Seminary

[JonahMac]

Hey guys, I am finishing up my Bachelors degree in biblical studies this December and I plan on continuing my education and working on a Mdiv. What are some good seminary recommendations for me to check out. A few things I am looking for in a seminary are:

1. An online (or at least online leaning hybrid) school. I work at a church and have a family, I don’t plan or desire on uprooting to go to school. I also live in Boise Idaho so there’s no viable local nearby seminary options.

2. A school that won’t close too many doors for future ministry. This is one that is particularly hard for me as I wouldn’t mind going to a Presbyterian school but as a Baptist I fear it may close some doors for future opportunities at the churches I would like to pastor at. I don’t know if this is a genuine concern to have as I would hope a church would not overlook a pastor solely off of the school he went to, but it is a concern I have none the less.

3. I would like it to be credited. I personally would like to go to a school that I think I would learn the most from and not worry about it being credited but I also desire to be a seminary professor at some point and once again I feel like it would close doors unless I went to a credited seminary.

Looking forward to hearing your suggestions and let me know if my concerns are valid.

 

[SolaScriptura]

From where are you getting your degree in biblical studies?

Post automatically merged: Apr 30, 2026

If you’re a Baptist, then I think SBTS is the gold standard. You’ll be hard pressed to do better.

 

[JonahMac]

From where are you getting your degree in biblical studies?

Post automatically merged: Apr 30, 2026

If you’re a Baptist, then I think SBTS is the gold standard. You’ll be hard pressed to do better.

Liberty University Online but I’ve found it rather lack luster.

 

[py3ak]

City Seminary seems to match your criteria pretty well:
1. Online.
2. Program schedule designed for people studying while working.
3. Acceptable to non-Presbyterian backgrounds (your mileage may vary, but historically a high percentage of students have served in non-presbyterian churches).
4. Accredited (by ARTS).

I'm affiliated with it, but that's why I'm familiar with the profile.

 

[iainduguid]

Westminster Seminary has a top of the line online program, which serves a good number of Baptist students; I'd be happy to talk to you about it, if you would like to PM me.

 

[paranymph]

Plenty of Baptists go to RTS & WTS. SBTS would be a good choice, though it is not particularly Reformed.
For a 1689 seminary, I am teaching at IRBS and would encourage it as it is academically rigorous. CBTS also is fully online.

 

[JonahMac]

Plenty of Baptists go to RTS & WTS. SBTS would be a good choice, though it is not particularly Reformed.
For a 1689 seminary, I am teaching at IRBS and would encourage it as it is academically rigorous. CBTS also is fully online.

Is IRBS online and accredited?

 

[paranymph]

Is IRBS online and accredited?

It is available online. It is not currently accredited, but they are in process of doing so. If you DM me I can tell you who to contact for more info.

Admissions - International Reformed Baptist Seminary

International Reformed Baptist Seminary (IRBS) is an Independent, Confessional Reformed seminary based in Mansfield, TX with an ever expanding global reach.

irbs.org

 

[mpb]

I'm biased, but RTS-Orlando has a great hybrid MDiv. It's a well-run program. I'm about to finish mine soon. I know of a number of guys in the program currently who are Baptist — who will hopefully see the light — so it's at least an option for you.

 

[DanSSwing]

Hey guys, I am finishing up my Bachelors degree in biblical studies this December and I plan on continuing my education and working on a Mdiv. What are some good seminary recommendations for me to check out. A few things I am looking for in a seminary are:

1. An online (or at least online leaning hybrid) school. I work at a church and have a family, I don’t plan or desire on uprooting to go to school. I also live in Boise Idaho so there’s no viable local nearby seminary options.

2. A school that won’t close too many doors for future ministry. This is one that is particularly hard for me as I wouldn’t mind going to a Presbyterian school but as a Baptist I fear it may close some doors for future opportunities at the churches I would like to pastor at. I don’t know if this is a genuine concern to have as I would hope a church would not overlook a pastor solely off of the school he went to, but it is a concern I have none the less.

3. I would like it to be credited. I personally would like to go to a school that I think I would learn the most from and not worry about it being credited but I also desire to be a seminary professor at some point and once again I feel like it would close doors unless I went to a credited seminary.

Looking forward to hearing your suggestions and let me know if my concerns are valid.

I’m a Baptist going to a Presbyterian school (GPTS). I’m not really worried about the doors it closes because I really only need one door to be open, and I figure God can manage that.

 

[JonahMac]

I’m a Baptist going to a Presbyterian school (GPTS). I’m not really worried about the doors it closes because I really only need one door to be open, and I figure God can manage that.

That’s fair

Post automatically merged: May 1, 2026

I'm biased, but RTS-Orlando has a great hybrid MDiv. It's a well-run program. I'm about to finish mine soon. I know of a number of guys in the program currently who are Baptist — who will hopefully see the light — so it's at least an option for you.

Haha, yeah I’ve looked into RTS. One of my top contenders.

 

[darrellmaurina]

@JonahMac : Please take Dr. @iainduguid up on his offer to talk with you. He's on the faculty of Westminster-East. As he said, Westminster has been teaching non-Presbyterians for most of its history. Lots of Baptist and other non-OPC/PCA men got good educations there, and that's not a new development.

I was admitted there back in the 1980s and probably would have gone there if it had been financially possible to move to Philadelphia. It wasn't.

Online programs change a lot of things and open doors that didn't exist back when I was in your position as a recent college graduate. Online isn't ideal but the alternative for people in isolated places is often no theological education at all, or a non-Reformed education.

Westminster Seminary has a top of the line online program, which serves a good number of Baptist students; I'd be happy to talk to you about it, if you would like to PM me.

 

[JonahMac]

@JonahMac : Please take Dr. @iainduguid up on his offer to talk with you. He's on the faculty of Westminster-East. As he said, Westminster has been teaching non-Presbyterians for most of its history. Lots of Baptist and other non-OPC/PCA men got good educations there, and that's not a new development.

I was admitted there back in the 1980s and probably would have gone there if it had been financially possible to move to Philadelphia. It wasn't.

Online programs change a lot of things and open doors that didn't exist back when I was in your position as a recent college graduate. Online isn't ideal but the alternative for people in isolated places is often no theological education at all, or a non-Reformed education.

Thanks I reached out to him a while back.