Birmingham Theological Seminary 2200 Briarwood Way Birmingham, Alabama 35243 205-776-5650 Spring 2013 Cell Phone: 717-448-5151 ST3526 Systematic Theology I E-mail address: jbr10@mail.com Professor: Rev. James Richwine Tuscaloosa Campus Class Hours: 2 COURSE PURPOSE The purpose of this course is to study Prolegomena and the Doctrine of God. Included will be a brief study of the history of theological study, a study of revelation, the nature and attributes of God, the Being and Works of God. Items covered include: the existence and knowability of God, the doctrine of the Trinity, the Divine Decree, creation, predestination and providence. COURSE OBJECTIVES 1. The student will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the nature, legitimacy, and importance of Systematic Theology in understanding the Scriptures. 2. The student will be able to explain the historic development of systems of theology and be able to articulate the differences in these systems. 3. The student will be able to explain how God has given and protects the Scriptures, their inspiration, authority, inerrancy and sufficiency for our faith and life 4. The student will be able to discuss the nature of God, the Trinity, and God s sovereignty in creation, predestination and providence. 5. The student will be able to discuss biblically the Reformed perspective. Required Texts: COURSE TEXTS Berkhof, Louis. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: William B Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1996 (pp. v-186, 19-180) Boettner, Lorraine. The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination. Philadelphia: The Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1966. (pp. 1-431) Pink, Arthur W. The Attributes of God. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1975. (pp. 7-92) Sproul, R.C. Chosen By God. Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1994. (pp. 9-213)
Recomended Texts: Reymond, Robert L. A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith, 2nd Edition. Nashville:Nelson Reference and Electronic Publishing, 1998. (pp.xxv-414, 461-502) Frame, John. The Doctrine of God. Phillipsburg: P & R Publishing, 2002. Packer, J. I. Knowing God. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1973. Packer, J.I. Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1961. Packer, J.I. Concise Theology. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press Pink, Arthur W. The Sovereignty of God, Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1984. Warfield, Benjamin B. The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible. Philadelphia: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1948. Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations University of Chicago Press COURSE REQUIREMENTS 1. Class attendance: more than two unexcused absences drops your final grade one letter grade. 2. Completion of reading assignment on time. 3. Write two 3-5 page (each) synopsis and critique (Biblical/exegetical basis only) on any two of the following books: a. Knowing God, J.I. Packer b. Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, J.I. Packer c. The Sovereignty of God, Arthur W Pink d. Willing to Believe, R.C. Sproul e. The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, Timothy Keller F Begin your critique with the bibliographic information of the book you have chosen to critique. F Write a brief summary of the main theme and any major secondary themes of the author. F Include your analysis of the arguments the author sets forth. Your analysis should be focused primarily upon how faithfully you think the author has interpreted and applied the Scripture. F Evaluate how they have either succeeded or failed in taking into account all of Scripture (in other words, is it a systematic argument or simply a use of some isolated
proof tests?) citing instances from the book to support your evaluation. F Tell me why you agree or disagree with their conclusion(s), using the Scriptures to support any differing views you may hold. F Conclude with a paragraph that states what you have gained personally AND professionally from reading this book. 4. Write a 10-15 page research paper tracing the Augustinian-Pelegian controversy through the Middle Ages, the Reformation and the 19 th /20 th /21 st century. In addition to the historical facts include your personal observations about the controversy as well as its impact upon the church in America in the 21 st century. You should average two citations per page and at least five-seven reference works other than your textbooks. Paper should contain the following constituent parts: title page, table of contents, introduction, research question (what are you investigating?), discussion and conclusion (include in the conclusion an evaluation of how this study has impacted you personally), bibliography. (The 10-12 pages begins with introduction and ends with conclusion). 5. Mid-Term and Final exam GRADING 1. Class attendance: more than two unexcused absences drops final grade one letter grade. 2. Completion of reading and ability to participate in discussion. (There will be a question on the final asking if you have completed all the assigned readings.) 10% 3. Two short papers are worth 10% each for a total of 20% of grade 4. Research paper 30% 5. Mid Term and Final Exam 20% each for a total of 40% BTS FORMAT AND STYLE STANDARDS Note: All research papers must be formatted in accordance with Turabian Chicago standards including the title page, citations and bibliography. Any paper not conforming to these standards will automatically be dropped one letter grade. #12 Times New Roman font and double spacing is required on all papers. All margins (side, top, & bottom) no larger than 1 inch. All course materials must be submitted by the last day of class. Thereafter, course materials may be submitted for up to six (6) weeks after the end of the semester directly to the office of the Registrar with the permission of the professor. If a student submits course materials after the end of the semester but within the six (6) weeks grace period, the student s grade will be lowered by one letter grade. The course materials will not be accepted after the six (6) week grace period and a failing grade will be posted to the student s transcript.
COURSE OUTLINE Week One: Jan 24 Prolegomena Introduction & Historic Overview Read: Berkhof (pp.v 115) Introductory Volume Week Two: Prolegomena Historic Overview (cont) Jan 31 Read: Berkhof (pp. 116-143) Week Three: Prolegomona Revelation Feb 7 Read: Berkhof (pp. 144-169) Week Four: Feb 14 Prolegomena Revelation (con t), Scripture & Inspiration 1 st Report due Read: Berkhof (pp. 170-186) Week Five: Prolegomena Inspiration (cont) & Canon Feb 21 Read: Pink (pp. 9-92) Read: Berkhof (pp. 19-46) Systematic Theology Week Six: Doctrine of God Intro, Incomprehensibility of God, Knowledge of God Feb 28 Read: Berkhof (pp. 47-56) Week Seven: Doctrine of God Knowledge of God (cont.), Names of God. Mar 7 Read: Boettner (pp. 57-81) Week Eight: Mar 14 Doctrine of God Names of God (cont.), Attributes of God 2 nd Report due Study for Mid Term Spring Break No Class Take Home, Open Book, Mid Term Exam (Prolegomena only) Mar 21 Read: Sproul (pp. 9-213) Week Nine: Doctrine of God Attributes of God (cont) Mar 28 Read: Boettner (pp. 205-298) Read: Berkhof (pp. 82-99) Week Ten: Doctrine of God The Trinity April 4 Read: Berkhof (pp. 100-140) Boettner (pp. 299-431) Week Eleven: Doctrine of God The Works of God April 11 Read: Berkhof (pp. 141-180) Research Paper Due Week Twelve: April 18 Doctrine of God Predestination, Providence & Miracles Read: Catch up on any incomplete readings Week Thirteen: Final Exam April 25
Additional Annotated Bibliography Systematic Theology Bavinck, Herman. Reformed Dogmatics. 3 vols. translated thus far. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003-2006. Berkof, Louis. Summary of Christian Doctrine. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1997. Boice, James Montgomery. Foundations of the Christian Faith. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1986. Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion, 1559. 2 vols. Translated by Ford Lewis Battles. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1960. Although there are many aspects of Systematic Theology that Calvin does not address, this is the oldest and most classic statement of Reformed theology. Dabney, Robert Lewis. Lectures in Systematic Theology, 1878. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1972. Southern Presbyterian Erickson, Millard. Christian Theology, 2 nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1983. Moderately Calvinistic Baptist Gill, John. Body of Divinity, 1769. Reprint, Atlanta, GA: Turner Lassetter, 1965. Strict (Particular) Calvinistic Baptist Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994. Hodge, Charles. Systematic Theology, 1887. 3 vols. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1997 reprint. Hodge was one of the preeminent Princeton Presbyterian theologians. Oden, Thomas. Systematic Theology. 3 vols. Peabody, MA: Prince Press, 1998. A compilation of classical theologies from various perspectives Reformed, Lutheran, and Arminian Pieper, Francis. Christian Dogmatics. 4 vols. Saint Louis: Concordia, 1950. Classical Lutheran theology Reymond, Robert. A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith. Nashville: Nelson, 1998. Reformed Shedd, William G. T. Dogmatic Theology, 1894, ed. Alan W. Gomes. Phillipsburg, NJ: P and R, 2003. An excellent but often overlooked Presbyterian theology Strong, Augustus Hopkins. Systematic Theology. Westwood, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1907. Moderately Calvinistic Baptist Turretin, Francis. Institutes of Elenctic Theology, 1685. 3 vols. Translated by George Musgrave Giger, ed. James T. Dennison, Jr. Phillipsburg, NJ: P and R, 1992. Reformed, from the era of Protestant Scholasticism Vincent, Thomas. The Shorter Catechism Explained from Scripture. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1980 The Inspiration of Scripture Custer, Stewart. Does Inspiration Demand Inerrancy? Nutley, New Jersey: The Craig Press, 1968. Lindsell, Harold. The Battle for the Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1976. Montgomery, John Warwick, ed. God s Inerrant Word. Minneapolis: Bethany Fellowship, Inc. 1974. Packer, J. I. Fundamentalism and the Word of God. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1958. Stonehouse, N. B., and Paul Woolley, ed. The Infallible Word. Philadelphia: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1946.
Tenney, Merrill C., ed. The Bible-The Living Word of Revelation. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1968. Warfield, Benjamin B. The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible. Philadelphia: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1948.. Limited Inspiration. Philadelphia: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, n.d. White, James. The King James Only Controversy. Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers, 1995. Young, Edward J. Thy Word Is Truth. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company,1957. The Doctrine of God Bavinck, Herman. The Doctrine of God. Translated by William Hendriksen. Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1977. A classic and thorough treatment from a Reformed perspective Charnock, Stephen. The Existence and Attributes of God, 1682. Reprint, Wilmington: Sovereign Grace Book Club, 1969. Edwards, Jonathan. Our Great and Glorious God. Pittsburgh: Soli Deo Gloria. The Wrath of Almighty God. Pittsburgh: Soli Deo Gloria. Erickson, Millard J. God the Father Almighty. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998. A contemporary exploration of the divine attributes Letham, Robert. The Holy Trinity. Phillipsburg, NJ: P and R, 2004. A deep theological study of the doctrine of the Trinity, with emphasis on the classical ecumenical creeds Piper, John. Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist. Portland: Multnomah Publishing, 1986. The Pleasures of God. Portland: Multnomah Press, 1991. God s Passion for His Glory. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 1998. When I Don t Desire God. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2004. Sproul, R.C. One Holy Passion. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishing, 1987. The Holiness of God. Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishing, 1985. Storms, Samuel C. The Grandeur of God. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1984. A theological and devotional study of the divine attributes Ware, Bruce A. God s Lesser Glory. Wheaton: Crossway, 2000. A critique of Open Theism Warfield, Benjamin B. The Plan of Salvation, Revised Edition. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, no date. A summary of the various lapsarian positions on the decrees of God Creation Johnson, Philip E. Darwin on Trial. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1991. Reason in the Balance: The Case Against Naturalism in Science, Law, and Education. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1995. MacArthur, John. The Battle for the Beginning: The Bible on Creation and the Fall of Adam. Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2001.
Strobel. Lee. The Case for a Creator. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004. West, John G. Darwin Day in America: How Our Politics and Culture Have Been Dehumanized in the Name of Science. Wilmington, DE: Intercollegiate Studies Institute, 2007. Providence Helm, Paul. The Providence of God. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1994. Plumer, William S. Jehovah-Jireh: A Treatise on Providence. Harrisonburg: Sprinkle Publications, n.d. Sproul, R.C. The Invisible Hand. Dallas: Word Publishing, 1996. Spurgeon, C.H. Spurgeon on the Providence of God. Tampa: MacDonald Publishing Co, n.d. Predestination Bunyan, John. Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, n.d. Edwards, Jonathan. The Freedom of the Will. Soli Deo Gloria. Sproul, R.C. Willing to Believe. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1997. IS White, James R. and Sproul, Jr. R.C. The Potter s Freedom. Calvary Press, 2000.