Class Schedule

16 & 30 Mar, 13 & 27 Apr, 11 May 2027

Day
Tuesdays
Time
7:15 pm – 10:00 pm
Format
Zoom
Location
Online via Zoom
Registration
Opens 01 Nov 2026 · closes 09 Mar 2027

Free preview · Read the IS261 syllabus before you register.

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How do biblical truth and Christian tradition address today’s complex questions surrounding relationships, identity, and family?

This course equips Christian believers to build a grounded and compelling worldview for engaging challenging issues in contemporary culture. Through the overarching redemptive narrative of Scripture and our rich Christian theological heritage, we’ll explore the definition and purpose of marriage, the purpose, place and validity of singleness, issues related to sexuality and identity, biblical visions for biological and spiritual family, and perspectives of divorce and remarriage.

Course objectives

  1. Gain a biblical-theological framework for understanding marriage, singleness, offspring, sexuality and spiritual family across the full canon of Scripture.
  2. Engage the key biblical texts related to marriage, singleness and family with approaches for appropriately interpreting them.
  3. Address contemporary challenges around marriage and family in the modern Asian context with a response informed by a biblical-theological perspective.
  4. Be equipped to lead and support the contemporary church with a compelling biblical vision for marriage, singleness, sexuality and family.

Next intakeOccasional

1.5
Academic Units
5
Live Sessions
Elective
Course

Instructor

Dr Barry N. Danylak

Associate Lecturer

Barry is a pastor, author, and international speaker on the topic of singleness. Barry offers deep understanding of singleness in the biblical context from his research in the ancient world and New Testament (Ph.D. University of Cambridge; M.A. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; M.S. University of Minnesota; M.A., B.S. Wheaton). His biblical theology of singleness (Redeeming Singleness: How the Storyline of Scripture Affirms the Single Life, Crossway: 2010) has been used in seminary courses, mission conferences and spiritual retreats. Since 2012 Barry has served as the Pastor of Single Adult Ministries for one of Canada’s largest evangelical churches (Centre Street Church, Calgary, Alberta) developing and overseeing missional communities of single adults. Barry serves as Adjunct Professor of Theology at Rocky Mountain College in Calgary.

Course Curriculum

  • 1

    General

    • Orientation Course & Library Access

    • Introduction to the Thinkific Mobile App

    • Password for all BGST hosted video lectures (if requested):

    • Student AI Policy for the Biblical Graduate School of Theology (BGST)

    • BGST Student AI Policy Acknowledgement Statement
  • 2

    Session 2

    • What is Marriage and What Is Its Purpose?
  • 3

    Session 3

    • Marriage, Singleness, Offspring and Family under the Old Covenant
  • 4

    Session 4

    • Marriage, Singleness, Offspring and Family under the New Covenant
  • 5

    Session 5

    • Genesis & Jesus on Marriage and Family
  • 6

    Session 6

    • The Household Codes & Ephesians 5
  • 7

    Session 7

    • Patristic & Medieval Perspectives
  • 8

    Session 8

    • Reformation & Post-Reformation Perspectives
  • 9

    Session 9

    • Issues & Challenges: Sexuality, Cohabitation & Same-Sex Marriage
  • 10

    Session 10

    • Issues & Challenges: Divorce & Remarriage
  • 11

    Session 11

    • Final Exam
  • 12

    Course Evaluation

    • Course Evaluation form Policy for the Biblical Graduate School of Theology

    • BGST Student Course Evaluation Policy Acknowledgement Statement

    • Course Evaluation Form
  • 13

    Assignment Submission

    • Course Reading Reflections (2,000 – 2,500 words)

    • Essay (3,000 words)

    • How to upload assignment

    • Submission on IMS

Ready to begin?

$325.00
Credit · Regular price

Course students are required to complete all the course assignments by the stated deadline. They will receive grades that are transferable to any BGST postgraduate programmes.

Register — Credit
$150.00
Audit

Audit students do not have to fulfil the assignment requirements. However, they are encouraged to do class exercises and assignments to get the maximum benefit from the courses. They will not receive grades that are transferable to BGST Postgraduate Programmes.

Register — Audit