Mark Dever on Choosing a Seminary

Mark Dever gives five factors (conveniently alliterated) to consider in choosing a seminary.

1. Confession of Faith. The first and most important factor for you to consider when choosing a seminary is what doctrine is taught there. . . .
2. Quality of Education. Another consideration in choosing a seminary is the quality of the education offered. While there is no precise way to measure such quality, factors which indicate it are the school’s faculty, the required curriculum and the library facilities. . . .
3. Cost. Let’s say you’ve found a seminary that you agree with theologically, and that seems to offer a good quality of education. Then, a third matter you should consider is cost. How expensive is the education there? What are the living costs like in that community? Are there good scholarships or jobs to be had? It would be unwise for you to commit yourself to considerable indebtedness. . . .
4. Church. Having lined up a seminary that you agree with theologically, that you think provides a good quality of education and that is affordable, you must also consider if there is a good church nearby that could be a place of ministry and spiritual encouragement and direction while you are in the seminary. . . .
5. Connections for Life. Finally, it is a legitimate question to consider what connections for the rest of life you might make by attending this seminary or that theological college. Most ministers who go to seminary for training meet there professors and fellow students who continue to be an informal network long after your formal educational work is done. Such questions of network and denomination are questions worth weighing carefully. . . .

Read the whole post at the T4G Blog.

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