By Marissa Soto, Staff Writer
On Friday, April 12, The Master’s University’s School of Biblical and Theological Studies released its first volume of the new student-run journal titled “The Master’s University Journal of Biblical and Theological Studies.”
Modeled after The Master’s Seminary Journal, the 103 page volume consists of nine research papers, or “articles,” written by undergraduate students. Print copies were made available to Bible majors.
From start to finish, the journal took just around six months to complete, even working over the Christmas and spring breaks. Senior Shiloh Noorthoek birthed the idea for the journal back in the fall 2023 semester.
As a student in Dr. Todd Bolen’s Isaiah course, Noorthoek was intrigued by the research paper assignment to read and share his classmates’ papers, which turned into the concept for a journal. He then discussed with Bolen in the cafeteria the thought of a potential student journal one afternoon. Bolen would then help the project come to life.
“Something to highlight is that nothing that is created is just one person. It’s a combined effort of everyone, and so a thank you is necessary for all who were involved,” Noorthoek said.
Multiple students came alongside Bolen and Noorthoek to compose the volume, most of which were also in the Isaiah course, including senior Julia Hildebrant. Hildebrandt, an author and editor for the journal, worked with Noorthoek to create the editorial that served as a proper introduction and purpose statement for the creation of the journal.
“Personally, I hope that it helps people see the excellencies of the Lord and His Word. It’s such a privilege to get to dig deep and study the intricacies of His Word. Isaiah made me realize the beauty of God’s Word on a whole other level,” Hildebrandt said.
Hildebrandt and Noorthoek served on the six-student editorial team that included Max Kokubun, Alexandra Neale, Elizabeth Powell and Zachary Urdaneta. Each student editor would read and edit two to three articles each on their own time. Kaylin Peay served as associate editor while Dr. Bolen served as the managing editor. Once edits were suggested, the article was returned to the author for further work.
A large portion of the articles in the first volume are a product of the research paper assignment in Isaiah, but Bible students were also welcome to submit any other papers they wrote to be considered for publication into the journal.
However not all of the contributors to the first volume were Bible majors. The volume includes an article by interdisciplinary student Matthew James Wineke titled “Isaiah’s Influence on Zechariah.”
Ultimately, the journal serves as a means for students to contribute and read high-level work for the glory of God.
“We hope to illustrate The Master’s University’s unshakable commitment to a hermeneutic of submission to Scripture, and we desire that this journal would become one more platform for the celebration of our Savior’s excellencies. Our prayer is that it would inspire the reader to search out the depths of God’s Word, follow wherever it leads, and dedicate his life, now and forever, to Christ and Scripture,” the editorial of the inaugural volume says.
The journal’s staff plans on releasing one volume a year, with Volume 2 planned for 2025. Submissions for this volume are due by Jan. 15, 2025, and can be sent to bible@masters.edu.
Contributions must be biblical research papers written by undergraduate students during their time at TMU.
Additionally, students can read Volume 1 and apply for the editorial team at https://www.masters.edu/academics/schools/school-of-biblical-studies/tmu-biblical-studies-journal/.
The TMU Mane 