[2] There had long been a desire to bring a Reformed theological seminary to the Pacific Northwest that would ably train men for gospel ministry.

The education of Northwest Theological Seminary was built on the following principles: the inerrancy of the Bible, the centrality of Christ, the biblical-theological method of teaching the Word of God, the presuppositional apologetics of Cornelius Van Til, the orthodox confessionalism of the classical Calvinistic tradition, and Reformed presbyterianism.

[3] The seminary's doctrine was firmly founded in the Bible and classic (orthodox) Presbyterian canons (the Westminster Standards and the Three Forms of Unity).

students were required to learn methodology of Scriptural analysis and exegesis in the original languages, church history and biblical and systematic theology.

was a 2–year program that presented a curriculum covering many aspects of scriptural analysis and exegetical work in the original languages as well as church history, and biblical and systematic theology.