Revised Nov. 10, 2011 BTH 175 Theology I: Exploring the Big Questions about God 3 Credit Hours Elmer Chen, MA Winter Semester, 2012 I. Course Descriptions Our worldview and our approach to life are to a large extent determined by our understanding of God and his creation. Our deepest convictions about God form a backdrop for our interpretation of and attitude towards life, as well as our choices and relationships. While our worldview is much more than a set of intellectually held beliefs, it is certainly not less. Theology I is an investigation of the doctrines of God, creation, and revelation. The class will explore together theological questions regarding who God is, his relationship to the world, and how we can know him. II. Learning Outcomes A. Primary Student Outcomes Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Develop a competent theological understanding of the essential concepts and issues in theological prolegomena and theology proper. 2. Begin to cultivate an approach to theological dialogue that reflects Christian character. 3. Begin to integrate their theological knowledge of these areas into a holistic Christian worldview that informs and guides their life and ministry in the context of the Christian community and the world. B. Learning Objectives Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: Cognitive: 1. Understand basic concepts in the doctrine of God, creation, providence, and revelation. 2. Identify key scriptural teachings that inform these areas of theology. 3. Identify the key historical developments leading to orthodox formulations of these theological doctrines. 4. Understand the important contemporary issues and debates in these areas and their relevance to Christian life and mission in the world. Affective: 1. Develop attitudes and convictions consistent with a Christian view of God and his world.
2. Cultivate a deeper awareness of God s activity in the world and a confidence in his trustworthiness. 3. Foster a growing sense of the worthiness of God as an incentive to a life of worship. Conative: 1. Apply the knowledge gained in this course to their personal spiritual journey and that of those they serve. 2. Live a life that is founded on and coherent with a biblical and Christian view of who God is. III. An Important Note Regarding Theological Diversity Eston College is an evangelical Pentecostal Bible college affiliated with the Apostolic Churches of Pentecost. As such, it is our aim to remain within the bounds of theological orthodoxy as well as the ACOP Statement of Faith, which the college shares. It is expected that students attending the college will arrive holding varying theological positions as well as varying levels of theological commitment. Given this diversity, it is the responsibility of professor and students to adhere to the following principles. A. The Principle of Academic Integrity Disagreement and dialogue are a natural and essential part of any academic work. The process of dialogue affords us a unique opportunity to sharpen our thinking, deepen our convictions, and when necessary, to humbly revise our positions. As we study and interact with the thoughts of those who differ from us, it is a matter of moral and relational responsibility that we describe the views of others as fairly and accurately as we can. To intentionally misrepresent the views and arguments of others is not only logically fallacious, but also unkind and dishonest. It is the aim of the professor to present the various theological positions fairly and respectfully. If you identify a point of misinterpretation in the class content, your correction will be gratefully received. It should also be the aim of the student, as a developing theologian, to strive for fairness and respect. It is understood that our interpretation will be imperfect. But significant misrepresentations resulting from either sloppiness (unintentional) or rhetorical manoeuvring (intentional) will affect your grade on the assignment. B. The Principle of Doctrinal Integrity As Christians it is essential that we remain true to the gospel of Christ and to the Holy Scriptures. As members of the ACOP family, it is also critical that we support the traditions of the fellowship, to the extent that it does not contradict the gospel and the Scriptures. As a guideline for doctrinal integrity in our context, the professor will seek to adhere to: The ACOP Statement of Faith; and The Apostle s Creed (as well as other important and widely-accepted creeds). As a college, we seek to be hospitable to students who come from a variety of church backgrounds. It is expected that the Apostle s Creed will serve as a broad basis for fellowship. 2
Within these boundaries, both professor and student are entitled and encouraged to exercise their personal intellectual judgment in good conscience. These documents are attached for your reference. C. The Principle of Love By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35; also see Eph 4:1-3; 1 Cor 8:1). It is a privilege to think, learn and grow together as a community of believers. I would encourage you to make the most of this by engaging in theological dialogue both inside and outside the classroom. Good dialogue can be provocative and intense. There is nothing wrong with this, as long as we are guided by the law of love and by the Spirit, not by the flesh (see Gal 5). But we want to avoid being dominating (e.g. by silencing or shaming the other) or disrespectful (e.g. by attacking the person instead of the argument). Where there are offences, practice Matthew 18. 1 Remember: You are Christians first and theologians second! IV. Procedures A. Written Assignments Students should refer to the Format Guide for proper formatting. Assignments may be handed in early, but must be handed in by 5 pm on the date they are due whether or not you are on campus. Late assignments will be penalized according to the College Catalogue (pp. 54-55). Assignments must be printed and submitted to the main office. If you will be away from the college at the time it is due, but unable to complete the assignment before leaving, you may email the assignment on the due date and submit a hard copy upon your return. My email is: echen@estoncollege.ca. It is your responsibility to read and follow carefully the instructions for each assignment. If you have any questions regarding an assignment, please feel free to ask. A general note regarding marking Comments that appear on your assignments are often meant to help you think more deeply or clearly about an issue. They do not necessarily mean that you lost marks on that particular point. B. Return of Assignment The Faculty of Eston College values quality education. To facilitate this we are committed to make every attempt to return corrected assignments to students within 2 weeks time. Please remember this will not always be possible as the nature and size of assignments varies greatly, but whenever possible this will be our goal. C. Academic Integrity Any evidence of cheating or plagiarism results in a zero for the assignment or quiz and jeopardizes passing of the course (See Academic Misconduct Policy in the College Catalogue, p. 60). 1 I.e. vv. 15-20 If a brother sins against you... 3
V. Course Evaluation Time Investment and Grade Distribution: In-Class Instruction 36 hours Reading 20 hours Reflection Paper 18 hours 30% Confessional Statement 15 hours 40% Weekly Quizzes (10) 6 hours 30% Total 95 hours 100% A. Reading Students are required to read the assigned pages from the text book as well as supplementary readings (handout) and selected terms from the Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms (handout). Although you will not be graded on your reading, your faithfulness in reading will be reflected in the grades of your assignments and tests as well as the value of your contributions in class. It will be to your advantage to complete the relevant readings before the topics are discussed in class. B. Reflection Paper Write nine one page reflections on the perfections and works of God: 1) Trinity 2) Goodness of God 3) Power of God 4) Presence 5) Knowledge 6) Revelation Each reflection should include the following: 1) What does it mean? (not just a definition, but a description) 2) Application: practically, what does it mean for me? 3) Prayer response. Due: 7) Creation 8) Providence 9) Miracle C. Confessional Statement As the course progresses, write a concise confessional statement expressing your positions on various critical questions in the topics of God and Revelation. Use your readings to further develop your views. A set of Critical Questions will be provided to help you work through the issues. The series of I believe statements should be Numbered continuously throughout the confession in order to make crossreference possible when I read them. Presented in a logical order. It is also helpful to group statements under subheadings. Supported by Scripture references in parenthesis. This is not an essay, a discussion, or an apologetic. It is designed to give you the opportunity to formulate your own theological position. The options that you 4
specifically reject may be mentioned in I deny statements, if you wish. This sometimes helps to clearly define what you are affirming. (E.g., in a statement on the Trinity you may wish to state, I deny that there are three gods [tritheism] or that a unipersonal God has manifested himself in three modes or appearances [modalism]. ) Do not avoid controversy or items regarding which you are still uncertain of your position. In such cases, a statement should be made regarding your uncertainty with an indication of any tentative leanings you may discern in your current understanding. You may write in the first person ( I believe ) but avoid using first person references in ways that are ambiguous (e.g. the statement I believe that Christ died as a penal substitute for my/our sin does not tell me for whom else s sin Christ died, or who is included among our/us. ) Be specific. An example of one statement, in the area of eschatology, would be: 1. I believe that the righteous will be resurrected with a spiritual, immortal, redeemed, glorified body, which has continuity with the present body (Rom 8:11, 23; 1 Cor 15:42-44, 53). I believe that the unrighteous will also be raised in body (Matt 5:29-30; 10:28; John 5:29). Criteria for Marking: You will be marked on clarity of your presentation. Aim to be: Clear on what you believe. Concise in your statements (without being vague). Accurate in any information you present. 2 Supported with appropriate biblical references. NOTE: You will not lose marks for disagreeing with the professor. But you may lose some marks for ambiguity, evidence of misunderstanding (see footnote), incompleteness, citation of irrelevant scriptures or lack of scriptural support. Assignment Due Dates: You will submit this assignment in four sections. You will receive feedback on your first submission, which will help you make revisions as well as helping you write the latter sections. Your final submission will include all four sections comprising the entire confessional statement. The Triune God: Friday, October 8 th, 5:00 pm. The Perfections of God: Friday, October 22 nd, 5:00 pm. Complete Confessional Statement: Friday, December 17 th, 5:00 pm. Note: Lateness in any of these submissions will result in the appropriate penalty as per Eston College Catalogue: Minus 10% (x 1/3) being one day late on one part (i.e. if you do this four times, you lose 10% on the whole assignment). Minus 30% (x 1/3) for being two days late. Minus 50% (x 1/3) for three days +. 2 Examples of inaccuracy: I believe in detailed inerrancy of the Bible. It only errs in minor doctrines. Or: I believe in the Trinity. Although he is three separate beings, he is one. 5
Lateness on the final submission will result in at least the equivalent penalty for each section (i.e. one day late minus 10%; but if you already lost 30% on part 2, that part remains at -30%). VI. Tentative Schedule Date Topic Assignment September Week 1 Introduction Mon. Sept. 20 Course Introduction Introduction to Theology Read: Grenz, Intro. Mon. Oct. 4 Theological Worldviews Read: Grenz chap. 1 Week 2 Wed. Oct. 6 The Identification of God (See The Name of God in Grenz, chap. 3) The Triune God Wed. Oct. 13 The Holy Trinity Read: Grenz, chap. 2 Week 3 Wed. Oct. 20 October Week 4 The Holy Trinity The Perfections of God Fri. Oct. 8 [no class] Due: Confessional Statement #1 Mon. Oct. 25 [Approaching the Attributes] Test #1: The Triune God Wed. Oct. 27 The Existence of God Festival of Missions Week 5 Mon. Nov. 1 The Being of God Read: Grenz, chap. 3 Wed. Nov. 3 The Goodness of God Week 6 Fri. Nov. 5 [no class] Due Nov. 5 th : First Draft of Research Paper Mon. Nov. 15 November Week 7 Mon. Nov. 22 Wed. Nov. 24 Week 8 The Goodness of God November 8, 10 Reading Break The Power of God The Presence of God Mon. Nov. 29 The Knowledge of God Fri. Nov. 26 [no class] Due Nov. 26 th : Research Paper Wed. Dec. 1 The Knowledge of God 6
The Works of God Week 9 Fri. Oct. 22 [no class] Due: Confessional Statement #2 Test #2: The Perfections of God Mon. Sept. 27 Revelation Read: Hoffecker/Beale & Jones Wed. Sept. 29 Revelation Read: Grenz, chap. 14 Week 10 Mon. Dec. 6 Week 11 Wed. Dec. 8 Mon. Dec. 13 Week 12 Creation Providence Miracles Theological Method (If time permits) Read: Dembski, Martin, Grenz, chap. 4 Wed. Sept. 22 Epistemology & Sources for Theology Read: Wood, Moreland, Wade, Grenz, chap. 1 Wed. Dec. 15 Catch-up/Conclusions Fri. Dec. 17 [no class] Due: Dec. 17 th : Confessional Statement (complete) Exam Week Test #3: The Works of God 7
VII. Bibliography Required Textbooks: An English translation of the Bible (ESV or NRSV preferred) Grenz, Stanley J. Theology for the Community of God. Vancouver: Regent College Publishing, 2000. (Pages 1 123 and 379 404) Grenz, Stanley J., David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1999. Supplementary Readings list and package. Reference Dyrness, William A. and Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen. Global Dictionary of Theology. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2008. Elwell, Walter A., ed. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. Second edition. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001. Hart, Trevor, gen. ed. The Dictionary of Historical Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000. Systematic Theology Berkhof, Louis, Systematic Theology, revised and enlarged edition. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1953. Bloesch, Donald G. Essentials of Evangelical Theology. Two volumes in one. Hendrickson, 2006. Brunner, Emil. Dogmatics. 3 vols. Library of Theological Translations, Trans Olive Wyon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co., 1949-62. Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. Trans. Ford Lewis Battles. Ed. John T. NcNeill. Vols. 20, 21, The Library of Christian Classics. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1960. Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. Second Edition. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998. Garrett, James Leo. Systematic Theology: Biblical, Historical, & Evangelical, Vols. 1 & 2. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990. Geisler, Norman. Systematic Theology. 4 vols. Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2002. Grenz, Stanley J. Theology for the Community of God. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1994. (Also published by Eerdmans/Regent College Publishing, 2000) Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Bible Doctrine. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994. Hodge, Charles. Systematic Theology. 3 vols. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1970. Jenson, Robert W. Systematic Theology. 2 vols. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997, 1999. Kendall, R. T. Understanding Theology, Vol. 1 & 2. Great Britain: Christian Focus, 1996. McGrath, Alister E. Christian Theology: An Introduction, Second Edition. Oxford: Blackwell, 1997. Muller, Richard. Post-Reformation Reformed Dogmatics. 4 volumes. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003. Pannenberg, Wolfhart. Systematic Theology. 3 volumes. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997. 8
Williams, J. Rodman. Renewal Theology: Systematic Theology from a Charismatic Perspective, Three Volumes in One. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996. Doctrine of God Bray, Gerald. The Doctrine of God. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1993. Feinberg, John S. No One Like Him: The Doctrine of God. Foundations of Evangelical Theology. Wheaton: Crossway, 2001. Fox, Patricia A. God as Communion: John Zizioulas, Elizabeth Johnson, and the Retrieval of the Symbol of the Triune God. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 2001. Frame, John M. The Doctrine of God. A Theology of Lordship. Phillipsburg: P & R Publishing, 2002. Ganssle, Gregory E., ed. God & Time: Four Views. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2001. Grenz, Stanley J. Rediscovering the Triune God: The Trinity in Contemporary Theology. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004. Gunton, Colin E. Act and Being: Towards a Theology of the Divine Attributes. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003.. The Triune Creator: A Historical and Systematic Study. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.. The One, The Three and the Many: God, Creation and the Culture of Modernity. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1993. Jewett, Paul K. God, Creation, & Revelation: A Neo-Evangelical Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991. Kärkkäinen, Veli-Matti. The Trinity: Global Perspectives. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2007. Lacugna, Catherine Mowry. God for Us: The Trinity & Christian Life. New York: HarperCollins, 1991. Marshall, Bruce D. Trinity and Truth. Cambridge Studies in Christian Doctrine. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2000. Morris, Thomas V. Our Idea of God: An Introduction to Philosophical Theology. Contours of Christian Philosophy. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1991. Oden, Thomas C. The Living God, Systematic Theology: Volume One. Peabody: Prince Press, 1998. Olson, Roger E. and Christopher A. Hall. The Trinity. Guides to Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002. Packer, J. I. Knowing God. Toronto: Hodder and Stoughton, 1975. Rahner, Karl. The Trinity. Milestones in Catholic Theology. New York: Crossroad, 1997. Shults, F. LeRon. Reforming the Doctrine of God. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2005. Toon, Peter. Our Triune God: A Biblical Portrayal of the Trinity. Vancouver: Regent College Publishing, 2002. Torrance, Thomas F. The Christian Doctrine of God: One Being Three Persons. New York: T & T Clark, 1996.. Trinitarian Perspectives: Toward Doctrinal Agreement. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1994. Vanhoozer, Kevin J., ed. The Trinity in a Pluralistic Age: Theological Essays on Culture and Religion. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997. Revelation G. K. Beale. The Erosion of Inerrancy in Evangelicalism: Responding to New Challenges to Biblical Authority. Wheaton: Crossway, 2008. 9
Jenson, Peter. The Revelation of God. Contours of Christian Theology. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2002. McGowan, A.T.B. The Divine Authenticity of Scripture: Retrieving an Evangelical Heritage. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2007. Webster, John. Holy Scripture: A Dogmatic Sketch. Current Issues in Theology. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2003. Creation Bavinck, Herman. In the Beginning: Foundations of Creation Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1999. Blocher, Henri. In the Beginning: The Opening Chapters of Genesis. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1984. Jeffrey, Grant R. Creation: Remarkable Evidence of God s Design. Toronto: Frontier Research Publications, 2003. Moreland, J. P. & John Mark Reynolds, gen. eds. Three Views on Creation and Evolution. Counterpoints. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999. Schwarz, Hans. Creation. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002. Providence Beilby, James K., and Paul R. Eddy. Divine Foreknowledge: Four Views. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2001. Berkouwer, G. C. The Providence of God. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1952. Carson, D. A.Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility: Biblical Perspectives in Tension. Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1981. Feinberg, John, et al. Predestination and Free Will: Four Views of Divine Sovereignty and Human Freedom. Edited by David Basinger and Randall Basinger. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1986. Frame, John M. No Other God: A Response to Open Theism. Phillipsburg, N. J.: P & R, 2001. Helm, Paul. The Providence of God. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1994. Pinnock, Clark, et al. The Openness of God. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1994. Polkinghorne, John C. Science and Providence: God s Interaction with the World. Philadelphia and London: Templeton Foundation Press, 2005. Sanders, John. The God Who Risks. Revised Edition. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2007. Spiegel, James S. The Benefits of Providence: A New Look at Divine Sovereignty. Wheaton: Crossway, 2005. Tiessen, Terrance L. Providence & Prayer: How Does God Work in the World? Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2000. Ware, Bruce. God s Greater Glory: The Exalted God of Scripture and the Christian Faith. Wheaton: Crossway, 2004.. God s Lesser Glory: The Diminished God of Open Theism. Wheaton: Crossway, 2000. 10