Upper School Biblical Studies

Being rooted in the tradition of liberal arts education, Boston Trinity Academy believes it is important for students to not only learn various disciplines, but to be able see the interconnectedness of the disciplines. This allows students to synthesize various streams of thought to better understand a topic and find more meaningful solutions.

To facilitate this way of thinking, Upper School students take Humanities 9 during their freshman year. This course (2½ credits) integrates English, History, and Biblical Studies and explores themes of Western Civilization from literary, historical, and biblical perspectives.

Humanities 9 addresses the question, “What does it mean to be human?” Students explore this question by studying literature, drama, historical texts, primary sources, and the biblical narrative. They learn about the origins of early Western culture by reading Homer’s The Odyssey and simultaneously examining the lives of Abraham, Jacob, and Moses. They compare and contrast the Pax Romana with the gospel of Matthew and the history of the early church. Finally, they pursue the transforming effects of Christianity on both the Roman and Germanic cultures, from which emerge a revolutionary idea of what it means to be human.

Christian Belief in Context examines orthodox Christian belief as it interacts with ever changing contexts. The course begins with a study of biblical exegesis and hermeneutics – the building blocks of understanding the Bible as the Word of God and the various contextual factors of studying the Bible well. After that, we examine church history and theology in order to see the progression of Christianity into ever expanding places, cultures, and people. Lastly, we examine world religions in order to understand broader theological concepts, and to more distinctly understand the unique aspects of Christian faith in the modern world. Through rigorous theological study, students in this course are able to understand the relevance, longevity, and appeal of orthodox Christianity within their contemporary context.

The Christian Life seeks to uncover the relevance of the Christian faith for all aspects of human life. In this course we study in depth the significance of Jesus’ proclamation of the greatest commandment "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Mt. 22:37) This course is split into three general categories: life of the mind, life of the heart, and life of the soul. In the first division we explore rational and theological arguments concerning life with God. In the second division we explore God’s heart for those who suffer and the ways in which He prepares His followers to respond through a life of justice. In the third division we explore spiritual disciplines that Christians have traditionally followed in order to bring our soul and spirit before God. Ultimately, a Christian ethic that is based on 1. The Biblical witness, 2. Reason and logic, 3. The thinking of the historical and global Christian community, and 4. The guidance of the Holy Spirit – is presented as a guide during the many challenges of life

Senior Symposium marks the culmination of the Boston Trinity Academy education. Students select and probe the depths of one specific topic, studying it through the lens of justice. This culminates in a 25-page research paper, submitted in stages throughout the year in ever growing and improving drafts. Students will then defend their thesis orally in public before a panel of university professors and Boston-based professionals.

Senior Symposium operates as a collegiate level research seminar, built on the Boston Trinity Academy mission to educate students from diverse backgrounds in an academically demanding Christ-centered community, and to inspire them to lead lives of faith, integrity and service. This is not a research course for the sake of research, but rather a key opportunity in the school to allow our greatest ideas and deepest joys to meet the world’s greatest needs.