Geneva College Bible Professor and Bible Core Coordinator C. Scott Shidemantle, PhD, is serving in a Visiting Professor appointment at Jerusalem University College (JUC) in Israel for the spring 2022 semester. Dr. Shidemantle is living and teaching JUC students in Jerusalem in his course, “The Historical Geography of the Gospels.”

He is also teaching his regular Geneva courses remotely back to Geneva’s campus in Beaver Falls using Microsoft Teams.

With Dr. Shidemantle are two Geneva students majoring in Biblical Studies: Beryl Wickham ‘23 and Sabrina Boggs ‘24. They are also spending the semester in Jerusalem.

Here is a picture of Dr. Shidemantle with Beryl Wickham’23 and Sabrina Boggs ’24 standing in front of the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem.

Pictured from left to right, Beryl Wickham, Sabrina Boggs, and Dr. Scott Shidemantle. Credit: Scott Shidemantle.

Dr. Shidemantle wrote recently to prospective students about the value of the Geneva Biblical Studies major:

Geneva Is A Great Place to Major in Biblical Studies

If you are interested in studying the Bible with professors who have been pastors, who are widely published in their field, and who are deeply committed to Christ and His Word, Geneva College is for you.

You can take courses in the original languages: both Greek and Hebrew.

You can take multiple, in-depth courses in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

You can study the archaeology and geography of Israel both in the classroom and in Israel. Every other year, the department team-teaches a course “Archaeology and Geography of Israel,” which culminates in a two week study-tour of Israel. Or, due to an institutional connection with Jerusalem University College (www.juc.edu ), students can study abroad for a semester on site in Jerusalem.

If you sense a call to the ministry in some form, or you’re open to it, majoring in Biblical Studies at Geneva is a really good move. The major can even be taken as a second major at Geneva.

For more information on the Biblical Studies major, please contact me, Dr. Scott Shidemantle (Professor of Biblical Studies and Bible Core Coordinator) at sshidema@geneva.edu. I am very willing to talk to any interested students.

Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock and Dr. C. Scott Shidemantle teaching at the Pool of Bethesda Credit: Scott Shidemantle.

One of the advantages of choosing a major in either Biblical Studies or in Pre-Seminary at Geneva College is the college’s close relationship with Jerusalem University College in Israel. Biblical Studies and Pre-Seminary majors at Geneva are encouraged to spend one semester studying abroad at JUC, which enables students to visit many of the locations in Israel where the actual events of Scripture took place. The JUC semester in Israel adds a valuable geographic and historical dimension to the student’s knowledgebase.

JUC is the leading evangelical Christian school in the Israeli capital city, offering master’s degrees, certificates, semester abroad and other programs to students who wish for immersive study of the Bible in the Holy Land. For information on JUC see: www.juc.edu.