I am providing a detailed critique of Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC) in Singapore. This review analyzes their specific theological distinctives, the historical controversies surrounding them, and their standing in the wider academic community.
Executive Summary: Recommendation
Do I recommend young people to join this college?
No. I generally do not recommend FEBC for students seeking a robust, academically recognized, and historically orthodox theological education.
Why?
FEBC has isolated itself from the broader evangelical and Reformed community through a hyper-fundamentalist stance and the promotion of a highly specific, divisive doctrine known as Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP). This theological position has led to ecclesiastical schisms, lawsuits, and a sectarian spirit that limits the usefulness of their training for general ministry. Furthermore, their degrees lack standard academic accreditation, severely limiting further study or ministry mobility.
Detailed Theological Critique
To understand "what is wrong" with FEBC, one must understand the specific theological mutation that occurred within the Singapore Bible-Presbyterian (B-P) movement under the leadership of the late Timothy Tow and currently Jeffrey Khoo.
1. The Core Issue: Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP)
While most orthodox seminaries subscribe to Verbal Plenary Inspiration (VPI)—the belief that the original manuscripts (autographs) of Scripture were breathed out by God and without error—FEBC goes a step further.
They hold to Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP). This doctrine asserts that God has supernaturally preserved every "jot and tittle" of the inspired words in the copies (apographs) available today. Specifically, they identify these perfectly preserved words with the Hebrew Masoretic Text and the Greek Textus Receptus (TR) underlying the King James Version (KJV).
Theological Critique of VPP:
Conflation of Inspiration and Preservation: Theologians historically distinguish between the immediate act of inspiration (perfect, vertical) and the providential act of preservation (process, horizontal). FEBC collapses these, arguing that if we don't have a perfect copy today, inspiration is void. This ignores the historical reality of textual transmission.
The "Paper Pope" Problem: By claiming the Textus Receptus is perfect, FEBC effectively canonizes 16th-century decisions by Erasmus, Beza, and Stephanus. It ignores the fact that there are differences even between the various editions of the Textus Receptus.
Circular Reasoning: The specific Greek text FEBC defends is often effectively a "back-translation" from the KJV English. When textual critics point out that the TR lacks support in the majority of manuscripts for certain readings (e.g., 1 John 5:7, the Comma Johanneum), FEBC defends the inclusion purely on dogmatic grounds rather than historical evidence.
Effect: This leads to a KJV-Only (or TR-Only) stance that alienates them from the vast majority of conservative evangelical scholarship, which utilizes the Critical Text (NA28/UBS5).
2. Ecclesiological Isolationism (Schism)
The VPP doctrine was not merely a classroom theory; it destroyed the unity of the Bible-Presbyterian Church in Singapore.
The Split: In the early 2000s, this doctrine caused a bitter split between FEBC and its mother church, Life Bible-Presbyterian Church. The church rejected VPP as a "new doctrine" deviating from the Westminster Confession of Faith.
Litigation: The dispute was so intense it went to the Singapore High Court and Court of Appeal regarding the ownership of the Gilstead Road premises. It is rare and spiritually damaging for a seminary to be in prolonged litigation with its founding church.
Sectarianism: FEBC operates with a "militant separation" mindset. They frequently issue broadsides against "neo-evangelicals," "liberals," and even fellow fundamentalists who do not subscribe to VPP. A student trained there is often conditioned to view the broader church with suspicion rather than charity.
Status: FEBC is not accredited by the major theological accrediting bodies in Asia, such as the Asia Theological Association (ATA) or the Association for Theological Education in South East Asia (ATESEA).
Implication: Their degrees are "internal" degrees. If a student graduates from FEBC and wishes to pursue a PhD at a major seminary (like Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in the US or similar institutions in the UK/Australia), their credits will likely not be recognized. They may have to restart their education?
Insular Faculty: The faculty is largely inbred (graduates of FEBC returning to teach) or drawn solely from the narrow circle of VPP proponents, which creates an echo chamber lacking academic peer review.
Alternative Choices for Higher Theological Education in Asia
If you are looking for orthodox, rigorous, and respected theological education in Asia (specifically Singapore, given FEBC's location), consider these accredited alternatives:
1. Singapore Bible College (SBC)
Theological Stand: Evangelical, Interdenominational.
Why choose it: SBC is the gold standard for evangelical education in Singapore. It holds to high views of Scripture (Inerrancy) without the KJV-Only baggage. It is ATA accredited and has a diverse, international faculty.
Best for: Pastors, missionaries, and those wanting a solid Master of Divinity (M.Div).
2. Trinity Theological College (TTC)
Theological Stand: Mainline/Ecumenical (Methodist, Anglican, Presbyterian, Lutheran roots).
Why choose it: It is the oldest and most academically rigorous seminary in the region.
Note: TTC engages with critical scholarship (which FEBC labels "liberal"). If you are a conservative evangelical, you will be challenged here, but you will receive a degree recognized worldwide, including by top universities (Oxford/Cambridge/Yale).
Best for: Academics and those entering mainline denominations.
3. Biblical Graduate School of Theology (BGST)
Theological Stand: Evangelical, Lay-focused.
Why choose it: Excellent for "marketplace theology." They focus on equipping professionals. They are accredited and hold to orthodox evangelical theology.
4. Reformed Theological Seminary Alternatives
If you specifically want a Reformed/Presbyterian education without the FEBC extremism:
International Reformed Evangelical Seminary (Jakarta, Indonesia): Associated with Stephen Tong. Very robust Reformed Dogmatics.
Christ College (Sydney, Australia): While not in Asia, it is the closest Presbyterian option often used by Singaporeans who want faithful Presbyterian training.
Summary Table
| Feature | Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC) | Singapore Bible College (SBC) | Trinity Theological College (TTC) |
| Theology | Fundamentalist / KJV-Only (VPP) | Conservative Evangelical | Mainline / Ecumenical |
| View of Scripture | Perfect Preservation (TR/KJV is perfect) | Inerrancy of Autographs | Authority of Scripture (Critical approach allowed) |
| Accreditation | None (Independent) | ATA (Recognized) | ATESEA (Highly Recognized) |
| Atmosphere | Militant / Separatist | Missional / Community | Academic / Liturgical |
| Recommendation | Avoid | Highly Recommended | Recommended (for academics) |
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