Christian ministry professor Scott Guffin can attest to the sustained impact that Samford University’s Christian education has on his family. A third-generation Samford alumnus whose children also attended Samford, Guffin possesses a unique perspective on how the university’s Christ-centered mission is deeply embedded in academic pursuits.
“From the highest levels down, Samford is leaning more into its Christian identity than I have seen in decades,” Guffin said. “We are going to stand very firmly where we are, and we are going to do it unapologetically.”
At the heart of the Christian education Samford provides is the Biblical Foundations course. A pillar of the university’s core curriculum, Biblical Foundations is a course all undergraduate students take to lay the groundwork for the rest of their studies. Guffin has taught the class in the past, seeking to help students understand how Scripture fits together as a story—one that informs Samford’s mission and has shaped Western civilization for centuries.
“I want all students to take away a lifelong curiosity and desire to study the Bible,” Guffin said. “I hope that somewhere along their journey, this class becomes transformational for them.”
Students in the course examine the entire narrative of Scripture, exploring the theological and ethical themes and learning how the Bible is indispensable to the Christian faith. Guffin said the curriculum's rigorous approach to academic study always seeks to build students' faith as they engage seriously with God’s Word.
When Guffin joined the faculty in 2017, the course had undergone several iterations. Speaking with members of his family, he sees how each of them was shaped by the course. In 2018, the course shifted from Biblical Perspectives to Biblical Foundations, a change that altered the philosophy of their approach. With the emphasis now being placed on teaching the Bible as the “transformational Word of God,” students, regardless of their Biblical literacy, were being shown how the Christian scriptures inform the academic disciplines across campus.
“The desire is for our students to receive an excellent education in the Bible, that at the same time affirms them in their faith in the Christian God of the Bible,” Guffin said.
Beginning in the fall 2026 semester, the course will undergo another change, expanding from a single four-hour class to two three-hour classes. Adam Winn, chair of the Department of Biblical and Religious Studies, said this shift will allow for greater attention to aspects of Scripture that can’t be focused on in one semester. He hopes this facilitates a deeper study of God’s Word and more space for meaningful discussion with students.
“We are doubling down and saying, ‘We want more teaching of the Scripture.’ This shift communicates the university’s commitment to and value of its Christian identity. It’s enriching and broadening what we already have, and it's laying a broader foundation for everything else we're doing here.”
– Adam Winn, Department Chair of Biblical and Relgious Studies
Hebrews 4:12 states, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.” God speaks through the Bible to those who study it, and Guffin hopes that every student who attends Samford will embrace Biblical Foundations as a transformative opportunity—whether it’s strengthening the faith of believers or bringing new Christians into the hope and grace of the Gospel.
“A strong Biblical foundation informs all areas of a student's life,” Guffin said. “Whether it’s handling business interactions, teaching their students, creating art, caring for others in a health care setting or having a good marriage, training in the Bible impacts their life and work in power.”
