You Study at Calvary Chapel Bible College

When people hear the phrase “Bible college,” one of the first questions they ask is simple and reasonable: What do you actually study there?

The short answer is exactly what the name suggests. You study the Bible. But the fuller answer is richer, deeper, and more practical than many people expect.

At Calvary Chapel Bible College, the Bible is not just one subject among many. It is our primary textbook, the center of our curriculum, and the foundation from which every other area of study flows.

The Bible as the Center of the Curriculum

In a Bible college setting, Scripture is not treated as a supporting discipline. It is the main course.

At CCBC, more than half of the courses in both the Associate of Biblical Studies and Bachelor of Biblical Studies programs are focused directly on the Bible itself.

Students spend a significant portion of their academic time reading, studying, and engaging the Scriptures in depth.

This includes:

Survey courses that trace the storyline of the Old and New Testaments
Book studies that slow down and work carefully through individual biblical books
Thematic and theological courses that examine major biblical doctrines within their scriptural context

The goal is not simply familiarity with the Bible, but fluency. Students are formed with both the instinct and the ability to open the Scriptures and inquire of the living God.

What Kinds of Bible Courses Do Students Actually Take?

When we say students spend most of their time studying the Bible, we mean it quite literally.

At CCBC, students take a range of courses designed to help them understand the whole counsel of God, not just isolated passages.

This includes:

Bible courses, such as

Genesis
Old Testament History
Old Testament Prophecy
The Gospels
Acts
Romans
Revelation
Old Testament Survey I & II
New Testament Survey I & II

Foundation courses, such as

Bible Study Methods
Storyline of the Bible
Theology

Ministry Formation courses, such as

Intro to Christian Ministry
Christian Living
Ministry Electives

Rather than treating the Bible as a collection of disconnected texts, these courses train students to see how every book points to Christ and contributes to God’s unfolding work in history.

Learning How to Read and Teach the Bible

Studying the Bible is more than accumulating information. It also involves learning how to read it well.

Bible college students are trained in foundational tools for biblical interpretation, often referred to as hermeneutics or Bible study methods. These courses equip students to handle Scripture carefully, responsibly, and faithfully.

Students learn how to:

Observe the text closely, paying attention to structure, language, and literary features
Interpret passages within their historical, cultural, and canonical context
Trace arguments and themes across paragraphs, chapters, and entire books
Apply Scripture faithfully without flattening or misusing the text

For those called to teach, preach, disciple, or lead others in the Word, these tools are essential. But even for students who never stand behind a pulpit, learning how to read the Bible well shapes a lifetime of faithful discipleship.

At CCBC, we often say that we major in the Scriptures. That commitment includes forming students who know not only what the Bible says, but how to listen to it rightly.

Theology Rooted in Scripture

Bible college is also where students begin to think carefully about what Christians believe and why.

Courses in theology explore doctrines such as God, Christ, salvation, humanity, the church, and the last things. These are not abstract topics removed from the Bible. They arise from Scripture and return students back to Scripture again and again.

Rather than treating theology as speculation, Bible college theology is grounded, pastoral, and doxological. Students learn to see doctrine as a way of faithfully summarizing and confessing what God has revealed in His Word.

This approach helps students grow in discernment, clarity, and confidence, especially in a cultural moment where many voices compete for authority.

Christian Living and Ministry Foundations

In addition to Bible and theology courses, Bible college students study the shape of the Christian life and the work of the church.

These courses address questions such as:

What does it mean to follow Jesus faithfully today?
How does spiritual formation happen in community?
What is the mission of the church in the world?
How do calling, character, and service intersect?

At CCBC, these classes are framed by a simple conviction. Not every Christian is called to vocational ministry, but every Christian is called to serve. Bible college exists to provide a biblical foundation for every calling, whether that calling leads into pastoral ministry, missions, worship, the marketplace, or faithful presence in everyday life.

General Education Through a Biblical Lens

One of the more surprising aspects of Bible college for many students is general education.

Bible colleges still teach subjects such as writing, communication, history, and other foundational disciplines. The difference is not whether these subjects are studied, but how they are approached.

At Calvary Chapel Bible College, general education courses are taught from a biblical perspective. This means students are encouraged to think Christianly about the world, culture, truth, and vocation. Scripture shapes the way questions are asked and the way answers are evaluated.

Rather than separating faith from learning, Bible college integrates them. Students are formed with a Christian worldview that carries into every area of life.

Bible College is More Than Information

It is important to say clearly that Bible college is not just about acquiring knowledge.

The aim is formation. Studying Scripture in community, learning from faculty who are pastors, missionaries, and scholars, and engaging the Word alongside others who are seeking to follow Christ creates a unique environment for growth.

Students are shaped not only by what they study, but by how they study and with whom they study. Community becomes both a classroom and a laboratory for spiritual growth.

So, What Do You Study in Bible College?

You study the Bible deeply and carefully.
You learn how to read, understand, and teach Scripture faithfully.
You engage theology rooted in God’s Word.
You explore Christian living, ministry, and mission.
You approach every subject through a biblical lens.

At its best, Bible college provides a foundation that lasts long after graduation. It forms men and women who are established in Christ, confident in the Scriptures, and empowered for witness, wherever God calls them.

If you have ever wondered whether Bible college is only for pastors or missionaries, the answer is no. It is for anyone who wants to build their life on the Word of God and live faithfully in response to His call.