FAR EASTERN BIBLE COLLEGE
The Lord be praised for protecting, preserving, and providing for the Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC) over the six decades since its founding in 1962. Today, FEBC remains much as it was in 1962—biblically and theologically strong, if not stronger. With classroom lectures now livestreamed and available online, we have seen an increase in online students. We have also enhanced the delivery of our academic curriculum with a larger, more qualified, and better-credentialed faculty. Most importantly, we are now more firmly grounded in the infallibility and inerrancy of the Holy Scriptures, as we faithfully teach and defend not only the Verbal and Plenary Inspiration (VPI) of Scripture but also its Verbal and Plenary Preservation (VPP)—two vital pillars of our Biblical, Fundamental, Covenantal, Calvinistic, and Premillennial Faith.
Day of Prayer
The new semester commenced as usual with a Day of Prayer on Monday, 21 July 2025, at the Life Bible-Presbyterian Church sanctuary. The college family gathered to seek the Lord’s blessing for the new term through a time of Bible meditation, testimony, thanksgiving, and prayer. The Principal preached on the theme, “I Am Nothing, God Is Everything” (Exodus 3:1-14). This is the spiritual principle we must all adopt if we desire to serve the Lord and be useful to Him.
All students study to obtain a qualification, but true qualification is not merely a piece of paper—it is the person himself, one who has been transformed and empowered by God and equipped with His Word to serve Christ and His Church. This is in line with the good college tradition set by FEBC’s founding principal, the Rev Dr Timothy Tow, who in 1966 published the following article in the Life Church Weekly:
By What Tradition?
“The conferment of a degree by any reputable institution of learning is a matter to be considered very seriously. When the FEBC conferred its first degree at last week’s convocation, the event was witnessed with colourful dignity and solemnity. The donning of caps and gowns and hoods by the faculty and graduand at this occasion recognized the importance of scholarship in the Christian ministry. The degree conferred gave witness to the fact that its holder has had a tertiary training in the science of theology, at a par with those who have the same in other branches of study. That is so far as the higher level of study reached by our graduate is concerned, and we would stress again the importance of the spiritual, without which the degree is like a brand new car without battery and petrol.
“Perhaps there are some who look askance at such a function by a young institution like ours: “Who are these who usurp to gather honours to themselves? Who will care to recognise their degrees?” The worth of an FEBC degree must yet be proved, we have averred. But the act of conferment is no arrogant self-esteem. It was most interesting to hear the Dean tell the stories of the beginnings of Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard—how they grew out of such institutions of Biblical learning as this. Does not the wise King Solomon say, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov 1:7)? How scientifically true this statement is! To learn of the wonders of the person of the Creator Himself is basic to the study of the laws and things the Creator has made. To know Jesus Christ as Son of God is the highest knowledge, the knowledge that will take us beyond the moon, to the very abode of God. Alas, the great universities of today, while waxing strong in the arts and sciences, have cast away their Author, so that a new tradition of founding Theological Seminaries and Bible Colleges has arisen to restore the purity of the fountain of knowledge. This is our newer heritage and tradition.”
New Students and Total Enrolment
This semester saw a bumper enrolment of 15 new students from eight countries: from China – Zhu Xinkai; from India – Shaphrang Lyngdoh Nongrang; from Indonesia – Salion Gombo (Papua) and Timothy Cervino Purba (Batam); from Korea – Jeon Yoon Beom and Ma Eun Jin; from Myanmar – Cing Sian Hoih, Mayit Pong San Aung, Ndop Pung San, and Timothy Lal Hu Thang; from the Philippines – Jerum Bucad, Regine Ogario Saladaga, and Earlyn Joy Tindaan; from Singapore – Hannah Joy Chew Hui En; and from Thailand – Alongkorn Harichaikul.
The total enrolment for this semester is 625, consisting 44 full-time residential students and 581 part-time/online students. They come from 15 countries: Australia, Cambodia, China, Congo, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Korea, Tanzania, Thailand.
Faculty and Courses
The following are the lecturers and tutors, and the courses they are teaching this semester:
Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo—Calvin’s Institutes I, Revelation, Jude; Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew—Hebrew Reading I, Homiletics, Deuteronomy; Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy—Isaiah II; Rev Dr Koa Keng Woo—Bible Geography I, Cults III; Rev Stephen Khoo—Esther; Rev Tan Kian Sing—2 Thessalonians, Titus; Rev Clement Chew—Elementary Hebrew I, Minor Prophets II; Rev Dr Jose Lagapa—Roman Catholicism; Rev Zhu Jianwei—Old Testament Survey I (Chinese); Rev Samuel Joseph—Greek Exegesis I; Miss Carol Lee—Youth Christian Education, Jesus the Master Teacher, Advanced English I; Mr Joshua Yong—Greek Reading I, Contemporary Theology III; Mr Cornelius Koshy—Elementary Greek I; Miss Joycelyn Chng—Teaching Methods; Mrs Cheng May Lynn—Beginner Pianoforte; Mrs Patricia Joseph—Elementary English I; Mrs Ng May Shyen—Intermediate English I.
The Burning Bush
The latest edition of FEBC’s theological journal—The Burning Bush—July 2025, is out. The following are the articles in this issue:
“The Communion of Saints and the Ministry of Prayer: A Reformed and Protestant Perspective” by Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo
“Honourable Homiletics” by Rev Samuel Joseph
“Covenant Theology is Central to the Gospel” by Dr Mathews Chacko
“The Sins of the Tongue in the Light of the Ten Commandments” by Dn Milton Ang
“Playing Foul on Fowler: A Clarification on Quoting O S Fowler on Courtship and Upholding Biblical Morality” by Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo
“The Lord Will Not Hear You!” by Jose Trinipil Lagapa II Ba-a (Biboy)
Download the journal freely at www.febc.edu.sg.
Timothy Tow Cantata
“The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” (Ps 68:11).
A special cantata commemorating the legacy of the pioneer of the Bible-Presbyterian Church movement in Southeast Asia and founder of Far Eastern Bible College in Singapore will be presented at the 22nd anniversary thanksgiving of True Life Bible-Presbyterian Church. The event will be held at the RELC Auditorium on The Lord’s Day, October 5, 2025, at 9:30 am.
Join us for a moving worship service of hymns, narration, and thanksgiving as we reflect on the life and ministry of Rev Dr Timothy Tow—pastor, theologian, hymn-writer, and defender of the faith. The cantata will feature original songs and cherished hymns written or translated by him, accompanied by narration that traces his remarkable spiritual journey.
Buffet lunch after the service—register at https://tinyurl.com/TLBPCAL2025. Invite your family and friends. All are welcome!
