TH 504 SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY I Patrick T. Smith, Course Instructor Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Fall Semester 2014 Tuesdays, 8:00 AM 11:00 AM Email: ptsmith@gcts.edu Phone: 978-646-4120 COURSE SYLLABUS Course Description This course is designed to be a study of theological method, general and special revelation, inspiration, inerrancy, and canonicity of scripture, the existence, attributes, and triune nature of God. Course Textbooks 1. Clark, David K. To Know and Love God: Method for Theology. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2003. ISBN: 9781433521898. $35.00 2. Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology, Third Edition. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2013. ISBN: 9780801036439. $49.99 3. Sanders, Fred. The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010. ISBN: 9781433513152. $17.99 4. Ward, Timothy. Words of Life: Scripture as the Living and Active Word of God. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2009. ISBN: 9780830827442. $22.00 Course Objectives The student who successfully completes this course should be able: 1. To understand the importance and necessity of doctrine for Christian life and community. 2. To increase in their knowledge of basic theological concepts, definitions, and doctrines. 3. To effectively read, understand, learn from and engage texts in theological studies. 4. To have a deeper appreciation for theology as it relates to preparation for ministry in the context of the local church, the global church, and the broader contemporary culture. 5. To display an appropriate form of theological humility while being confident in their core Christian convictions. Course Requirements 1. Assigned Readings some of the reading material is covered in class. However, there are elements that will not be brought out in class but are still essential to gaining an
understanding of the material and successfully completing the course. Therefore, the reading provides a rich and necessary component of the learning experience. a) Textbook Reading- The students will be responsible for reading the assigned sections of the course textbooks by the assigned dates stated below. b) Reading Handouts students are also responsible for reading all handouts, essays, and articles reserved by the instructor. 2. Reading/Lecture Quizzes there will be three (3) reading and/or lecture quizzes to be taken on Sakai. Students need to be familiar enough with the reading and previous lecture material to answer questions regarding its content. So class attendance and diligent note taking is essential. It is the responsibility of the student to read the material carefully, to take their own notes for personal study, and if needed read the assignment more than once to adequately prepare for the quizzes. It is imperative that students are disciplined in reading the assigned portions of the textbook and handouts and pay attention in class. 3. Final Exam each student enrolled in the course for credit is to take a final comprehensive examination over the material covered in the course scheduled during the final exam week. Students should prepare well in advance of the exam date by keeping up with the assigned readings, paying attention in class discussions, and reviewing any notes taken in class. The final exam will either be offered through GCTS Sakai or in the form of a written exam (take home or in-class) to be determined by the course instructor. Course Grading The student s grade will be determined as follows: Reading Report 10% Reading/Lecture Quizzes (3) 45% Final Exam 45% The following letter grades and their achievement equivalents are used by the instructor to reflect a student s performance in the course: Grade Achievement Quality Points A 100-96 Work of exceptional quality 4.00 A- 95-93 3.70 B+ 92-90 3.30 B 89-86 Work of commendable quality 3.00 B- 85-83 2.70 C+ 82-80 2.30 C 79-76 Work of acceptable but minimal quality 2.00 C- 75-73 1.70 D+ 72-70 1.30 2
D 69-66 Substandard and barely passing work 1.00 D- 65-63 0.70 F 62-below Failure 0.00 Grading Rubric: After all the requirements of the course have been completed, the instructor will use the following rubric for the assignment of grades, based on the overall performance of the class. The grades assigned will represent the instructor s interpretation of the following standard: A = Outstanding mastery of the subject: excellence is evident in preparation for and attendance in class sessions; unusual ability to retain, analyze and synthesize the material; with a positive attitude making productive contributions to the learning community in the classroom. B = Superior mastery of the subject: sincere effort in preparation for and attendance in class sessions; ability to master the essential aspects of the material; with a mostly consistent attitude in making contributions to the learning community in the classroom. C = Basic mastery of the subject: inconsistent effort in preparation for and attendance in class sessions; engagement with the material but difficulty in grasping some of its aspects; with occasional contributions to the learning community in the classroom. D = Inadequate mastery of the subject. F = Failure: course must be repeated. Warning on Plagiarism: Helpful guidelines on plagiarism can be found on the Indiana University website http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/plagarism.html. This document has the official recognition of the Gordon-Conwell faculty and provides very helpful tools to guide you as you prepare for your assignments. If a student is caught plagiarizing, the student will receive the consequences of this act according to the process established by the seminary. Intellectual Property Rights: To protect the professor s intellectual property rights with regard to classroom content, students are asked to refrain from audio and video recording of classes, as well as audio, video, and written publication (including internet posting and broadcasting) or live transmission of classroom proceedings. Internet Usage: Students are asked to refrain from accessing the Internet at any point during class sessions, unless otherwise instructed by the professor. Surfing the web, checking email, and other internet-based activities are distracting to other students and to the professor, and prevent the student from fully participating in the class session. 3
Course Schedule Date Topic Reading/Assignments Week 1 September 9 Introduction to Theology Erickson, Christian Theology, Chs. 1-3 Timothy Ward, Ch. 1, Introduction, Words of Life, pp. 9-19. Sanders, Introduction, Deep Things, pp. 7-26. Week 2 September 16 Theological Method David K. Clark, The Spiritual Purposes of Theology, To Know and Love God David K. Clark, Theology in Cultural Context, To Know and Love God Week 3 September 23 Theological Method Tennent, Ch. 1, The Emergence of a Global Theological Discourse in Theology in Context of World Christianity. Tennent, Ch.10, The Emerging Contours of Global Theology in Theology in Context of World Christianity. (Optional but strongly recommended) David K. Clark, Christian Theology and the World Religions To Know and Love God Week 4 September 30 Theological Method / Revelation & Scripture Erickson, Christian Theology, Chs. 6-7 Brian Hebblethwaite, Ch. 2, Revelation, Philosophical Theology and Christian Doctrine. David K. Clark, Theology and the Sciences, To Know and Love God Reading along in Timothy Ward s, Words of Life 4
Week 5 October 7 Reading Week #1 October 13-17 Revelation & Scripture No Class Meeting Erickson, Christian Theology, Chs. 8-9 Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Augustinian Inerrancy: Literary Meaning, Literal Truth, and Literate Interpretation in the Economy of Biblical Discourse, pp. 99-135; and Responses, pp. 236-258; Vanhoozer s Response to Mohler, pp. 71-76; in Five Views on Biblical Inerrancy. Reading along in Timothy Ward s, Words of Life ASSIGNMENT: Finish reading Timothy Ward s, Words of Life Tennent, Ch. 3, Biblology in Theology in Context of World Christianity. Craig A. Evans, The Scriptures of Jesus and His Earliest Followers, The Canon Debate, MacDonald and Sanders, eds. David G. Dunbar, The Biblical Canon, Hermeneutics, Authority, and Canon, pp. 295-360, eds. Carson and Woodbridge Week 6 October 21 Week 7 October 28 No Class Meeting Class will be made up on December 9, 2014. Revelation & Scripture Lee Martin MacDonald, Identifying Scripture and Canon in the Early Church: The Criteria Question, The Canon Debate, MacDonald and Sanders, eds. Peter Balla, Evidence for an Early Christian Canon (Second and Third Century), The Canon Debate, MacDonald and Sanders, eds. Clark, Scripture and the Principle of Authority, To Know and Love God Miroslav Volf, Reading the Bible Theologically, in Captive to the Word of God Week 8 November 4 Revelation & Scripture/ Doctrine of God Fred Sanders, Deep Things of God, Chs. 1 and 2 Erickson, Christian Theology, Chs. 13-14 5
Reading Week #2 November 10-14 Week 9 November 18 Week 10 November 25 Week 11 December 2 Week 12 December 9 No Class Meeting Fred Sanders, Deep Things of God, Chs. 3-5 Tennent, Ch. 2, Theology in Theology in Context of World Christianity. Veli-Matti Karkkainen, Native American Theologies, God in African-American and Immigrant Theologies, and Feminist, Womanist, and Latina Theologies, The Doctrine of God: A Global Introduction, pp. 201-238. Veli-Matti Karkkainen, God in African Theologies, The : A Global Introduction, pp. 245-263. Veli-Matti Karkkainen, God in Asian Theologies, and Reflections on Non-Western God Talk, The : A Global Introduction, pp. 279-302. Stephen T. Davis, Perichoretic Monotheism, Christian Philosophical Theology, pp. 60-78. Justo L. Gonzales, The One Who Lives as Three, Manana: Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective, pp. 101-116. Boyer and Hall, The Mystery of the Trinity, The Mystery of God, Ch. 5, pp. 99-122. Miroslav Volf, Theology for a Way of Life, Captive to the Word of God Fred Sanders, Deep Things of God, Chs. 6-7 Erickson, Christian Theology, Chs. 11-12 Paul Helm, The Perfect Trustworthiness of God, The Trustworthiness of God: Perspectives on the Nature of Scripture, pp. 237-252. William C. Davis, Theistic Arguments, Reason for the Hope Within, pp. 43-46 William Lane Craig, Part 1, God? A Debate Between a Christian and an Atheist, pp. 3-78 6