SAIACS Entrance Exams Guidelines 2020: PreMTh and MTh

ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS 2020

GUIDELINES
Pre-MTh and MTh

The Entrance Examinations are held for the purpose of ensuring that you are able to cope
with the rigour required to pursue the MTh programme at SAIACS. There are two
examinations:
a. English Proficiency and General Knowledge
b. Departmental Examination

The Departmental Examination is administered according to the MTh specialization applied

for, and is tested at the BD/MDiv level. Please find the Guidelines for your department of
choice in Section 2 below.
In addition to the exams, there will be an interview. The individual scores of the
exams and the interview will not be intimated to the applicants. The scores obtained will
largely decide admission to SAIACS.

SECTION 1: ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AND GENERAL KNOWLEDGE EXAMINATION

This exam tests English skills and awareness of current affairs as follows:
a. Ability to write and analyse in English
b. Comprehension
c. Essay writing, which also tests your awareness of general knowledge and current affairs
represented in newspapers
d. Logical and analytical skills in English which will include listening to a recording and
answering questions based on it.

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 SAIACS Entrance Exams Guidelines 2020: PreMTh and MTh

SECTION 2: DEPARTMENTAL EXAMINATION

DEPARTMENT: OLD TESTAMENT

All applicants will be tested at the BD/MDiv level in

a. The content of the books of the OT in terms of themes and theology.
b. General background of the OT in terms of history, archaeology and the socio-cultural
setting of ancient Israel.
c. An introductory knowledge of critical issues in the OT.
MTh applicants (and not pre-MTh applicants) will be also tested in:
a. Hebrew Grammar: A basic vocabulary with a firm grasp on the strong verb in all seven
stems, perfect and imperfect. Weak verbs as in common use.
b. Translation of simple texts.

Recommended reading:
a. Either Provan, Iain, V. Philips Long, and Tremper Longman III. A Biblical History of
Israel. 1 edition. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003. Print.
b. Tremper Longman III and Raymond B Dillard. An Introduction to the Old Testament.
Second edition. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan, 2006. Available as free PDF online
at:
file:///C:/Users/Havilah%20Dharamraj/Downloads/An%20Introduction%20to%20the%20Old
%20Testament.pdf

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 SAIACS Entrance Exams Guidelines 2020: PreMTh and MTh

DEPARTMENT: NEW TESTAMENT

All applicants will be tested at the BD/MDiv level in

Part 1: Translation, Parsing, etc.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate knowledge of Greek language and syntax for the
following texts
a. Colossians 2:6-19
b. Romans 3:21-31
c. Mark 1:16-20; 6:7-13

Part 2: Theological themes, titles, and methods

1. Modern Methods in Biblical Studies:

a. Form Criticism
b. Redaction Criticism
c. Sociological Approach/criticism
d. Liberation Hermeneutics

2. Christological Titles in the gospel narratives:

a. Son of God
b. Son of Man
c. Son of David
d. Lord
e. Christ

3. Theological themes:
a. Kingdom of God
b. Miracles
c. Parables
d. Righteousness of God
e. The Law in Paul
f. The Spirit

Recommended Reading:

a. Tucketh, Christopher, Reading the New Testament: Methods of Interpretation

(Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1987) pp 95-135

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 SAIACS Entrance Exams Guidelines 2020: PreMTh and MTh

b. Black, David Alan and David S. Dockery (eds.) New Testament Criticism and
Interpretation (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1991) pp. 297 – 316
c. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels relevant articles on topics mention in Part II: 2
Christological Titles in the gospel narratives (a,b,c,d,e) - Son of God, Son of Man, Son
of David, Lord, Christ
d. Dictionary of Paul and the Letters Relevant articles on topics mentioned in Part II: 3
Theological Themes (d.e.f) - Righteousness of God, The Law in Paul, The Spirit
e. Duff, Jeremy. The Elements of New Testament Greek. 3rd Edition (Cambridge: CUP,
2005).
f. Simpson, Graham. A Student’s Guide to New Testament Greek. Revised 2nd Edition
(Bangalore: SAIACS, 2017).
g. UBS Greek NT Reader’s Edition
Pp 419 – 420, 95 – 96; 111, 536 – 537

DEPARTMENT: THEOLOGY AND ETHICS

Applicants will be tested at BD/MDiv level in:

a. Your ability to use the Bible in making a theological point.
b. Your ability to explore theology in its historical, contemporary and local church
contexts.
c. Your understanding of the doctrine of salvation in relation to the contemporary
Indian/Asian context.
d. Your understanding of few other significant doctrines, especially the doctrine of God,
doctrine of revelation and doctrine of the Church.
e. Your understanding of contextual theology, especially Indian Christian theology.

Recommended reading:
a. Any well-known systematic theology book, such as Millard Erickson, Christian
Theology or Bruce Milne, Know The Truth.
b. We recommend you read any scholarly article on the doctrine of salvation, such as
Carl Braaten, “The Christian Doctrine of Salvation.” The pdf file of the article is
available as a link here: http://goo.gl/1GfF0z (You do not have to agree with it.)
c. Any basic introduction to contextual theology, like Robin Boyd, An Introduction to
Indian Christian Theology

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 SAIACS Entrance Exams Guidelines 2020: PreMTh and MTh

DEPARTMENT: PASTORAL THEOLOGY AND COUNSELLING

Applicants will be tested on their competence to tackle basic issues in Pastoral Theology and
Counseling. This involves critical reflection on 4 types of nurture: preaching, pastoral care,
counselling, and to a lesser extent psychotherapy. Attention is given to the biblical
principles, counselling theories, faith practices and goals of the Church’s ministry and
outreach in contemporary India.
Applicants wanting to join this programme will be tested in the understanding of:
a. Pastoral theology and the practice of church ministry in contemporary India
b. Christian/Biblical counselling in ministry and crisis situations
c. Worship, liturgy, spirituality and the other church practices
d. A basic understanding of major Bible doctrines.
Recommended reading:
a. Jeyaraj, J.B. Christian Ministry: Models of Ministry. Bangalore: Theological book
Trust, 2006.
b. Murry, Ezamo. An Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling. Delhi: ISPCK, 2006.
c. Clinebell, Howard John, and Bridget Clare McKeever. 2011. Basic types of pastoral
care & counseling: resources for the ministry of healing and growth. Nashville:
Abingdon Press.
d. Crabb, Larry. Effective Biblical Counseling: A Model for Helping Caring Christians.
e. Kay, William & Paul Weaver. Pastoral Care and Counseling. Secunderabad: OM,
2004.
f. Wootton, R.W.F. Christian Worship of God.
g. Prashantham, B.J. Indian Case Studies in Therapeutic Counselling

DEPARTMENT: MISSIOLOGY

Applicants will be tested at BD/MDiv level in

a. Biblical theology of mission
b. Evangelism and church growth
c. Contemporary missiological issues

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 SAIACS Entrance Exams Guidelines 2020: PreMTh and MTh

d. The interface between Gospel and Culture

Recommended reading:

a. David J. Bosch. Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission. Maryknoll:

Orbis Books, 2004 pages 1-83.
b. Paul Hiebert. Anthropological Insights for Missionaries. Grand Rapids: Baker Books,
1985.
c. Roger E. Hedlund and Paul Joshua Backiaraj. Missiology for the 21st Century: South Asian
Perspectives. New Delhi: ISPCK/MIIS, 2004.
d. Prabhusingh Vedhamanickam. Living Water in Indian Cups: A Call for Cultural Relevance
in Contemporary Indian Missions. The Asbury Journal, 66/2:57-66, 2011, Pp. 57-66.
e. Dean Flemming, Contextualization in the New Testament: Patterns for Theology and
Mission Downers Grove, Illinois: Inter Varsity Press, 2005, Pp. 56-88.

DEPARTMENT: STUDY OF RELIGIONS

Applicants will be tested at BD/MDiv level in

a. General introduction to major world religions
b. General introduction to cultural anthropology
c. Missiological foundation.
MTh/MPhil applicants (and not pre-MTh applicants) will be also tested in:
Introductory language skills in one of the Classical languages: for those applying to specialize
in Hinduism, major skills in Sanskrit will be tested. For those applying to specialize in Islam,
major skills in Quranic Arabic will be tested.
Recommended reading:
a. Daniel, P.S. and others. Religious Traditions of India. Delhi: ISPCK.
OR
Farquahar, J.N. An outline of the Religious Literature of India. Delhi: Oxford
University Press.
b. Krowber, A.L. and Clyde Kluckhohn. Cultural Anthropology. New York: Vintage.
OR
Vivelo, Frank Robert. Cultural Anthropology, A Hand Book. New York: McGraw Hill.
c. Anderson, G.H. Theology of Christian Mission. New York: McGraw Hill.
OR

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 SAIACS Entrance Exams Guidelines 2020: PreMTh and MTh

Roger Hedlund. God and the Nations: A Biblical Theology of Mission in the Asian
Context. Delhi: ISPCK.
OR
Roger Hedlund & Paul J. Bhakiaraj, eds. Missiology for the 21st Century, Delhi. ISPCK.
d. Zachariah, Aleyamma, Modern Religious and Secular Movements in India. Bangalore:
Theological Book Trust.
OR
Farquhar, J N. Modern Religious Movements in India. Creative Media Partners, LLC;
London: MacMillan
e. Languages
a. For Sanskrit:
Antoine, R. A. Sanskrit Manual: Part I. Calcutta: Xavier Publication. (You might be
able to download a copy of the text at: https://archive.org)
------ Sanskrit Manual: Part II. Calcutta: Xavier Publication. (You might be able to
download a copy of the text at: https://archive.org)
b. For Arabic:
Jones, Alan, Arabic through the Qur'an. Cambridge: The Islamic Text Society. (You
might be able to download a copy of the text here: https://archive.org)

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