The
Friends of Israel Institute of Jewish Studies is a unique
one-year program designed to provide the best possible
educational experience to its students - academically,
spiritually, socially and in serving others. The program
offers the following opportunities:
 Concentrated Study of the Whole
Bible
IJS offers the student the opportunity to study the whole
Bible in one year from Genesis to Revelation with a consistent
hermeneutical viewpoint.
Thirteen
out of the twenty-five courses offered in IJS are direct Bible study courses.
Seven of those thirteen cover the Old Testament, five the New Testament,
and one covers Daniel and Revelation together. We study each book in
its historical
and cultural context, following God’s progressive revelation through
history so that the student may be able to understand and accurately interpret
any passage in the Bible based on its context.
A Modular Course of Study
In order to accomplish the goal of studying through
the Bible in one year, IJS offers its twenty-five courses in
eight three-week modules, three courses per module. Each
course is worth 1.5 bachelor credits with the Study
Tour being
worth 2 credits, for a total of 38 bachelor credits for the year. Thirty-six
credits earns the student an IJS Certificate signifying completion of the
program. While it is recommended for the best experience that students begin
the program
in the fall as full-time students, students can begin the year in January
or attend as part-time students, taking any course or module that they choose.
 IJS Classroom on the PBU Campus
The Institute of Jewish Studies is located
on the beautiful campus of Philadelphia
Biblical University in Langhorne, PA. As a part of PBU’s
new Biblical
Learning Center educational building, a special classroom was built for
the Friends of Israel Institute of Jewish Studies, which facilitates the
students’ educational
experience. All of IJS’ classes are held in this dedicated classroom.
IJS students are also PBU students, so they are able to enjoy all the benefits
of campus life.
A Family Atmosphere
Since IJS is a unique program where the class is limited to
about 30 students who learn together in the same classroom throughout
the year, a special bond
is formed between the students, staff and faculty each year. We enjoy many
field trips, social events, and especially the study
tour, where students,
staff, and faculty are able to interact outside the classroom environment.
The class
itself generally is made up of students of various ages and experiences,
from various backgrounds and cultures, who come together for the
purpose of honoring
the Lord and encouraging each other in the faith.
Ministry Opportunities
Since IJS is located at PBU near Philadelphia, and seventy miles from New York
City, opportunities to be involved in ministry abound. While IJS students are
not required to be involved in a ministry until their second semester, students
are exposed to and encouraged to take advantage of the many various opportunities.
These include ministry in local
churches or in an IJS musical group, and serving
with various mission organizations.
 Bible Lands Study Tour
Each spring, the IJS class embarks on a Bible
Land study tour. The purpose
of the tour is to experience the places from scriptures that students have
been studying throughout the year. While our first desire is to tour the land
of Israel every year, the political situation does not always allow that possibility.
In that event, the class will then tour other lands such as Turkey, Greece
or Italy. The tour is considered the highlight of the year for the whole class
and while not required it is certainly recommended. Note: the cost of the tour
is not part of the tuition or room/board at IJS/PBU.
Association with the Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry
 IJS initially originated under the leadership of Dr. Will Varner and the Friends
of Israel in 1987 at the FOI headquarters in Deptford, NJ. IJS became a program
of PBU and moved its campus to Langhorne in 1996. Since that time, Friends
of Israel has remained closely involved with the school, providing faculty,
student scholarships, and ministry opportunities. One of the strengths of IJS
is its association with a mission as reputable as the Friends of Israel, which
provides support and vision of ministry to the student body.
A Basis for Further Study or Ministry
Since IJS is a one-year certificate program, many IJS graduates use the
year as a basis for further study toward a bachelor’s degree. Over half
of each IJS class continues study in another program at
PBU. Others use transfer
credit to other colleges or universities. Some IJS students come for the
purpose of going into ministry or missions at the completion of the year,
since most mission organizations require a year of Bible study for their
workers.
Others are already in ministry, and use the study to aid in their various
ministries.
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