KNOWING THE TRIUNE GOD: THEOLOGY I THS 501M: 4 credit hours Western Seminary Sacramento Campus

Transcription

1 KNOWING THE TRIUNE GOD: THEOLOGY I THS 501M: 4 credit hours Western Seminary Sacramento Campus Dave Fredrickson, Ph.D. (916) dave_k_fredrickson@yahoo.com Syllabus - Spring 2014 COURSE SCHEDULE Mondays 5:30-10:00 pm (Jan 6, 13, 27; Feb 3, 10, 17, 24; Mar 3, 10, 17, 24, 30; Apr 6) COURSE DESCRIPTION THS 501 Knowing the Triune God: Theology I. You will begin to cultivate your ability to think theologically by exploring how theology is done in various approaches in order to develop a practical theological method. Then you will probe God s progressive revelation focusing on the nature and authority of Scripture before pondering God s triune nature and work culminating in the incarnation of the Son. Your passion for carrying out God s mission in His world will expand as you begin to understand how the Father s revelation has impacted the world He created. 4 hours. COURSE GOALS/OBJECTIVES You will develop answers to the contemporary issues related to doctrines covered in this course. You will learn how to: Have an increased appreciation for the importance a theological system will have on your Christian faith and life. Become acquainted with terminology, concepts, and methods of the several major theological systems. Strengthen your ability to think critically, constructively and theologically. Examine progressive dispensationalism as a theological system in relation and contrast to other theological systems. Recognize the significance and necessity of God's self-revelation for knowledge and service of God. Have confidence in the Bible as the inspired Word of God and therefore trustworthy and authoritative. Deepen your understanding of the nature and work of God and in so doing deepen your devotional life and ministry. Specifically you will learn the importance of developing a theo-centric worldview. THS501 Theology I Page 1 Spring 2014

2 TEXTBOOKS You are encouraged to purchase these titles through the Amazon.com associate program; you may use the links provided below in the text list or at this link. Required Erickson, Millard J. (1998). Christian Theology (Hardcover). Baker Academic. ISBN: $23.95 Enns, Paul P. (2008). The Moody Handbook of Theology (Hardcover). Moody. ISBN: $26.24 Tozer, A.W. (1978), Knowledge of the Holy - Reissue (Paperback). HarperSanFrancisco. ISBN: $10.45 Saucy, Robert L. (1997). Case for Progressive Dispensationalism, The (Paperback). Zondervan. ISBN: $18.11 Curtis, Brent & John Eldredge (1997). The Sacred Romance: Drawing Closer to the Heart of God (Paperback). Nelson. ISBN: $13.41 Moreland, J.P. (2007). Kingdom Triangle: Recover the Christian Mind, Renovate the Soul, Restore the Spirit's Power (Hardcover). Zondervan. ISBN: X. $13.98 [Some additional assigned readings will be held for viewing or printing at (go to the website to sign up and pay online to access these readings). See the information regarding course packs in the Library section below.] Companion and Extra Credit Volumes These are companion volumes in that they will often explain in a different and sometimes clearer way a topic dealt with in the required texts Lewis/Demarest and Saucy, respectively. Also, extra credit readings leading to extra grade points are assigned primarily out of these two books. Lewis, Gordon R. & Bruce A. Demarest (1996), Integrative Theology (Hardcover). Zondervan. ISBN: $52.98 ONLINE CLASSROOM This class has an online classroom. Your first class assignment is to access this website during the first week of the semester and take a simple quiz confirming your participation in the course. You may also be asked to use the learning center to download handouts and submit assignments. To access the site, go to Click on login (on the right above the calendar); use your student number for your username, and the password you received from the school. For a replacement password, click on forgot your password or contact Jon Raibley: jraibley@westernseminary.edu. The on-line classroom will go live no later than the first Monday of the semester. RESPONSIBILITIES Online Orientation (15 min.) Before the end of the first Friday of the semester, you need to log onto the web classroom, download the syllabus for the course, and complete the report indicating that you have read and understand the course requirements. By federal law, we now need to ensure that students participate in classes for the THS501 Theology I Page 2 Spring 2014

3 full length of the semester. So failure to complete the online orientation on time may result in a grade penalty and may impact your financial aid eligibility. Final Course Evaluation (15 min.) Before the end of the last Friday of the semester, you will receive an with a link to the final course evaluation. By federal law, we now need to ensure that students participate in classes for the full length of the class. So failure to complete the final course evaluation on time will result in a grade penalty and may impact your financial aid eligibility. Reading Complete all required reading before each class session so that you will be able to participate in and benefit from the class discussions. Reading should be done a familiarity level (about 45 pages per hour) that assumes knowledge of the material assigned. In addition to the texts listed above, a packet of a few additional, assigned readings will be on reserve in the library. If desired you may make single copies of any of those readings for personal use. The assigned readings are reflected in the schedule of assignments in the final section of this syllabus. Time allotted for reading and review: 75 hours outside of class, or 7.5 hrs/wk across 10 weeks (excluding extra-credit reading.) Reading Reports Related to the weekly assigned readings, the student will turn in a 4-6 page report (see specifics below) at the beginning of the following session. The reading reports should devote two pages to EACH reading selection. The first page should summarize the major themes and principles in the selection, and the second page should offer a critique regarding the helpfulness of the selection. Thus there should be about 2 pp. per reading selection usually 4-6 pp. total. Clearly indicate which reading selection is being dealt with, both on the reading report title page and throughout the report reports that are a struggle to identify will be marked down. Note that roughly 1/3 of the reading is labeled as extra credit. For those who are able and interested in giving more time to the class readings, there can be an extra 2 pp. in the reading report, related to this extra credit reading. Time allotted: included within the reading time (excluding extra credit pages). Bible Reflection/Meditation Reports There will be written (typed) meditative reports due each week on one or two Bible passages that will be significant for the focus of that class session. In each case the report is to include: 1) 10 or more bullets indicating what you feel are your most significant observations in the text related to the Believer's theology, answering the question What does this passage teach us about God or His creation or their relationship to each other? 2) 10 or more bullets indicating what you feel are your most significant observations in the text related to your personal spiritual growth, answering the question What does this passage offer to aid you in your Christian growth and how will you apply it? Time allotted: 20 hours, or 2 hours/wk across 10 weeks. THS501 Theology I Page 3 Spring 2014

4 Final Project There will be a final project that will be worth twenty percent of the class grade, and is due in the seminary office or the professor s server by 5pm, Monday, Apr. 21 (as stated in the class assignments schedule, a single rough draft of the first eight items, as described below, is due at the beginning of the 11 th class session). It is intended to reflect all of the knowledge and skills gained in class. Some of the required knowledge and skills will be acquired early in the class schedule, so that it is possible to work on the paper throughout the term. The professor is willing to look at portions of your initial work informally throughout the term and indicate whether your work is headed in the right directions, should you work ahead. The assignment involves a developed statement of belief (one paragraph minimum seek a balance between completeness and succinctness) on each of the theology items or subtopics delineated in the class assignments schedule listed at the end of this syllabus (beginning with "revelation," and devoting a single paragraph to "dispensationalism"). Within each paragraph or section, attention should be given to: 1. Careful, precise wordings. The topic sentence of each paragraph or section should be carefully crafted as an accurate summary of your position as delineated in the section. 2. The priority assigned to the different elements that are chosen to be included (this may be where much of the uniqueness of your presentation will appear) 3. Solid, contextual biblical support for each assertion made See the doctrinal statement of the seminary faculty (in the school catalog) for a model. The draft will be returned with comments at session 12. Time allotted: 25 hours, or 2.5 hrs/wk across 10 weeks. The written project must include a bibliography citing a minimum of five secondary (i.e. outside of the Bible) sources, two of which must be from a physical library or from Western library s online journal collection (see the library information below). Note the physical location of each book or other resource as an addendum to each bibliographical entry in your written project. GRADING A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D % 98% 94% 92% 90% 87% 85% 83% 80% 78% 76% 73% Activity Percent of Final Grade Estimated Time to Complete Reading/Rdg reports 45% 75 hrs Written assignments 20% 19.5 hrs Final Project 20% 25 hrs Class Participation (incl. 2, 15 min. 15%.5 hrs online assignments) Total 100% 120 hrs. THS501 Theology I Page 4 Spring 2014

5 COURSE OUTLINE AND SCHEDULE (LD=Lewis & Demarest, vol. 1 unless indicated); KT=Kingdom Triangle; Enns=Moody Handbook of Theology; Class Meeting # and Date Topic Assignments Due (Extra credit reading is designated by [extra credit]) #1 1/6/14 Introduction: Syllabus, Texts, Reading packets, Assignments, Final project 1/11/13: 15 min. online assignment due Bring to class: Bible, KT, LD #2 1/13/14 1/20/14 #3 Nature of truth and reality in light of postmodernism World views World views (cont) Nature of Theology Faith (revelation) vs. reason* Theological systems No Class - Martin Luther King Day Theological systems (cont) Related to Lecture #1: Nature of Theology; Truth/reality, World views: KT, 38-63, [50] [rdg report #1] Walls & Dongell class handout, [20] [rdg report #2] Related to Lecture #2: Theological Systems (exclud. Israel/church systems) Enns, sect 4 Dogmatic Theology [30] [rdg report #3]; o chapt 32 o chapt 33 only summary evaluation of Calvinistic theology o chapt 34 only the below 2 items: chart: Calvinism & Arminianism summary evaluation of Arminian theology o chapt 37 [Extra credit] o Enns, sect 5 Contemporary Theology, excluding chapts 41, 45 [70] [extra credit, rdg report #4] **today s assignment involves slightly abbreviated reading plus a required 3 rd reading report** Meditation passage report: Gal. 3:16-4:6 Bring to class: Bible, KT, LD No assignments due Theological systems re: Israel/church transition: Enns, chapt 35 (Covenant Theology), chapt 36 (Dispensa- THS501 Theology I Page 5 Spring 2014

6 1/27/14 Method in Theology General Revelation* Natural Theology* Dispensationalism* tional Theology) [30] [rdg report #1] o LD, (vol. 3) (The church and Israel) [55] [extra credit rdg report #3] #4 2/3/14 Bibliology: o Revelation, Special* o Canon* o Inspiration* o Illumination* Method in theology: Erickson, TBA [1 st ed: ] [47] [rdg report #2] Meditation passage report due: Psalm 19, 2 Cor 10:1-6 (still 20 bullets total) Bring to class: Bible, LD, Enns and TBA General revelation, Natural theology: Erickson, TBA [1 st ed: ] [21] [rdg report # 1] Bibliology-Special Revelation & Canon: Erickson, TBA [1 st ed: ] [21] [rdg report #2] LD, [30] [rdg report #4] Dispensationalism Saucy, chapts 1-4 [110] [rdg report #3] o note: refer to the chart of Biblical Covenants in the prior session s class notes to follow Saucy s presentation Meditation passage report due (*still 20 bullets for the total assignment): 1 Cor. 2:1-16; 2 Pet. 1:12-21 #5 2/10/14 Challenges to the authority of the Bible: o Inerrancy* o Errancy* o Reader-centered hermeneutics Attributes of God o Trinity* o of greatness 1 Bring to class: Bible, LD, and TBA Attributes of God: Erickson, [1 st ed ] [25] (greatness of God) [rdg report #1] [Readings packet] Carl Laney, God s Self-Revelation in Exodus 34:6-8, BSac 158:629 (Jan 01) p [15] [rdg report #2] Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy, 1 st half (you pick the end-point [60] [rdg report #2] o L&D, #6 2/17/14 Attributes of God (cont): o of greatness (cont) Meditation passage report due (*still 20 bullets for the total assignment): Isaiah. 40:1-31; John 14:1-31 Bring to class: Bible, LD, Tozer Attributes of goodness: Eldredge, Sacred Romance, 1-68 [70] [reading report #1] Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy, remaining pages [60] THS501 Theology I Page 6 Spring 2014

7 o goodness 1 [rdg report #2] Sovereignty and works of God: Erickson, [1 st ed ] [20] (God s plan) [required rdg reading report #3] o LD, a, a [40] - (Divine sovereign plan) [rdg report #4] Meditation passage report due: Exodus 34:1-9 #7 2/24/14 #8 3/3/14 Attributes of God: o goodness (cont) 1 Sovereignty and works of God: o Decree* o Predestination*, election* Sovereignty and works of God (cont): o Creation* o o Providence Prescriptive and permissive will Bring to class: Bible, LD, and TBA Attributes of God: goodness (cont) Eldredge, Sacred Romance, [30] [reading report #1, 1 ½ pp. ok] Sovereignty, works of God (cont): [Reading packet] o Robert B. Chisholm Jr., Divine Hardening in the Old Testament, BSac 153:612 (Oct 96) p [26] [rdg report #1] Erickson, TBA [1 st ed: ] [21] (creation) [rdg report #2] o [Extra credit] LD, (vol. 2) [50] (creation) [reading report #3] Meditation passage report due: Psalm 33 Bring to class: Bible, LD, Chisolm and TBA Saucy, chapt 6 [30] [reading report #1] (Sovereignty): Erickson, TBA 1 st ed: ] [24] (providence) [rdg report #2] o LD, (vol. 2) [50] (providence) [reading report #3] Meditation passage report due: Habakkuk #9 3/10/14 Sovereignty and works of God (cont): o o Providence* Prescriptive and permissive will* Questions on God's sovereignty / goodness: Bring to class: Bible, LD, Chisolm and TBA Attributes of God: goodness (cont) Eldredge, Sacred Romance, [110] [reading report #1] Sovereignty: [Reading packet] o Chisholm, "Does God 'Change His Mind'?", BSac 152:608 (Oct 95) p [12] [reading report #2] THS501 Theology I Page 7 Spring 2014

8 #10 3/17/14 #11 3/24/14 #12 3/30/14 o Does God change His mind*? o Does prayer change God's mind*? Christology: o Divine origin and human ancestry issues* Christology: o Divine origin and human ancestry issues (cont)* o Divine subordination issue* Christology o OT and Christ* o Names of Christ* o Incarnation*, virgin birth* Christology o OT and Christ o Humiliation/kenosis of Christ* o Person, natures of Christ* o Sinlessness of Christ* o [none] Meditation passage report due: Lam. 3:19-38 Bring to class: Bible, LD, Chisolm and TBA Sovereignty (cont): [readings packet] o Chisholm, "Does God Deceive?, BSac 155:617 (Jan 98) p [18] [reading report #1] o [extra credit] o LD, 322b-327, 332b-333 [8] (God & evil, God & guidance) [reading report #3] Saucy, chapt 5 [30] [reading report #2] Meditation passage report due: John 1:1-18 Bring to class: Bible, LD, Chisolm and TBA Christology: Erickson, TBA (1 st ed: ] [40] -- (divinity & humanity) [rdg report #1] Erickson, TBA (1 st ed: ] [37] (person & natures) [rdg report #2] o LD, (vol 2) (The 2 natures) [60] [rdg report #3] Bring to class: Bible, LD, and TBA Rough draft of first 8 items in final project due today Saucy, chapts 7-8 [45] [reading report #1] Christology: o LD, (vol 2) [26] -- (The resurrection) [extra credit rdg #2] Meditation passage report due: Lk 23:33-24:53 #13 4/7/14 Christology o Reality of death of Christ* o Resurrection*, exaltation* of Christ o Current ministries of Bring to class: Bible, LD, and TBA 4/26/13: 15 min. online assignment due 4/22/13: final project due Saucy, chapts 9-10 [45] [reading report #1] Christology: THS501 Theology I Page 8 Spring 2014

9 Christ 1 o Erickson, TBA [1 st ed ] [20] -- Intro to Work of Christ [extra credit rdg report #2] final project due 4/21/14 Fri. 15 min. online assignment due 4/25/14 * Should be represented by one paragraph in the final project 1 Should be represented by at least two paragraphs in the final project COURSE POLICIES Attendance and Late Assignments: Students are expected to attend all class meetings. Students who miss class are responsible for missed work. Absences and tardiness may impact a student s grade. Students who anticipate an absence should discuss it in advance with the instructor. Students who miss more than 20% of the seat time for the class will not pass the course, without a request for and the completion of additional assignments. Assignments submitted after the due date and time will result in a reduction of the student s letter grade for that assignment. Copyright Violation and Plagiarism: Research in secondary sources for the written project is permitted and welcomed. However, any appropriation of either ideas or wording taken from other sources, whether print or electronic, must be properly footnoted. Failure to do so constitutes plagiarism which can result in substantial grade reduction or failure. Any unauthorized copying or use of copyrighted materials, including downloaded files of various kinds, can result in criminal charges and fines. For a more complete explanation of these issues or WS's copyright policy, see the Copyright Issues and Cheating" section of the Student Handbook. Incompletes/Extensions: The final deadline for submitting all course work is the last day of the semester as noted in the Academic Calendar and in the class schedule. In the case of serious illness, family emergency, or similar extenuating circumstances, the student may request an extension. A 1-3 week extension is typical in all except the most extreme cases, and some penalty for late work may apply. Under no circumstances will the student be given more than 5 weeks to complete all required coursework except by petition and approval of the Administrative Committee. (Extensions longer than 5 weeks are rare and should only be requested under extreme circumstances.) If students face a personal emergency that requires requesting an extension going beyond the end of the semester, it may affect their ability to receive financial aid in the next semester, and they may face the possibility that their next semester s course registrations will be cancelled. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for assistance. Audit/Enrichment Students: Enrichment students are encouraged, but not obligated, to participate in assignments and class discussions. Professors are not obligated to grade participation for these students, but may opt to do so depending on class size. Statement on Wi-Fi Services: Our community at Western Seminary is defined by our membership in the body of Christ. As we share common resources, we wish to do so with respect and consideration for others. Our IT department has created a strong and secure wireless internet network at each of our campus locations to enhance the student learning environment. Some of the considerations in developing our Wi- Fi networks have included providing excellent security (better than you ll find at the local coffee shop) and doing so within a budget that does not significantly impact tuition costs. Keeping costs low means that we don t have an endless supply of bandwidth. We ask that you use the Wi-Fi network for academic purposes and avoid downloading large files or streaming video. Please be mindful that your internet use (both in THS501 Theology I Page 9 Spring 2014

10 class and on campus) can distract others or prevent them from accessing resources they need for their studies. We appreciate your participation in promoting thoughtful, considerate internet use on campus. The Availability of Disability Services at Western Seminary: Western Seminary is committed to responding to the needs of students with disabilities as outlined in both the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of Western students are assisted individually as their needs dictate. It is the responsibility of students with disabilities to identify themselves and the nature of the disability. Any student who has a disability should contact the seminary s Disability (Section 504) Coordinator, Ashley Mitchell, at / , ext Her office is at the Portland campus. Students at the northern California campuses may contact Director of Student Services San Jose or Director of Student Services Sacramento, or they may contact Ms Mitchell directly. Appropriate forms will be provided and must be submitted to the Disability Coordinator s office. LIBRARY RESOURCES SACRAMENTO Since one purpose of a post-graduate education is to further develop research skills for lifelong learning, all class assignments with a research element require library research annotated as such in the bibliography. Typically, a minimum of two resources must be from a physical library or from Western Seminary Library s digital resources. For complete library information including hours of operation, the library catalog, assessing internet sources, APA and MLA writing and style guides, ebooks, databases, and a list of local area libraries, please visit the library s webpage at Ebooks & Research Databases Western subscribes to research databases to provide our students access to quality information without the confusion and accuracy problems of many web resources. These databases provide correctly formatted citations in both MLA and APA format. For access, go to the library s homepage and click the link Digital Resources. EBSCOhost provides access to the ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, PsycArticles (full text of 80 journals) and an ebook collection of over 100,000 academic titles, including useful theology and counseling books which can be downloaded to your computer or personal device. **[User ID: westsem Password: S3m!nary] Gale-Cengage provides a variety of databases of journal articles, research reports, and quality reference works. Note the Psychology Collection and the Gale Virtual Reference Library database which includes the full-text of the 15-volume Encyclopedia of Religion. Contact me with questions! **[Password: westsemgale] Counseling and Therapy in Video is a database of actual therapy sessions, mostly of interest to our MFT students, but available to all. **[User name: WCounseling Password: Com4ter] For research assistance or help in locating books or articles, contact Donna Greenhut, M.S.L.S. / (916) , ext. 7 / dgreenhut@westernseminary.edu THS501 Theology I Page 10 Spring 2014