Find below a selection of comments from students at King's Evangelical Divinity School, both past and present, about their experiences studying with us.

Having been blessed to have studied at five universities in four countries, I feel I am reasonably well qualified to recommend King’s Evangelical Divinity School to prospective students as a first-rate evangelical institution.

I first came to King’s several years ago when it was Midlands Bible College, offering face-to-face courses alongside its distance programmes, and with a studentbase limited to the immediate Midlands area. Over the last eight years, I have watched the college flourish into a major player in British theological education, combining innovative e-learning technology and traditional bible-centred theological education, simultaneously offering the academic benefits of accreditation by a large university with the ‘family’ feel of a small, and explicitly Christian, divinity school.

My attraction to King’s was two fold: firstly, its course explicitly in ‘Biblical Hermeneutics’ offered a profoundly scripture-focussed approach to exegetical theology: my previous studies having encompassed a broad a sweep of philosophy and systematic theology, I was acutely aware of my need to develop a deeper reverence and love for Sacred Scripture.

Secondly, the overtly evangelical nature of King’s is a welcome breath of fresh air in the context of an increasingly pluralist and secular academic sector: the staff at King’s are clear about what they believe and are prepared to offer exegetical justification for it.  The staff have – in my experience – never attempted to mould students into their own image, but have nonetheless insisted upon strong theological reasoning, rooted in serious engagement with Sacred Scripture and, above all, defensible exegesis. The course then, whilst being academically rigorous, follows a useful pastoral pattern: initially laying down the form of the exegetical pursuit with courses on the theology of revelation and the philosophy of language and interpretation, before moving on to add ‘content’ by a broad exploration of a broad swathe of scripture, latterly applying these skills to think theologically about contemporary issues.

I anticipate that students will leave King’s with more questions than when they arrived – that is the hallmark of any good theological education which calls its students to enter into, and engage with, the mystery of our salvation – but they will leave with a theological competence that will enable them to seek answers to those questions, to see the internal coherence of their Christian faith, and – crucially – to communicate their faith clearly and intelligibly to others. I am pleased to recommend King’s Evangelical Divinity School unreservedly, and with considerable warmth.
Oliver J Keenan, BSc BD LTh CertHP FRAI
 

This was a brilliantly designed and well thought out programme from start to finish. Time and again, I wondered why King’s came at these modules from so many different angles. ‘Why not study the book of Matthew and explain what it meant, rather than explain its meaning though a cultural, historical or liberating perspective?’, I frustratingly asked myself? Yet time and again, such an approach left me plumbing the very depths of the subject to unearth a rich tapestry of comprehension, the likes of which I wouldn’t have considered on my own.
Paul Grafton-Holt

KEDS, in my view offers prospective students a fantastic opportunity to engage in Theological study with considerable depth and academic focus. The modular course that I have followed is delivered via an innovative ‘ecampus’ section of KEDS’ website. Each student has access to a wealth of material such as pre recorded audio lectures [often with accompanying notes], module guides, suitably suggested books, charts, maps and other appropriate information.  A crucial provision is the ‘Online Journal’ section of KEDS’ website which provides students free access to an incredible catalogue of scholarly journals from the past to the very present, hence providing students with the latest in theological opinion.   If this were not enough, KEDS also provides a ‘School Forum’ which is widely used by students to ask questions, help one another with theological issues, submit queries about their course and also generally socialise.

One of the drawbacks of distance learning is the issue of studying in isolation, particularly with respect to tutorial contact.  Whilst this cannot be entirely overcome, my experience throughout my studies has been that assistance from lecturers has never been further away than a simple phone call or email.  Even at busy times KEDS lecturers respond to questions about a course or assignment with great efficiency, patience and insight.

My study time at KEDS has been very fruitful for me, both academically and spiritually.  I have learned much, thought through many issues I may never previously have considered, addressed at least some of my previously held erroneous beliefs and am hopefully in a better position to follow and serve the Lord Jesus Christ as a result.  I look forward to continuing my education with KEDS in the not too distant future via the Masters course which I intend to enrol upon. Finally, a big thank you to all at KEDS for their help and hard work in making this great provision available.
David Williams

King's has helped me to grow in my understanding of the Bible as well as how to interpret it. The great thing about King's is that it is nondenominational and therefore you are hit from many different angles. The BTh helps you to understand where people from other Christian backgrounds or those with unorthodox theologies are coming from and therefore enables you to engage with them in a sincere manner. The college also helps your writing skills and is exceptionally difficult when compared to other theological colleges.

The online format is also great as it allows you to study when it is perfect for yourself. The tutuors and lecturers are also very helpful and take a lot of time dialoging with students. Students are also given the opportunity to converse and debate on the forum which sharpens one's theological ability. The course is also very cheap when compared to other colleges.

Before I began my studies I was someone who was too fundamental. After my first year of studies I have found myself to be somewhat more relaxed about the Bible and happy to dialogue with anyone. It has helped me when I witness to other people as well as talking to brothers and sisters in Christ who hold to different theologies than my own. The course has enabled me to shift my view on various theological positions for the better. I guess in a nutshell I have retained my orthodoxy without eroding my love for Jesus Christ whilst shaping my systematic theology for the better.
Joshua Smith

I started KYB [Knowing Your Bible] to try my hand at theological study and although I've only undertaken 2 modules so far it has been of great joy to me. To study God's word has been something I have wanted to do for some time and KYB has shown me that it was the right thing to do. I hope to continue with my studies and I plan to eventually move into full-time ministry when I have studied a little more. I thank God for leading me to KEDS and that all those who need to find it maybe lead here.
What I have really enjoyed is the real college feel of the ecampus forums, it really is like being back at college and talking in the canteen! You don't feel as isolated as some distance courses whic makes a big difference.
Stewart Thompson

I have now completed the Bachelors degree (BTh) in hermeneutics and have subsequently started the Masters (MA) in Evangelicalism. Distance Learning best suited my situation as I am self-employed and run my own business which I have been developing for some years now, and after having the time out to actually be a resident student at the other Bible College, I was even more convinced that distance learning was the way to go for me. It seemed to me that whether actually resident at a Bible College or studying (from the comfort of your own home) by Distance Learning, the work load was more or less the same, and if anything there were more distractions at Bible College e.g. fellow students, social groups etc.

When I began to study with KEDS, I had the comfort of my own home and the flexibility and freedom to work and study, thereby enabling me to earn while I learned. Most importantly for me, the rewards for the time and effort that I have put into my studies with KEDS have been significant. Through my time studying with KEDS, I have become much more analytical and methodological in my approach to studying and reading Scripture. My understanding is much deeper and in many ways I have a much more critical approach and yet at the same time, as I have wrestled through many difficult aspects of Scripture and Theology, I have grown spiritually, and have reached a place whereby I now extend more grace to others of differing viewpoints than myself.

This is through more of an appreciation of the complexities of interpretation including the various nuances, cultural, and socio-historical factors involved to name a few. And yet it has also strengthed my faith and reinforced many of my convictions. My studies with KEDS have not only been a blessing academically, but spiritually. The lecturers at KEDS are very supportive and I have had the privilege to meet many of them including Calvin Smith (the Principal) while going on a trip to Israel, organised through KEDS as part of the BTh programme, and also several conferences organised by KEDS.

This is one of the positive benefits of studying through KEDS, the opportunities to dialogue with and meet the lecturers and fellow students at conferences, on the college webite forum, on live chat, and on field trips to Israel when they are run. So in this sense studying with KEDS doesn't necessarily need be a lonesome experience.

I would certainly recommend KEDS to anyone considering obtaining a theological education, the BTh or Masters will certainly be a challenge to anyone who chooses to embark upon them, it will stretch your thinking, deepen your understanding and equip you with a much more thorough and exegetical approach to Scripture, challenging preconcieved ideas and assumptions, but for those who rise to the challenge and engage with the course material the blessings are worth it.
Daniel Kayley

I have enjoyed King's Divinity College's B.Th. in Biblical Hermeneutics immensely. It has given me the confidence to study and understand the Bible in a way that makes Scriptural application a task with fewer unknowns. I highly recommend this course for those who wish to sincerely discover the Bible for themselves.
Christian Dennett


I am almost at the end of the diploma stage of the Batchelor of Theology and can’t begin to tell you the benefits that I have experienced through studying at KEDS.  Most importantly however, is the enormous blessing in receiving sound, theological exposition of the Bible by such experienced scholars.  As someone who has experienced spiritual abuse, although long ago now, that in itself has been healing in many ways.  Our God is so good!  The confidence that has been patiently restored in interpreting the Word of God is something I will ever be grateful for firstly to Him, and then to KEDS.  On another important level the spiritual growth in knowledge has been invaluable in evangelistic field work that I am involved in alongside of my husband.  I would not hesitate to refer those searching for such higher, academic learning to KEDS.
Marilyn, Australia

I have just completed the first module and am presently working on the second. I am thoroughly enjoying the course so far and have found myself getting interested in one particular aspect of the first module and subsequently purchasing a book to pursue it further. I would definitely recommend KEDS to those I know who wish to take a Bible course.
"M"