Biblical studies programs focus on the Old and New Testaments. Students learn to interpret the Bible in religious and ethical terms. They may prepare to work in Christian religious vocations.

The Bible is one of the best-selling books of all time. But unlike the thrillers, self-help books, and children's tales of magic on the best-seller list, the Bible is not easy to read. It contains long listings of obscure tribal leaders. It has violent episodes. It has commandments seemingly designed for a society of peasants. It has lots of self-references that are hard for a nonexpert reader to recognize. It has parables that may be interpreted in a variety of ways.

Add to this the problems of its ancient origins. It was written in ancient languages, so most of us read it in translation. Translators sometimes disagree on details, and sometimes they make trade-offs between word-for-word accuracy and poetic effects. Sometimes the meaning of the original Hebrew or Greek words is so obscure that the translator must make an educated guess. Then there is the question of what books belong in it, and in what order. Many readers are content to accept the authority of their church on such matters. But to understand what the Bible is saying to you, it helps to learn how your church settled these issues.

You may want to become a better reader of the Bible for personal spiritual growth. Or you may also see it as a step toward another goal, such as working as a missionary, as a teacher of religion, or in some other religious function. A major in Biblical studies can fulfill all of these aims. A bachelor's degree normally takes four years of full-time study beyond high school. A large number of colleges offer this program.

If your aim is to enter the clergy, you can expect to do a lot of Bible study in seminary. But as a preparation for seminary, this is not generally the recommended undergraduate major. Instead, you should get a broad background in the liberal arts and sciences.

In a Bible study program you start to see even familiar biblical passages through new eyes. For the first time you may view a passage as military history. You may read another as a commentary on a pre-biblical legal code. Or you may view it as a protest against social conditions of the time. You study early interpreters to learn how they worked out multiple layers of meaning. You learn about correspondences between events in the Old and New Testaments.

But the Bible is also a voice that speaks to our times. So you study how to apply the teachings and parables to your own life. You learn which passages are considered most relevant to certain moral issues and phases of life. You learn methods of seeking guidance for spiritual problems that everyone faces at one time or another. What consolation is there for someone who is bereaved? Where can you find a source of courage in a time of distress? You learn not only better ways to read the Bible, but also better ways to use the Bible in your life and in the lives of others.