TH 607 SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY III Fall Term, 2017 Tuesdays, 2:00 5:00 p.m. Dr. John Jefferson Davis, Instructor Phone: (978) 646-4118; E-mail: jdavis@gordonconwell.edu Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-noon Introduction: TH 607 is a continuation of TH 605 and includes a study of the doctrines of salvation, the Christian life, the church, sacraments, and eschatology. The goals of the course are to study the biblical foundations of these doctrines; to understand them in the context of their historical development; and to understand their application to the various ministries of the church and to worship, personal discipleship, and spiritual formation. The instructor will also provide bibliographic help for further study. These course goals are believed to be in keeping with the stated goals of the Gordon-Conwell Mission Statement: to increase knowledge of the Word of God (Art.1); to cultivate spiritual maturity (Art.4; see also the scripture meditation assignments below); to promote an effective evangelical presence in church and society (Art.5); and to cultivate a vision for God s redemptive work throughout the world (Art.6; see topics on mission of the church and eschatology). Textbooks: John Jefferson Davis, Handbook of Basic Bible Texts, 85 157., Joining the Resistance: Practicing God s Presence in a God-Forgetting World (on CAMS), Practicing Ministry in the Presence of God Soong-Chan Rah, The Next Evangelicalism Westminster Confession of Faith (selected chapters; on CAMS) Recommended but not required: John Jefferson Davis, Meditation & Communion with God, Worship and the Reality of God, The Victory of Christ s Kingdom
2 Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, 3 rd ed. Additional Readings on Diversity in the Church: [on CAMS] (read Knitter + 3 others): Paul Knitter, Hermeneutical Privilege of the Oppressed, pp. 190-191. [ Knitter ] Jacquelyn Grant, White Woman s Christ, pp. 1-3; 9-14; 218-222. [ Grant ] Martin Luther King, Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail [ King ] Jim Wallis, America s Original Sin, pp. 4-7, 137-39. [ Wallis ] Michelle Alexander, The New Jim Crow, pp. 106-7, 279. [ Alexander ] Paul Tokunaga, Understanding Our Asian DNA, pp. 32-51. [ Tokunaga ] Derald Wing Sue, My Personal Journey as a Person of Color, pp. 23-29, and White Racial Identity Development, pp. 313-320. [ Sue ] Randy S. Woodley, God s First Discourse: Connected to Creation, pp. 41-66. Joseph Carter, The Universe Doesn t Care About Your Purpose, NYT 7/31/2017 Requirements: [note due dates:] l. Sustain a final exam (Tuesday, Dec 12th) 2. Complete a Personal Interview/Intercultural Awareness assignment: (See p. 10); due Dec 5th. 3. Complete a Scripture Meditation assignment: (p. 9); Due Dec 12th. 4. Submit a report on Additional Readings: Diversity in the Church: Due Dec 12 th : (see report form on p. 11) 5. Write a personal statement of faith: (12-15 pages; due Tuesday, Dec 19th,). Evaluation Grade Scale: For the final evaluation, the statement of faith will count one half, and the Final + Scripture Meditation + Interview assignments + Additional Readings will count one half [Exam: 90 points; Scripture Meditation + Interview + Additional Reading will count 10 points].
3 A = 93-100; A- = 90-92; B+ = 88-89; B = 83-87; B- = 80-82; C+ = 78-79; C = 73-77; C- = 70-72; D = 65-69; F = 0-64. Order of Course Topics: l. Introduction; Calling, Regeneration [PMPG, 1; Rah,1-3; WCF 9-12; H: 85-7] 2. Faith, Repentance, Justification [PMPG, 2,4; WCF 16-18,13; Joining 1; H:88-92] 3. Adoption; Sanctification [PMPG, 5,6; WCF 14, 15; Joining 2; H:92-98] 4. Predestination [WCF 3; Joining 3; H:39-44] 5. Gifts of the Spirit; Perseverance [WCF 19,20; Joining 4; H: 95-102] 6. Doctrine of the Church [PMPG, 3,7; Rah, 4,5,6; WCF 27; H:103-118] 7. Meaning, Mode, Subjects of Baptism [PMPG,10,11; Rah,7-9; WCF 29,30; H:119-24] 8. Theology of Worship; Lord's Supper [PMPG, 8,9; WCF 31; H:124-129] 9. Millennial Views; Postmillennialism [PMPG, 12,13; H: 137-14] 10. The Eternal State; Heaven, Hell [PMPG,14,15; WCF 34,35; H:131-5; 146-157] 11. December 12th: Final Exam: Abbreviations for Readings: Joining = Joining the Resistance ; H = Handbook of Basic Bible Texts PMPG = Practicing Ministry in the Presence of God Rah = The Next Evangelicalism WCF = Westminster Confession of Faith; selected chapters Collateral Readings Systematic Theologies: K. Barth, Church Dogmatics
4 L. Berkhof, Systematic Theology D. Bloesch, Essentials of Evangelical Theology C. Hodge, Systematic Theology F. Pieper, Christian Dogmatics A. H. Strong, Systematic Theology H. O. Wiley, Christian Theology Topical Studies: I. Holy Spirit Bruner, F. D., A Theology of the Holy Spirit Dunn, J. D., Baptism in the Holy Spirit Hendry, G. S., The Holy Spirit in Christian Theology. Kuyper, A., The Work of the Holy Spirit Morris, L., Spirit of the Living God Ramm, B., The Witness of the Spirit Robinson, H. W., The Christian Experience of the Holy Spirit Smeaton, G., The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit Stott, J. R. W., The Baptism and Fullness of the Holy Spirit Swete, H. B., The Holy Spirit in the Ancient Church, The Holy Spirit in the New Testament Thomas, W. H. Griffith, The Holy Spirit of God Torrey, R. A., The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit II. Salvation Berkouwer, G. C., Divine Election, Faith and Justification
5, Faith and Sanctification, Faith and Perseverance Boettner, L., The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination Buchanan, J., The Doctrine of Justification Daane, J., The Freedom of God Green, E. M. B., The Meaning of Salvation Gromacki, R. G., Salvation is Forever Hammond, T., The New Creation Horne, Charles M., Salvation Kung, H., Justification Marshall, I. H., Kept by the Power of God Packer, J. I., Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God Rowley, H. H., The Biblical Doctrine of Election Shank, R., Elect in the Son: A Study of the Doctrine of Election, Life in the Son: A Study of the Doctrine of Perseverance Warfield, B. B., The Plan of Salvation III. Scripture: France, R. T., Jesus and the Old Testament Gaussen, L., The Inspiration of the Holy Scriptures Harris, R. L., Inspiration and Canonicity Haley, J. W., The Alleged Discrepancies of the Bible Henry, C. F. H., Revelation and the Bible Kline, M., The Structure of Biblical Authority Montgomery, J. W., ed., God's Inerrant Word Packer, J. I., Fundamentalism and the Word of God
6 Preus, R., The Inspiration of Scriptures - A Study of the Theology of the Seventeenth Century Lutheran Dogmaticians Ridderbos, N., The Authority of the New Testament Runia, K., Barth's Doctrine of Holy Scripture Stonehouse, N. B. and Wooley, P., eds., The Infallible Word.. Warfield, B. B., The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible Wenham, J. W., Christ and the Bible Young, E. J., Thy Word is Truth IV. Church and Sacraments Best, E., One Body in Christ Bannerman, J., The Church of Christ. Flew, R. H., Jesus and His Church, The Nature of the Church Johnson, G., The Doctrine of the Church in the New Testament Kik, M., Ecumenism and the Evangelical Kirk, K. E., ed., The Apostolic Ministry Kung, H., The Church, Minear, P. S., Images of the Church in the New Testament Newbigin, L., The Household of God Saucey, R. L., The Church in God's Program Schweizer, E., Church Order in the New Testament Scott, E. F., The Nature of the Early Church Stibbs, A., God's Church
7 Adams, Jay, Meaning and Mode of Baptism. Aland, K., Did the Early Church Baptize Infants? Berkouwer, G. C., The Sacraments Cullman, O., Baptism in the New Testament Jeremias, J., Infant Baptism in the First Four Centuries, The Eucharistic Words of Jesus Moody, D., Baptism: Foundation for Christian Unity Beasley-Murray, G. R., Baptism in the New Testament Murray, J., Christian Baptism White, R. E., The Biblical Doctrine of Initiation V. Eschatology Allis, O. T., Prophecy and the Church Beasley-Murray, G. R., Jesus and the Future Berkhof, H., Well-Founded Hope Berkouwer, G. C., The Return of Christ Boettner, L., Immortality, The Millennium Buis, H., The Doctrine of Eternal Punishment Cullmann, O., Immortality of the Soul, or Resurrection of the Dead? Dahl, M. E., The Resurrection of the Body Gundry, R. H., The Church and the Tribulation Kunneth, W., The Theology of the Resurrection Ladd, G. E., The Blessed Hope, Crucial Questions About the Kingdom of God Minear, P., Christian Hope and the Second Coming
8 Pentecost, J. D., Things to Come Ramm, B., Them He Glorified Ryrie, C. C., The Basis of Premillenial Faith, Dispensationalism Today Schep, J. A., The Nature of the Resurrection Body Schoonhoven, C., The Wrath of Heaven Schwartz, H., On the Way to the Futu 1. Text Selection: Scripture Meditation Assignment: It is suggested that you choose a text from among the following: Psalm 23; Jn.1:1-18; Jn.10:1-18 (Good Shepherd); Jn.15:1-17 (True Vine); Jn.17:20-26 (High Priestly Prayer); Matt.17:1-9 (Transfiguration; cf. 2Cor.3:17,18); Eph.1:1-23; Rom.8:1-17 (Spirit & Sonship); Matt.3:13-17 (Baptism of Jesus); Lk.15 (Prodigal Son). You may, however, choose another extended text that is meaningful to you; or, perhaps, the Jesus Prayer ( Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner. ). Text(s) selected: 2. Text Meditation: Your assignment is to meditate on your chosen text for at least 20 minutes a day for five days. Indicate below the month/day that you fulfilled this assignment: Days completed: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. It is suggested that you follow the following classic pattern of lectio divina reading: first, place yourself in the presence of God and ask for the illumination of the Holy Spirit; second, reflect in a leisurely and contemplative way on the text for at least 20 minutes;
9 third, thank God for any insights or touches received; fourth, reflect again on the text and any insights received at some later time during the day. 3. Text Reflection: Report below on your reflections on the text and this exercise in biblical meditation. What new insights, if any, did you receive? Did you have any trouble concentrating? How was this different from your previous patterns of scripture study and devotion? Name: TH607 Fall 2017 Personal Interview Assignment: Intercultural Awareness For this assignment, you are to conduct a 30 minute interview with a person whose cultural and ethnic/national background is different from your own. The questions you may pose may include, but are not limited to the following: family of origin; important aspects of the culture of origin; educational experiences and settings; how the person came to faith; church and denominational background(s); how, in the person s view, his or her family and culture of origin and church experiences have shaped: views and images of God the Father; Jesus Christ; the Holy Spirit; how these experiences have shaped the person s sense of personal identity and calling to ministry. Report on your interview by supplying the following information: Person interviewed & their background: Place, time, and circumstance of interview: How did the person s family of origin, home culture, and church experiences shape their views and images of God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit? Their sense of personal identity and calling to ministry?
10 Did conducting this interview provide any new insights or questions about your own images of God, personal identity, or views on church ministry? Explain: Name: TH607 Fall 2017 Report on Additional Readings: Diversity in the Church: Read Knitter and three other selections of your choice; for Knitter and your 3 selections write a concise, thoughtful one-sentence reaction to each author: *Paul Knitter, Hermeneutical Privilege of the Oppressed, pp. 190-191. [ Knitter ] Jacquelyn Grant, White Woman s Christ, pp. 1-3; 9-14; 218-222. [ Grant ] Martin Luther King, Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail [ King ] Jim Wallis, America s Original Sin, pp. 4-7, 137-39. [ Wallis ] Michelle Alexander, The New Jim Crow, pp. 106-7, 279. [ Alexander ] Paul Tokunaga, Understanding Our Asian DNA, pp. 32-51. [ Tokunaga ]
11 Derald Wing Sue, My Personal Journey as a Person of Color, pp. 23-29, and White Racial Identity Development, pp. 313-320. [ Sue ] Joseph Carter, The Universe Doesn t Care About Your Purpose : [ Carter ] Name: TH607: Fall 2017