About Us

Teófilos is an interdenominational and inter-institutional Evangelical e-learning platform based in Portugal. We serve the Portuguese Evangelical community and Portuguese-speaking Evangelical Christians around the world by offering quality online, Bible-based theological education and ministry training in order to better equip all believers to more fruitfully fulfill their God-given calling, whether that be in the marketplace or in the church. Our desire is that no Portuguese-speaking follower of Christ who desires to grow in their faith and service through theological education and ministry training will need to go without it.

We offer a wide variety of online learning opportunities. Our Basic Course (Mena, usar Curso Básico) is a formal program of study, the purpose of which is to lay a solid foundation of biblical and theological understanding and ministry training that will prepare the believer to better serve God, whether that be in his church, neighborhood or the marketplace. The Curso Básico is recognized by the Seminário Teológico Baptista. We will also be offering a number of short thematic seminars. You may find in our list some important topics which interest you. Finally we are creating some online learning communities–an opportunity to walk alongside of others who are like-minded and who have the same interest in a particular area, for example Christian education. Within these communities you will find many resources for life and ministry.

Besides serving individuals, Teófilos also promotes the ministry of Evangelical institutions by hosting and facilitating their e-learning and b-learning programs, while at the same time harnessing our platform to promote institutional strength through improved communication throughout their network of people.

Teofilos Distinctives

Distinctive: We learn in separate locations but in community

Our name, Teófilos, reflects an important aspect of our educational philosophy. Unlike some distance learning opportunities, Teófilos has opted to have its students learn together in community. Our name is inspired by the recipient of the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, the “beloved Theophilus” (see Luke 1:4). This man learned about the gospel of Jesus Christ at a distance through the writings of Luke! Many of us find ourselves in life situations what make it difficult if not impossible to obtain Bible teaching and ministry training at a school or even at an extension center. Teófilos is committed to bringing quality Biblical-theological studies and ministry training to people where they are at through the Internet. However, instead of Teófilo, we have adopted the name Teófilos, thereby creating a plural form of the name. In essence we are a community of men and women just like the original Teófilo, people who desire to grow in their understanding of the gospel. We believe the best way to learn is in community, and our courses are all designed to this end. Each course has a start and stop date and involves a group of people learning together, under the orientation of a facilitator and supervision of a professor, when necessary.

Distinctive: We serve the entire body of Christ

Teófilos is not a project of a particular denomination. Rather we desire to serve the entire body of Christ, believing that there is an inherent educational value in believers of various denominations studying side-by-side. Much of what we offer is also available to those who desire to know more about the Christian faith and, in particular, about Jesus Christ, but who have not as yet made a commitment to Him as their Savior and Lord.

Distinctive: We serve the general public and organizations

Teófilos offers its programs and courses to individuals. However, we also are committed to serving Evangelical organizations, in particular those who have as part of their mission a strong educational element. As such, Teófilos not only offers its own learning opportunities but also hosts programs and classes offered by member institutions. We also serve these institutions by supporting their mission however possible: online support for on site classes (ie, blended learning), facilitating institutional communication and logistical needs through online technology, etc. Consequently you will note the presence of our member organizations throughout our website. Teófilos is bigger than just Teófilos–it is also the sum of all of our institutions. At this moment Teófilos serves two entities: the Portuguese Baptist Seminary and the Portugal 2015 movement.

What We Offer

Teófilos offers learning opportunities in three different formats, each with a different degree of educational formality.

Curso Básico (Basic Course)

First, we offer our Curso Básico, the equivalent of entry level theological studies on the college level, which is recognized and co-offered by the Portuguese Baptist Theological Seminary. This program is an excellent general preparation for Christian life and lay ministry and is transferrable to pursue further studies through the Baptist Seminary. Enrolling in the Basic Course requires that the potential student register with the Baptist Seminary and meet their requirements. While the Baptist Seminary is denominational, this course is open to people from any Evangelical denomination. An individual may desire to take some of the classes found in the Basic Course without completing the entire program. Even in that case, we strongly encourage that person to enroll as a student at the Baptist Seminary. As such all completed classes are thereby recognized by that authorizing institution. However, it is possible to take up to four classes within the curriculum of the Basic Course without enrolling as a student at the Baptist Seminary. All grades will be maintained by Teófilos, but the student will need to enroll in the Baptist Seminary before any grade reports will be transmitted to any other educational institution.

Nonformal Educational Opportunities

Second, we will be offering a number of seminars on various topics. The length varies and some of these seminars require a payment while others are offered without cost. Grades are not given, but the students study in community and are accompanied by a facilitator who encourages solid reflection on the material at hand. The goal is the same–spiritual and ministerial growth in community. These seminars represent a wide range of interests both for the new Christian as well as for those who are further along in their pilgrimage.

Learning Communities

Third, we will be offering informal, loosely structured ongoing learning communities. These communities are free of charge. Some communities may be joined only by invitation but the majority are generally open to all. Each one focuses on a specific theme, for example Christian Education or Christian Counseling. There is no structured material offered beyond what the members bring to the community through postings, links and interaction. The goal of these learning communities is for the members of the group to contribute to the progress of each member. New communities may be suggested to Teófilos and, if accepted, thereby initiated. (Please follow this Link to a description of our learning communities)

What Is E-Learning?

E-learning is a form of distance learning that takes advantage of the power of the internet. While our students are normally dispersed geographically–even within different time zones–they all study online and gather together “electronically”. Through technology we are able to create an online “classroom” for those who can not get to a physical one.

Taking a course via the internet is somewhat different and, at the same time, somewhat the same as taking a course in a classroom. As in any classroom setting, each course has a beginning and an ending date, assignments, a teacher (and facilitator) and a group os students. Courses typically involve such things as reading prepared lessons and textbook, course study projects, quizzes, and weekly interaction assignments. And, just like in the classroom, students get to know each other and their teacher through interaction with each other and with the course material.

The type of education we are aiming at is best done in a community of like-minded students of the Bible who can encourage and positively challenge and shape one another. Consequently learning in community is a strong emphasis in every Teófilos course. We create this community online through many different opportunities to interact with one another, with the professor and facilitator and with the material.

The ideal Teófilos student is fluent in Portuguese, wants to study the Bible but is unable to get training through traditional means, is competent in his or her use of internet and computer-based technologies and has good internet access. Some of our formal programs have further educational requirements.