JUST THE BIBLE ACADEMY FALL CLASSES

Learn the biblical languages online in seminary-quality classes. These are face-to-face seminary-quality classes.

Classes start the weekend of September 17.

What you will need:
1. High speed internet connection.
2. Webcam.
3. Textbooks. (Care is taken to pick books that are economical, as well as accurate and thorough.)
4. Computer with printer.

What you will need to do:
1. Set up your computer with OOVOO, a free service that allows video calls. Pick the free option. You will still be able to see the instructor and the electronic chalkboard. To do this go to oovoo.com.
2. Go to this website philperkins.wordpress.com to view class offerings.
3. Contact me at philperkins99@yahoo.com.
4. Set up a time at least a week before the start of class to check out our oovoo connections, register over oovoo, and pick a class time.

What this will cost you:
1. The textbooks are "required", but in many cases we can work around them if you don't feel you can afford them. In special cases we can provide them for you. In any case, NEVER let that stop you from seeking God by learning more of His word.
2. You will need to pay for your own internet and equipment.
3. For tuition, search the Scriptures. Find what Moses charged Joshua, what Paul charged Timothy, and what Jesus charged Peter and John. Add those amounts up and divide by four to find the average. Pay me that amount.

Changes at JTBA:
1. Lesson plans will now be available in PDF. Instead of getting them as attachments in your email, you can access them online more quickly.
2. I am currently working on an Aramaic module. After completing your work in Hebrew, you can learn Aramaic easily. This module will be only three weeks, with an option to continue and read all the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament in class which will likely take an additional 3-5 weeks.

REGISTRATION FOR CLASSES STARTING IN MARCH, 2010

Class Registration.

As you may know we want to start classes on the weekend of March 20. Before that, I want to have a face-to-face on oovoo with each student. At this time we will choose a class time that’s at the student’s convenience and exchange emails, phone numbers, and oovoo user names. Also, at that time, we can spend time getting to know each other a bit. I’d like to know your goals for learning.

Saturday, March 13, is the day I’m going to make myself available for an oovoo face-to-face. From 11 AM to 1 PM Mountain Standard (That’s 1-3 Easter, 12-2, Central, and 10-12 Pacific.) Time, I’ll be on line with oovoo. My user name is philperkins. Add me as one of your oovoo contacts. Then, call me at 406-672-7450 to set up a specific time. If the two hour window listed here isn’t convenient for you, simply call me and set up another time and we can do it any time that weekend. If that weekend isn’t good for you, then we can set up on another day. I want to do this so that we don’t have glitches during the first class times.

Here are the steps to do before you call and set up the face-to-face:

1. Go to the Catalog of Courses and choose your class(es) here.

2. After choosing your class(es), go to the Course Descriptions here and find your course.

3. Evaluate whether or not you can afford the costs of the books, computer and internet, and the time commitment.

4. Decide on a time or two you can do a face-to-face to register over oovoo.

5. Call me.

Thanks, Phil.

CLASSES STARTING IN MARCH

Classes will be starting in March for Just the Bible Academy. Learn the biblical languages, hermeneutics, and apologetics. Check here for course descriptions and class times and schedules.

DOCTRINAL STATEMENT TO COME FOR JTB INSTITUTE

Blogging is one thing. Teaching is another. So, in preparation for starting classes in Just The Bible Institute, it would be wrong not to offer a doctrinal statement. My doctrine is right in line with the Baptist Confession of 1689, with two exceptions. First, I don't believe that Christians are bound by Scripture to practice Sunday "sabbath" at all. And neither does any modern pastor. If one says he does, simply ask him at Sunday service who is going to make his lunch this fine "Lord's Day". Watch him squirm. It reminds of that passage about a man's belly being his god. Either he expects his wife to sin or he will pay a cook, waitress, and dishwasher to sin. In addition, I would recommend the following four passages for consideration:

1. Romans 14:1--6. This needs no explanation. Simply read it. The only commandment here in regard to the practice of keeping sabbaths is not to make it an issue one way or another. This is the kind of judging prohibited in Scripture.

2. John 16:2. This is a word from Jesus to His disciples. If they were kicked out of the synagogues, weren't they originally worshipping on Saturday? Were they sinning? At the very least, this shows convincingly that early Christians continued meeting on Saturdays with their Hebrew brethren until the unsaved Hebrews kicked out those who followed Jesus for their insistent worship of Him.

3. Acts 13--22. Here Paul met with his Hebrew brethren and worshipped God there. When it was the proper time in the service, he spoke of the Messiah Who came and was the Lamb. Did he sin? Was he feigning worship?

4. Heberws 4, especially verses 9--10 and compare to Hebrews 10:26--31. The sabbath of the New Covenant is rest from works for salvation. Forsaking this sabbath results in irrevokable eternal death.

Please note that I will not separate if someone disagrees with me here and neither will I argue about it beyond what is necessary to make clear that I am following my conscience, guided by my best current understanding of Scripture and this post should do that. Also note that I do NOT deny the Scriputral command to meet regularly with other holy ones and if one wished to do so on Sunday, that's absolutely fine. Why not?

Second, I don't believe that baptism has to be by dunking. Any washing will do. For this, I would remind you that if following the exact mode of this ritual is essential, did you wear sandals to your baptism and do it outside in a pond, lake, or river? If not, are you ready to do a redo? And do you reenact the Last Supper? Do you make everyone get on one side of the table for pictures?
For positive biblical indication that baptism includes washings that are far less that total immersion, read Mark 7:4 and Luke 11:38. But do so in the original. You may be surprised.

In Christ,
Phil Perkins.

JUST THE BIBLE ACADEMY MISSION STATEMENT

This fall will be the beginning of something new I'm doing. God willing, I'm starting something I call Just the Bible Academy. It will be unaccredited and unofficial. It will be an alternative to going to seminary or Bible college. It will give the student a better understanding of the original languages of Scripture than most seminaries. It will give the student a MUCH better understanding of Scripture than most Bible colleges and seminaries. It won't leave the student in debt. It will be done live and interactively over the internet, available to individuals and churches. It will be centered on two things: The Bible and how to study it for yourself.

Here is the mission statement in embryonic form. I will publish it again with a fuller explanation of the twelve things I've listed here.

FOUR OBJECTIVES.
1. To replace of the education of pastors by faceless, unaccountable institutions with the discipleship by pastors and godly men in the churches, as the New Testament example demands.
2. To return the education of pastors to biblicity of content.
3. To educate Christians in the languages of Scripture.
4. To offer in-depth, systematic Bible study and the training to study the Bible in the original languages to the entire church.

EIGHT BENEFITS OF THE FOUR OBJECTIVES.
1. Pastors will have more knowledge of Scripture.
2. Pastors will be more accountable, because other men in the congregation will be more informed in Scripture.
3. Trainers of pastors will be more accountable, because they will be in the local church, not financed by the local church, and working in a distant city.
4. The resources of the local church will be saved to reach their own city or support missionaries, rather than supporting teachers and campuses unnecessarily.
5. Money won't be the motivation to train pastors. Love for God and the disciple will be the motivation.
6. Pastors will be more free to be biblical because they can be free from financial obligations.
7. More men will be able to train for the pastorate because they won't need money, opening the pastorate to men of God's choosing, whether rich or poor.
8. More Christians will be able to evaluate modern translations, many of which aren't honestly done.