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The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of a qualitative research study exploring the spiritually formative experiences of nonstudent, female, seminary spouses whose student spouses are beyond the halfway point in their pursuit of an M.Div. at a large evangelical seminary in the eastern United States. Fifteen participants (twelve online nonstudent spouses and three residential nonstudent spouses) were purposefully sampled. The data, which was collected through questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and discussion forums, was analyzed using transcendental phenomenological analysis. Through this analysis it became apparent that seminary spouses did in fact experience spiritual formation through their husband's education. …

This article proposes that Paul’s letter to the church in Rome can identify processes involved

in offering a spiritually formative education from a distance. When Paul wrote the letter to

Rome, he wrote to a church he had never visited. We argue that his relationship with the recipients is

analogically similar to the relationship between professor and student in an online, educational paradigm.

Paul modeled how to offer this spiritually formative relationship by emphasizing the gospel

message, grounding his scriptural authority, personalizing his message, anticipating questions, enlisting

the community, encouraging the recipients, praying for needs, and explaining the marks of …