Christian Theology: Doctrines and Debates (20) THET08017

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1 Christian Theology: Doctrines and Debates (20) THET08017 Course Manager Dr James Eglinton Room Teaching Staff Dr James Eglinton Dr Alexander Chow Prof Susan Hardman Moore Class Contact Hours Semester 1 Lectures: Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:10-4:00 p.m. Tutorials: Thursdays 4:10-5:00 p.m. Fridays p.m. Class Venue Lectures: Lecture Room 1, New College Tutorials: details posted in week 1 Initial Class Meeting Date/Time: Monday 15th September 2014, 3.10 p.m. Place: Lecture Room 1 of New College Description of Course This course explores some of the core teachings of Christianity and the heated theological debates they have caused. The course is divided into five units, each examining a different doctrine. The doctrines which will be covered this year are: the doctrine of the Trinity, theological anthropology, the doctrine of Jesus Christ (Christology), the doctrine of the Holy Spirit (pneumatology), and the doctrine of the church (ecclesiology). Each of these areas of theological study is considered first in relation to the Bible, and then in relation to the debates in the early church which determined which views were to be accepted as orthodoxy and which views were to be rejected as heresy. The course then considers the way in which these doctrines developed historically through the medieval, Reformation, and modern periods, before analysing their articulations and controversies in contemporary theology. The course tutorials will complement the lectures by exploring the doctrines through a variety of significant source texts drawn from the history of theological investigation. Prerequisites for Course The course is designed for level 8 MA(Div), MA(RS), and BD students, and is a prerequisite of some of the courses in Systematic Theology at Honours level. The course may also be taken as an outside course by nongraduating and visiting students and by students from other Schools with the permission of the Course Manager. Course Outline (provisional) unit one weeks 1 and 2 The Trinity unit two weeks 3 and 4 Theological Anthropology unit three weeks 5 and 6 Christology unit four weeks 7 and 8 Pneumatology unit five weeks 9 and 10 Ecclesiology week 11 revision

2 Assessment and Requirements The assessment of the course will be based on the following components: (1) 20% one 2000-word essay, due by Monday 10th November 2014 at 2.00 p.m. A list of questions and indicative bibliographies will be posted in due course and will be available from the first session of the class. At least one question will be set on each unit of the course. The word limit is words. (2) 20% five 400-word tutorial exercises, to be submitted at tutorials (see below) Details of the five exercises one per unit will be posted in due course and will be available from the first session of the class. The word limit per exercise is 400 words, with exercises due prior to the second tutorial of each unit. (3) 60% one degree exam, in which three questions are to be answered in two hours In each of the above assessment tasks, students will be required to demonstrate: a knowledge and understanding of the key doctrinal issues covered in the course an ability to engage critically with doctrinal questions and theological material an ability to formulate and express theological argument clearly and concisely a fluency in written English, evidencing good grammar, structure, spelling, and style In the essay and the exam, students will also be required to demonstrate: an awareness of and engagement with a wide range of relevant theological sources In the essay, students will also be required to demonstrate: the required adherence to presentation, footnoting, and referencing guidelines Notes: Students must achieve a pass in both the coursework and the exam to pass the course. Late submission of coursework will normally lead to automatic deduction of marks. Further information on assessment will be found in the School of Divinity s Statement of Policy on Assessment and Examination; further information on presentation, footnoting, and referencing guidelines will be found in the School of Divinity s Undergraduates Handbook and on Learn. Tutorial Texts A list of these texts will be posted in due course and will be available from the first session of the class. A course reader with the tutorial texts will be available for purchase at the start of the second semester. Learning Outcomes On successful completion of the course, students will have: (1) understood the key dimensions of the core doctrines studied in the course; (2) engaged critically with different construals of these doctrines, past and present; (3) perceived the relationships between these doctrines in systematic theology; (4) explored a number of core theological texts from across theological traditions. Please direct all queries in respect of this course to the Course Manager.

3 Christian Theology: Doctrines and Debates Course THET : Autumn Semester 2014 : Dr James Eglinton Assignment I Tutorial Exercises Background There are five units in this course, and each unit covers one doctrine. For each unit there are two set texts: one is a classic historical text which considers the relevant doctrine one is a more contemporary text which elucidates the same doctrine The first text in each unit offers a significant reading relating to the doctrine under study from the history of the Christian tradition. These texts reflect core resources for systematic theology, both in their own time and today, and are thus not to be dismissed lightly; rather the attempt should be made to understand them and their significance within the context of Christian theology as a whole. The second text in each unit offers a more recent reading relating to the same doctrine, from a perspective which takes into account both the development of Christian doctrine and changes in intellectual context. These second texts often engage in a more contemporary way the issues explored in the first texts. Task Each unit has a related, assessed tutorial exercise. The task in each exercise is : to engage theologically with the texts by presenting and evaluating their inter relationship in respect of one prescribed doctrinal issue Your assignment is therefore to read the two set texts theologically and to discern a) how they approach the substance of the prescribed doctrinal issue and b) what theological positions they reach in respect of it. There are then two core tasks: first, to present concisely and accurately what each text has to say on the relevant issue; second, and equally important, to offer your own critical engagement with the issue, drawing on both texts to reach your theological conclusions. Guidance This is an exercise in theological exegesis and reflection. Marks will be awarded for accurate presentation of the texts on the prescribed doctrinal issue, and for

4 credible, critical, and creative engagement with the same. Exercises which stop at presentation and do not move to engage the texts will be marked severely. Note that for this focused, text based exercise, there is no need to consult further sources beyond the two set tutorial texts. Hence there is also no need for any footnotes in this exercise; citations of material from the set texts should be indicated simply by the use of brackets and page numbers within the main text. The assessment criteria are provided in the second year course handbook entry. Requirements and Deadlines Each exercise should be: no longer than 400 words and double spaced submitted by Learn by on the specified due date marked on Learn by the following tutorial The issues to be engaged and the due dates for submission are as follows: 1. unit on the Trinity : issue = the definition of person : due = week 3, by Thursday, 1 st October # 2. unit on theological anthropology: issue = imago Dei : due = week 5, by Thursday, 16 th October # 3. unit on Christology : issue = the humanity of Christ : due = week 7, by Thursday, 30 th October # 4. unit on pneumatology : issue = the work of the Spirit : due = week 9, by Thursday, 13 th November # 5. unit on ecclesiology : issue = the definition of the church : due = week 11, by Thursday, 27 th November # # late submission of tutorial exercises will be penalised as per New College policy Questions Any questions in respect of this assignment should be directed first to your tutorial group leader; failing this, the Course Manager will be happy to respond.

5 Christian Theology: Doctrines and Debates Course THET : Autumn Semester 2014 : Dr James Eglinton Assignment II Essay Deadline: Monday 10th November 2014 at 2.00 pm # Length: words * Submission: by Learn Essay Titles: Choose ONE of the following : 1. God in three persons, blessed Trinity (hymn of Reginald Heber) Critically assess the social model of the Trinity. 2. [A] human does not bear or have the image of God he or she is the image of God (Herman Bavinck) Critically explore the notion that the human being is the imago Dei. 3. [W]e have one who in every respect has been tested yet without sin (Hebrews 4.15) Critically explore the theological conception of the sinlessness of Jesus Christ. 4. I believe in the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father [and from the Son] (Niceno Constantinopolitan Creed, 381) Critically evaluate the filioque insertion into the Nicene Creed. 5. The church possesses the distinct character of a replacement for the kingdom (Leonardo Boff) Critically explore the relationship between the Kingdom of God and the church. 6. A title of your own choice, to be approved in advance by the Course Manager. # late submission of essays will be penalised as per New College policy

6 * this word limit includes footnotes and excludes bibliography

7 Assessment Criteria: [from course handbook] students will be expected to demonstrate : a knowledge and understanding of the key doctrinal issues covered in the course an ability to engage critically with doctrinal questions and theological material an ability to formulate and express theological argument clearly and concisely an awareness of and engagement with a wide range of relevant theological sources a fluency in written English, evidencing good grammar, structure, spelling, and style the required adherence to presentation, footnoting, and referencing guidelines Guidance Each of the above questions deals with a key theological debate. The first of your core tasks in the essay is to offer a concise presentation of the relevant theological issues. This may involve biblical survey, historical context, conceptual description, or some combination of the above. It will strengthen your essay to draw on secondary sources to support your presentation. The second of your core tasks in the essay is to offer a critical analysis of the relevant theological issues. In any debate, there are (at least) two viewpoints: different views should be both explored and evaluation in your analysis. It will strengthen your essay to draw on secondary sources to enhance your engagement. Your essay should be structured around these two core tasks of presentation and analysis. Beyond these core tasks, at the beginning of the essay, a concise introduction should clearly open your work and inform the reader as to the path you will take in answering the question set. At the end of the essay, a concise conclusion should explicitly close the work and offer the reader a justified account of your own views on the relevant issue. Such a clear and careful structure is important, and will help your essay to make a coherent argument. It is important also to write in good, accurate English prose. Note that the essay titles above are sufficiently broad that there is no one right answer. Indeed, you may find the essay titles too broad and correspondingly consider it helpful to limit your presentation or your analysis to specific points and issues: if this is the case, then the crucial thing is to make your self imposed limits explicit in the introduction. Also note that the quotation given above each question is merely to stimulate thinking: it is not necessary to deal with this as part of your answer. Finally, note that complete footnotes and a full bibliography should be included and formatted correctly. The following additional guidance is posted on Learn: essay checklist essay referencing statement on inclusivity statement on plagiarism review this prior to submission ensure your essay is well formatted ensure your own practice is good ensure your sources are all cited Finally, do be aware that material submitted in respect of the assessment of this course should not be submitted in respect of the assessment of any other course, and vice versa.

8 Bibliographical Suggestions Some starting resources for each essay are detailed below. However, you are actively encouraged to seek your own additional resources, both through searching the library catalogue and shelves and through judicious use of internet databases and publications. The mark indicates that the source is available online. Question 1 the Trinity A recent discussion within systematic theology has concerned the topic of the social model of the Trinity. This debate both touches on the relationship between oneness and threeness in the Christian conception of God and offers up very different readings of the Christian tradition, east and west. Along with the classic texts of Augustine, Aquinas, Calvin, and others, a number of good articles are accessible through the online ATLA database by typing in the phrase social Trinity. These will offer signposts to further resources, and the list below may also assist in tracking down further material: Ayres, Lewis. Nicaea and its Legacy. Oxford: OUP, Boff, Leonardo. Holy Trinity: Perfect Community. New York: Orbis, Davis, Stephen T. et al. (ed.) The Trinity: an interdisciplinary symposium on the Trinity. Oxford: OUP, Grenz, Stanley J. Rediscovering the Triune God. Minneapolis: Fortress, Gresham, John L. The Social Model of the Trinity and Its Critics. In Scottish Journal of Theology 46.3 (1993), Gunton, Colin. The Promise of Trinitarian Theology. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, Fermer, Richard. The Limits of Trinitarian Theology as a Methodological Paradigm. In Neue Zeitschrift for Systematische Theologie und Religionsphilosophie 41 (1999), Kärkkäinen, Veli Matti. The Trinity: Global Perspectives. Louisville: WJKP, Kilby, Karen. Is an Apophatic Trinitarianism Possible? In International Journal of Systematic Theology 12.1 (2010), LaCugna, C. M. God for us: the Trinity and Christian Life. San Francisco: Harper, McIntyre, John. The Shape of Pneumatology. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, Molnar, Paul. Divine Freedom and the Doctrine of the Immanent Trinity. London: Continuum, Moltmann, Jürgen. The Trinity and the Kingdom of God. London: SCM, Placher, William. The Triune God. Louisville: WJKP, Rudman, Stanley. Concepts of Person and Christian Ethics. Cambridge: CUP, Schwöbel, C. (ed.) Persons, Divine and Human. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, Studer, Basil. Trinity and Incarnation. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, Thompson, John. Modern Trinitarian Perspectives. Oxford: OUP, Torrance, T. F. Trinitarian Perspectives. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, Weinandy, Thomas G. Father s spirit of sonship: reconceiving the Trinity. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, Zizioulas, John. Being in Communion. New York: SVSP, Question 2 Theological Anthropology At the outset of its account of human existence, Scripture asserts that human beings have been made in the image and likeness of God. Historically, debate on theological

9 anthropology has centred on the meaning of imago Dei, with various theologians and theological traditions offering differing interpretations of this concept. Although there is currently a great deal of discussion on theological anthropology generated by David Kelsey s important work Eccentric Existence, the issues of human identity have been important in Christian thought from the Patristic period onwards. The range of resources available reflects this. Bavinck, Herman, Reformed Dogmatics Vol. 2: God and Creation. Grand Rapids: Baker, particularly Burns, J. Patout, Theological Anthropology: Sources of Early Christian Thought. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, Calvin, John, Institutes of the Christian Religion vol. 1. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, undated. particularly I.i iii Cortez, Mark, Theological Anthropology: A Guide for the Perplexed. London: T&T Clark, Greggs, Tom, Review Article, David Kelsey, Eccentric Existence: A Theological Anthropology (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009) in Scottish Journal of Theology, 65, pp Gregory of Nyssa, On the Making of Man. In Scaff, Phillip and Wallace, Henry (eds.), Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Volume V. New York: Cosimo Classics, 2007, Grenz, Stanley. The Social God and the Relational Self. Louisville, KY: Westminter John Knox Press, 2001 Kelsey, David, Eccentric Existence: A Theological Anthropology, 2 vols. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, Miles, Margaret, Augustine on the Body. Missoula: Scholars Press, Moltmann, Jürgen, Man. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, Pannenberg, Wolfhart, Anthropology in Theological Perspective. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, Shults, F. LeRon, Reforming Theological Anthropology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Torrance, T.F. Calvin s Doctrine of Man. London, England: Lutterworth, Question 3 Christology There are plentiful resources for this topic, as almost every writer who has ever written on Christology will have dealt with the sinless nature of Jesus Christ. Most patristic, medieval, and Reformation authors will at least mention the theme, among them many whose works are found online, such as Augustine, Aquinas and Calvin. You will also find many further resources referenced in the following list of more recent works: Barth, Karl. Church Dogmatics. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, various. inter alia: I/2, 151 9; II/1, 397 8; III/2, 48 9; IV/1, ; IV/2, 92 3 Bathrellos, Demetrios. The Sinlessness of Jesus: A Theological Exploration in the Light of Trinitarian Theology. In Paul Louis Metzger, ed., Trinitarian Soundings in Systematic Theology. London: T&T Clark, Berkhof, Hendrikus. Christian Faith. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, rev particularly Berkouwer, G. C. The Person of Christ. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Christology. London: Collins, Crisp, Oliver. Did Christ have a Fallen Human Nature? In International Journal of Systematic Theology 6 (2004), Davidson, Ivor J. Pondering the sinlessness of Jesus Christ: moral Christologies and the witness of scripture. In International Journal of Systematic Theology, 10.4 (2008),

10 Gunton, Colin E. The Spirit and Jesus: (1) Martin Kähler Revisited. Variations on Hebrews In Father, Son and Holy Spirit: Essays Toward a Fully Trinitarian Theology. London: T&T Clark, Hart, T. A. Sinlessness and Moral Responsibility: A Problem in Christology. In Scottish Journal of Theology 48 (1995), Johnson, Harry. The Humanity of the Saviour. London: Epworth, Kapic, Kelly M. The Son s Assumption of a Human Nature: A Call for Clarity. In International Journal of Systematic Theology 3 (2001), McFarland, Ian A. Fallen or unfallen? Christ's human nature and the ontology of human sinfulness. In International Journal of Systematic Theology, 10.4 (2008), Macleod, Donald, The Person of Christ. Leicester: InterVarsity Press, particularly pp Macquarrie, John. Jesus Christ in Modern Thought. London: SCM, particularly O Collins, Gerald. Christology: A Biblical, Historical, and Systematic Study of Jesus. Oxford: Oxford University Press, particularly Owen, H. P. The Sinlessness of Jesus. In Stewart R. Sutherland and T. A. Roberts, eds., Religion, Reason and the Self. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, Pannenberg, Wolfhart. Jesus God and Man. London: SCM Press, particularly Robinson, John A. T. The Human Face of God. London: SCM Press, particularly Sykes, Stephen. The Theology of the Humanity of Christ. In Sykes and Clayton, Christ, Faith and History. London: CUP, Tillich, Paul. Systematic Theology. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, particularly II Weber, Otto. Foundations of Dogmatics. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, particularly II.38 9 and II Weinandy, Thomas. In the Likeness of Sinful Flesh: An Essay on the Humanity of Christ. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, Question 4 Pneumatology The filioque dispute has been a major and controversial topic in systematic theology (and church politics) for many centuries, and is a cause of division between the eastern and western churches. Again, the literature on the theme is very considerable. Along with the reflections of major thinkers such as Aquinas, Calvin, Barth, and Balthasar, there are a large number of very good articles accessible through the online ATLA database by typing in the word filioque. Many are motivated by ecumenical dialogues, and all will provide you with signposts to further useful resources, both ancient and contemporary. Some possible points at which to begin your explorations are offered below: Badcock, Gary. Light of Truth and Fire of Love. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Baker, Matthew. The Eternal Spirit of the Son : Barth, Florovsky and Torrance on the Filioque. In International Journal of Systematic Theology 12.4, Congar, Yves. I believe in the Holy Spirit. New York: Seabury Press, Hendry, George. The Holy Spirit in Christian Theology. London; SCM, Heron, Alasdair. The Holy Spirit. London: Marshall, Morgan & Scott, Kärkkäinen, Veli Matti. Pneumatology. Grand Rapids [MI]: Baker, Kelly, J. N. D. Early Christian Creeds. London: Longman, McIntyre, John. The shape of pneumatology. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1997.

11 Moltmann, Jürgen. The Trinity and the Kingdom of God. London: SCM, Rogers, Eugene. The Holy Spirit: Classic and Contemporary Readings. Oxford: Blackwell Torrance, T. F. Theology in Reconstruction. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Vischer, Lukas. Spirit of God, Spirit of Christ. Geneva: WCC, Watson, G. The Filioque Opportunity for Debate? In Scottish Journal of Theology 41 (1988), Question 5 Ecclesiology The relationship between the Kingdom of God and the church is an important one, particularly for recent ecclesiological reflection. It concerns not only the theological nature of the church but also its historical origins. Some of the resources below focus on the New Testament and the relationship between Jesus proclamation of the Kingdom and the development of the earliest Christian communities; others focus more on the theological relationship between the church and the Kingdom. These suggestions will lead you to further resources, and discerning use of the ATLA database will also yield helpful articles through judicious searching under Kingdom of God and church. Boff, Leonardo. Quaestio Disputata I: Did the Historical Jesus Will Only One Institutional Form for the Church? In Ecclesiogenesis: The Base Communities Reinvent the Church. Translated by Robert R. Barr. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1986 : Brinkman, Martien E. The Church as Sacrament of the Kingdom: A Reformed Commentary. In Exchange 37 (2008) : Bultmann, Rudolf. Theology of the New Testament. London: SCM, Cameron, Ron and Miller, Merrill P. (eds.). Redescribing Christian Origins. Atlanta: SBL, Gingerich, Mark. The church as kingdom: the kingdom of God in the writings of Stanley Hauerwas and John Howard Yoder. In Didaskalia 19.1 (2008) : Gooder, Paula. In Search of the Early Church : the New Testament and the development of Christian communities. In Gerard Mannion and Lewis Mudge, eds., The Routledge Companion to the Christian Church. London: Routledge, 2008 : Haight, Roger. Genesis of the Church. In Christian Community in History, Volume 1: Historical Ecclesiology. New York: Continuum, 2004 : Hengel, Martin. Between Jesus and Paul: Studies in the Earliest History of Christianity. Translated by John Bowden. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, Küng, Hans. The Church. London: Search Press, Michener, Ronald T. The Kingdom of God and Postmodern Ecclesiologies: A Compatibility Assessment. In Evangelical Review of Theology 34.2 (2010) : Moltmann, Jürgen. The Church in the Power of the Spirit: A Contribution to Messianic Ecclesiology. Translated by Margaret Kohl. Minneapolis: Fortress, Mostert, Christiaan. The Kingdom Anticipated: The Church and Eschatology. In International Journal of Systematic Theology 13.1 (2011) : Stark, Rodney. The Rise of Christianity: A Sociologist Reconsiders History. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1996 Questions Any questions in respect of this assignment should be directed first to your tutorial group leader; failing this, the Course Manager will be happy to respond.

12 Christian Theology: Doctrines and Debates Course THET : Autumn Semester 2014 : Dr James Eglinton Contents of Course Reader Unit 1 week 2: The Trinity Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, Ia translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province John Zizioulas, The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity = Trinitarian Theology Today, Chapter 2 Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1995; edited by Christoph Schwöbel : Unit 2 Theological Anthropology week 3: Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies, Book IV, Chapters = Theological Anthropology: Sources of Early Christian Thought Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1981; edited by J. Patout Burns, S.J. : week 4: Unit 3 Jürgen Moltmann, What is man? = Man Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1974 : 1 21 Christology week 5: Cyril of Alexandria, Scholia on the Incarnation, [*] [*] Library of the Fathers of the Holy Catholic Church 47 edited by P. E. Pusey et al; translated by P. E. Pusey week 6: Unit 4 week 7: John Macquarrie, Problems of Christology = Jesus Christ in Modern Thought, chapter 1 London: SCM, 1990 : 3 26 Pneumatology Gregory Nazianzus, Fifth Theological Oration: On the Holy Spirit Nicene and post Nicene Fathers volume 2.7 edited by Philip Schaff; translated by C. G. Browne and J. E. Swallow week 8: Hendrikus Berkhof, Spirit and Participation / Covenant as Tri (u)nity = Christian Faith, chapters 36 and 37 Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979; translated by Sierd Woudstra :

13 Unit 5 week 9: week 10: Ecclesiology Cyprian, The Unity of the Catholic Church Fathers of the Church: A New Translation vol. 36 St. Cyprian: Treatises Washington: CUA, 1958; edited and translated by Roy J. Deferrari : Mary McClintock Fulkerson, Introduction = Places of Redemption: Theology for a Worldly Church, Chapter 1 Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007 : 3 23