Course Syllabus THEO 0631 CHRISTOLOGY INTERSESSION 2016 9:00 AM TO 12 NOON; 1:00 PM TO 4:00 PM JANUARY 4-8, 2016 INSTRUCTOR: DR. DENNIS NGIEN Email: dngien@tyndale.ca Office hours: by appointment I. COURSE DESCRIPTION: Christology, the study of the person of Christ, has been the centerpiece of theological reflection in the Christian tradition, from the earliest times to the present day. This course will begin with the New Testament and recent attempts to understand its Christology. It will examine the principal issues (theological and philosophical) extending from Arianism in the fourth century to Kenotic Christ and the question of the uniqueness of Christ in the twentieth century. A particular attention will be given to the homiletical exercise of Christology, blending doctrine and praxis. II. LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the end of the course, students should be able to: 1. Understand the Christological controversies leading up to Council of Chalcedon and beyond. 2. Give an account of who Jesus is and why he is central to our identity and Christian life. 3. Know the range of doctrinal issues inherent in Christology. 4. Explain how and why the doctrine of Christ s dual nature is basic to soteriology. 5. Describe the significance of the suffering and death of God for contemporary discussions on the doctrine of God. 6. Know how to preach Christ with confidence.
III. COURSE REQUIREMENTS: A. REQUIRED TEXTS: (Must purchase) 1. Macleod, Donald. The Person of Christ. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1998. Hereafter cited as Macleod. 2. Crisp, Oliver D. Divinity and Humanity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007. Hereafter cited as Crisp. 3. Seamands, Stephen. Give Them Christ. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2012. Hereafter cited as Seamands. B. SUPPLEMENTARY/RECOMMENDED READINGS: (Put on Reserve at Library) 1. Norris, Richard A., Jr., trans. & ed. The Christological Controversy. Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press, 1990. Hereafter cited as Norris. C. ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING: 1. Class attendance and participation: 10% All students must do the assigned readings in advance, and be prepared to engage in class or small group interactions. 2. Class presentation: 15% The course will be conducted in lecture as well as seminar style. Each student will do at least one presentation as scheduled, and lead the discussion. The presenter should provide for the class no more than a four page summary of the designated topic. On the same day of presentation, the paper is due, and will be graded accordingly. 3. Book Review: 25% A list of bibliography on Christology will be provided in class. Students are free to choose their preferred text, but with the instructor s approval. A book review must consist of 8 pages, doublespace. In six pages, the review should contain (a) a brief synopsis of the author s main thesis and (b) how he/she develops it; in two pages, students should show (c) the specific worth of the book. Deadline: Feb. 5, 2016 4. Research Paper: 50% Students are free to select their own topic, but in consultation with the instructor. For MTS/Mdiv, students, the length of the essay is 15-20 pages (double space); for ThM students, the length of the essay is 18-25 pages. In Chicago style, the essay should be rigorously documented, with a minimum of 35 footnotes from 15 different sources [7 books and 8 journal articles for MTS/Mdiv., students]; but a minimum of 50 footnotes from 20 sources [10 books and
10 journal articles for ThM students]. It should not simply report or summarize, but demonstrate thorough reflection, analysis, and embody a conceptual argument in which various angles of the question are explored in fairness and at length. Deadline: Mar. 18, 2016 ## Extended Paper of 40-50 pages: 80% [class presentation: 20%] With special permission, students could do an extended paper of 40-50 pages in lieu of the shorter one, either as a fulfillment of the requirement of ThM non-thesis option or a preparation for further study (e.g., MA or PhD study). In Chicago style, the paper should be rigorously documented, with a minimum of 70 footnotes from 40 different sources (20 books and 20 journal articles]. It should not simply report or summarize, but demonstrate thorough reflection, analysis, and embody a conceptual argument in which various angles of the question are explored in fairness and at length. Deadline: Apr. 08, 2016 D. GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR THE SUBMISSION OF WRITTEN WORK: Academic Integrity Integrity in academic work is required of all our students. Academic dishonesty is any breach of this integrity, and includes such practices as cheating (the use of unauthorized material on tests and examinations), submitting the same work for different classes without permission of the instructors; using false information (including false references to secondary sources) in an assignment; improper or unacknowledged collaboration with other students, and plagiarism. Tyndale University College & Seminary takes seriously its responsibility to uphold academic integrity, and to penalize academic dishonesty. Students should consult the current Academic Calendar for academic polices on Academic Honesty, Gender Inclusive Language in Written Assignments, Late Papers and Extensions, Return of Assignments, and Grading System. The Academic Calendar is posted at www.tyndale.ca/seminary/calendar. Please take note the following items: Paper Format Written assignments must adhere to academic standards for style, format, citations and references as found in the most recent edition of a recognized style manual (e.g., The Chicago Manual of Style, the Turabian Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertation, The SBL Handbook of Style, The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association). The course instructor will advise students as to the preferred academic style format for the course. Academic Grading System The standards and definitions used by Tyndale Seminary in the assignment of letter grades and percentage grades are outlined in the Academic Calendar.
Policy on Late Papers and Extensions All papers and course assignments must be submitted by the due dates indicated by the instructor or in the course outline. Unless the instructor already has a policy on grading late papers in the course outline, grades for papers submitted late without advance permission will be lowered at the rate of 1/3 of a grade per week or part thereof (e.g., from A+ to A, from B to B-). Students who have not completed course requirements by the end of the semester (or Registrar approved extension date) will be assigned a grade of F. Faculty may grant an extension only up until the last day of exams for the semester. Requests for extensions beyond this date must be addressed in writing to the Registrar and will be considered only in cases such as a death in the family, medical emergency, hospitalization of oneself or immediate family member or prolonged illness requiring treatment by a physician. Factors such as assignments for other courses, holidays and technology related difficulties or malfunctions are all insufficient grounds for requesting an extension. Application for an Extension Due to Extreme Circumstances Requests for extensions will only be considered in the circumstances noted above and only upon submission of a completed application form to the Registrar. Application forms are available from the Registrar s office or online at www.tyndale.ca/registrar/downloads Student Medical Certificate Applications for extensions for medical reasons must be accompanied by a Medical Certificate signed by a physician. The Student Medical Certificate form is available from the Registrar s office or online at www.tyndale.ca/registrar/downloads E. SUMMARY OF ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING: Unless otherwise, evaluation is based upon the completion of the following assignments: Class attendance and participation 10 % Class presentation 15 % Book Review 25 % Research paper 50 % Total Grade 100% F. COURSE EVALUATION Tyndale Seminary values quality in the courses it offers its students. End-of-course evaluations provide valuable student feedback and are one of the ways that Tyndale Seminary works towards maintaining and improving the quality of courses and the student s learning experience. Student involvement in this process is critical to enhance the general quality of teaching and learning.
Before the end of the course, students will receive a MyTyndale email with a link to the online course evaluation. The evaluation period is 2 weeks; after the evaluation period has ended, it cannot be reopened. Course Evaluation results will not be disclosed to the instructor before final grades in the course have been submitted and processed. IV. CLASS SCHEDULE, CONTENTS AND ASSIGNED READINGS: Given that this is an intensive course, students are required to read in advance as much as possible. In addition to professor s lectures, a significant part of class time will be spent in critical interaction with each other s ideas and assignments. Thus students must do the assigned readings, and be prepared to interact with others in class. Students will prepare no more than four page summary of the assigned readings, and hand in at the end of the class. Each student will do at least one presentation as scheduled. The presenter must prepare for the class enough copies of the synopsis. The final class deals with the homiletical exercise of Christology, focusing specifically on how to preach Christ with confidence and conviction. Students must read Stephen Seamands, Give Them Christ (Downers Grove, IL. : IVP, 2012). Hereafter cited as Seamands. January 04: A. Biblical, Historical and Theological Perspectives (1) Introduction to Method in Christology (Macleod, introduction) (2) The virgin birth (Macleod, chapter 1) (3) Pre-existence of Christ (Macleod, chapter 2) (4) Christ, the Son of God (Macleod, chapter 3) (5) The Christ of Faith: Very God of very God (Macleod, chapter 5) January 05: (6) Incarnation (Macleod, chapter 6) (7) Athanasius Orations against the Arians (Norris, part VI) (8) Chalcedon: Perfect in Godhead, Perfect in Manhood (Macleod, chapter 7) (9) The controversies leading up to Chalcedon (Macleod, chapter 8) January 06: B. Seminar on Christological Issues: (1) Seminar #1: Problems with perichoresis (Crisp, chapter 1) (2) Seminar #2: The Human Nature of Christ (Crisp, chapter 2) (3) Seminar #3: The anhypostasia-enhypostasia distinction (Crisp, chapter 3) (4) Seminar #4: Did Christ have a fallen human nature? (Crisp, chapter 4) (5) Seminar #5: The Sinlessness of Christ (Macleod, chapter 9) January 07: (6) Seminar #6: Divine kenosis (Crisp, chapter 5) (7) Seminar #7: Kenosis: Making Himself Nothing (Macleod, Chapter 8) (8) Seminar #8: Non-incarnational Christology (Crisp, chapter 6)
(9) Seminar #9 : The Uniqueness of Christ in Modern Theology (Macleod, chapter 10) January 08 : C. Homiletical Exercise of Christology : Preaching Christ with confidence (1) Seminar #10 : Christ above All (Seamands, chapter 1) (2) Seminar #11 : Preaching the Incarnation (Seamands, chapter 2) (3) Seminar #12 : Preaching the Cross : Scandal, Atonement, Suffering, Love (Seamands, chapter 3) (4) Seminar #13 : Preaching the Cross : Social Evil, Victory, Dying with Christ (Seamands, chapter 4) (5) Seminar #14 : Preaching the Resurrection : New Creation, Lordship, Vindication Seamands, (chapter 5) (6) Seminar #15 : Preaching the Resurrection : Church, Salvation, Life Everlasting (Seamands, chapter 6) (7) Seminar #16 : Preaching the Ascension (Seamands, chapter 7) (8) Seminar #17 : Preaching the Return of Christ (Seamands, chapter 8) V. SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY: Baillie, Donald M. God Was in Christ. London: Faber and Faber, 1961 & Scribner, 1980. Bloesch, Donald G. Jesus Christ. Saviour and Lord. Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP, 1997. Dunn, James D. G. Christology in the Making. London: SCM Press, 1989. Dupuis, Jacques. Jesus Christ at the Encounter of World Religions. Trans. R. R. Barr. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 1991. Edmondson, Stephen. Calvin s Christology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004. Evans, Stephen C. The Historical Christ and the Jesus of Faith. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996. Evans, Stephen C., ed. Exploring Kenotic Christology. The Self-emptying of God. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006. Fredriksen, P. From Jesus to Christ. The Origins of the New Testament Images of Jesus. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1988. Fuller, Reginald H. Who is This Christ? Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1983. Gunton, Colin. Yesterday and Today. Second Edition. London: SPCK, 1997. Hick, John. The Metaphor of God Incarnate. London: SCM Press, 1993.
Holmes, Stephen R & Murray A. Rae, eds. The Person of Christ. London: T. & T. International Clark, 2005. Kasper, Walter. Jesus the Christ. Trans. V. Green. London: Burns & Oates, 1976. Küschel, Karl-Josef. J. Born Before all Time? The Dispute over Christ s Origin. Trans. John Bowden. London: SCM Press, 1992. Macquarrie, John. Jesus Christ in Modern Thought. London: SPCK & Trinity Press International, 1990. McIntyre, John. The Shape of Christology. London: SCM Press, 1966. Moltmann, Jürgen. The Way of Jesus Christ. Trans. Margaret Kohl. London: SCM Press, 1990. Morris, Thomas V. The Logic of God Incarnate. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1986. O Collins, Gerald. Incarnation. London: Continuum, 2002. Schwarz, Hans. Christology. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1998. Siggins, Ian D. Martin Luther s Doctrine of Christ. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1970. Thompson, William M. Christology and Spirituality. New York: Crossroad, 1991. Weinandy, Thomas. Does God Change? The Word s Becoming in the Incarnation. Still River, MASS.: St. Bede s Publications, 1984. Willis, David E. Calvin s Catholic Christology. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1966. Wright, Nicholas Thomas. The Resurrection of the Son of God. London: SPCK, 2003.