Word Studies: Theology

Class: Theology

Week: This class spans the entire academic year.
Professor: Mr. Doug Reider


Assignments: Read assigned chapters from Basic Theology by Charles Ryrie every week. Write one Theology Essay and one Position Paper per semester.

Mr. Reider was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and raised in Maryland. After high school, he attended George Washington University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He later received a Master of Divinity at Capital Bible Seminary. He acted as Assistant Pastor at Fellowship Baptist Church in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Desiring to become involved as a missionary in Eastern Europe, Mr. Reider attended Word of Life Bible Institute, graduating in 1992. He was soon accepted as a missionary to Poland. After Mr. Reider and his wife, Sue, were married, they headed to Poland three years later. Because of medical difficulties, the Reiders returned in 1999. In 2000, Mr. and Mrs. Reider, along with their two children (Sam and Daniel), moved to Owen Sound to head up the Bible Institute project. Mr. Reider is our Academic Dean and one of our professors, teaching Systematic Theology and Greek.

This course is designed to study the biblical doctrines of orthodox Christianity concerning five areas of Systematic Theology: Bibliology (the study of the Bible), Theology Proper (the study of the Godhead), Anthropology (the study of man), Hamartiology (the study of sin),Christology (the study of Christ), Soteriology, Angelology, Pneumatology, Ecclesiology, and Eschatology. The desire is to take our knowledge of Scripture and from that come to understand what we believe and, therefore, discern the difference between truth and error.


“The Bible is the greatest of all books; to study it is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.”

― Charles C. Ryrie

Part of the mission statement of the Word of Life Bible Institute is that each student comes to intimately know the Word of God. One cannot go through life believing something without foundation to what he believes. Theology class provides each student with that foundation. Mr. Reider teaches through the basics of Systematic Theology, scratching the surface of the major doctrines. Later on in the year, several guest lecturers come on campus to teach Eschatology, Ecclesiology and Pneumatology which allows Mr. Reider to teach through the book of Romans in the spring semester. Theology class helps students not only understand the Bible but able to apply doctrine to practice. This class also helps students come to an understanding regarding why they believe rather than just what they believe. Here's what the students had to say:

"Mr. Reider's enthusiasm makes class fun and engaging!"

- Nick, Arthur

"Theology class with Mr Reider definitely sparked my interest in theology. Before coming to the BI, I never knew much of what theology was or why we study it, but going through it I learned many things My favourite areas to study were Angelology,  Hamartiology and Eschatology, I can now recognize many different beliefs and am now able to clarify what I believe and why I believe what I believe."

- Jaramie (Alumni), Muskoka

"Going through theology with Mr. Reider has given me the opportunity to see all the view points on major issues facing the Christian in the world today. Furthermore, I now have clearer and deeper understanding of the Bible and better knowledge of Christ."

- Lucas, Wyoming

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