TS 101: Syllabus Instructor: Joel Lawrence

TS 101: Syllabus Instructor: Joel Lawrence Fall 2005 Phone: 651-638-6109 (W) Mondays, 5:30-7:30 (R1)/8-10 (R2) 651-486-2742 (H) Email: [email protected] Office: Faculty Hall-A213 TA: Dave Burkett

Systematic Theology I

Catalogue Course Description:

“A discussion of the nature and methods of systematic theology as it compares with other fields of thought, a study of the character of God’s self-disclosure in nature and the Bible, and an investigation of the being and the works of the Triune God.”

Course Objectives:

The goals of the class are for each student to:

1. Gain knowledge of the basic conceptual frameworks and themes of the purpose and method of systematic theology, the doctrine of the Triune God, God the Creator, and the authority of Scripture. (Thinking)

2. Develop and demonstrate the ability to lead through thinking; i.e., to think critically and engage in theological reasoning that is aimed at human transformation by presenting critical analyses and constructive responses to particular doctrinal points of view. (Doing)

3. Move into a deeper relationship with God by the power of the Spirit of Christ in worshipful response to the love of God the Creator and Redeemer. (Being)

Required Reading:

Textbooks:

Bloesch, Donald. God the Almighty: Power, Wisdom, Holiness, Love. (DB) Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1995. ISBN: 0830814132

Hart, Trevor. Faith Thinking: The Dynamics of Christian Theology. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1996. ISBN: 0830818839. Re-Published as Hart, Faith Thinking: The Dynamics of Christian Theology. Wipf and Stock, 2005. ISBN: 1597520187 TS 101 – Fall 2005 2

McGrath, Alistair. Christian Theology: An Introduction. (AM) 3rd. ed. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 2001. ISBN: 0631225285

McKim, Donald. Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1996. ISBN: 0664255116

Handouts:

Bloesch, Donald. “The Meaning of Revelation”. Chapter 2 in Holy Scripture

Bloesch, Donald. “The Inspiration of Scripture”, Chapter 3 in Holy Scripture

Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 1.

Suggested Texts (For pursuing further the themes raised in the class)

Buckley, Michael. At the Origins of Modern Atheism. (OA) New Haven: Yale University Press, 1987. ISBN: 0300037198

Bloesch, Donald. A Theology of Word and Spirit: Authority, & Methodology in Theology. (TWS) Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1992. ISBN: 0830814116

_____. Holy Scripture: Revelation, Inspiration & Interpretation. (HS) Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1994. ISBN: 0830814124

Grenz, Stanley. Theology for the Community of God. (TCG) Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1994. ISBN: 0805428011

_____. Rediscovering the Triune God: the Trinity in Contemporary Theology. (RTG) Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004. ISBN: 0800636546

Gunton, Colin. The Triune Creator: A Historical & Systematic Study. (TC) Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998. ISBN: 0802845754

_____. A Brief Theology of Revelation: The 1993 Warfield Lectures. (BTR) Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1995. ISBN: 0567292932

Murphy, Nancey. Beyond Liberalism and Fundamentalism. (BLF) Trinity Press International, 1996. ISBN: 1563381761

Shults, LeRon. Reforming Theological Anthropology: After the Philosophical Turn to Relationality. (RTA) Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Press, 2003. ISBN: 0802848877

Zizioulas, John. Being as Communion: Studies in Personhood and the Church. (BC) Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1997. ISBN: 0881410292 TS 101 – Fall 2005 3

Miscellaneous:

 Office hours: Mondays, 4:00-5:15. I will be in my office before Monday classes for those who are able to come to campus early. Call ahead if you have a particular item to discuss that will take some time. Otherwise, drop in at the office anytime during this time. For those who cannot get to campus early, call or email and we will set up a time to either talk on the phone or meet. Feel free to call me with any questions at work or at home (If calling at home, please call before 10 PM).

 Inclusive Language: In accordance with Bethel Seminary policy, inclusive language should be used in class discussion and papers.

 Classroom etiquette: Please turn off beepers and cell phones prior to entering the classroom. Excessive tardiness and inappropriate classroom behavior (including talking over the instructor or other students) will be penalized by deduction of points from final grade and/or reported to the Student Life committee.

 Plagiarism zero tolerance policy: If a student is suspected of plagiarism, he or she will be called in for a discussion with the instructor. The onus will be on the student to demonstrate that the work is original. If plagiarism is discovered, the student will fail the class and be reported to the office of Student Life.

 Accessibility: Please contact the instructor as soon as possible if disability-related accommodations are needed. Accommodations for students with documented disabilities are set up through the Office of Disability Services. Contact Kathy McGillivray, Director of Disability Services, at (651) 635-8759.

Course Requirements:

1. Attendance As stated in the Bethel catalogue, attendance is required. One unexcused absence is allowed. Additional absences will result in a loss of points from the final grade.

2. Papers The course requires the students to write three papers. Each paper is intended to encourage the student to engage different media with the view to developing the student’s ability to engage theologically with both culture and theological texts, and to apply these thoughts to the student’s own particular ministry interest. The papers should be written in 12 point font, double spaced, and should be 1800-2,000 words (5-7 pages).

The three papers are as follows: TS 101 – Fall 2005 4

 Literature/film interaction paper: Each student will interact with a film/book of her or his choice. The student will then engage with theological messages of the film/book, etc., discussing the theological worldview of the work and engaging it with a specifically Christian theology. The student should also think about the relevance of the work to her or his own ministry emphasis.

 Calvin interaction paper: This paper will develop the reasoning and critical cognition skills necessary for theological thinking. The students will read the assigned section from John Calvin’s Institutes and will then write a critical review of this work. Further information on the paper will be available in class.

 Hart Reflection Paper: Each student will read and then write a reflection paper on Trevor Hart’s book, Faith Thinking. This paper is simply to be a chronicle of your reading of Hart’s book. What questions did you grapple with? What things did you learn from Hart? What themes struck you as important? What did you disagree with? This is less an academic exercise and more a personal reflection on your journey of reading the book.

3. Exams The students will take two take-home exams. The purpose of the exams is to familiarize the students with the key terms and persons of systematic theology. The exams will be multiple choice, and will be due on the dates indicated in the course schedule below. The exams will be closed book and timed. A study guide and further information on taking the exam will be provided in class.

4. Discussions Groups: Each student will be placed into a discussion group that will meet each week during class throughout the term. The purpose of these groups is to build into the students the value of “doing theology” in community. Theology is a reflective exercise, and these groups will give students a place to reflect on the readings by engaging key questions set by the instructor. The instructor will observe the groups throughout the term and assign a single grade to each group (not to each individual). You are in this together, and as such you will be graded on community, not individual, performance.

Grading:

The final grade will be based on: 1. Three papers (15% each) 45% 2. Two exams (20% each) 40% 3. Discussion Groups (15%) 15%

Grading Scale: A 96-100 B- 83-85 D+ 71-73 A- 92-95 C+ 80-82 D 68-70 B+ 89-91 C 77-79 D- 65-67 TS 101 – Fall 2005 5

B 86-88 C- 74-76 F 0-64

Course Schedule

Date Topic Required Suggested Assignments Reading Reading  Course Overview AM: McGrath October 3 DB: Bloesch  What is Systematic Theology?

 The Task and AM: Ch 5-6; S. Grenz, TCG, October 10 Sources of DB: Ch 1-2 Ch 1 Theology

 The Knowledge of AM: Ch 7-8; Murphy, BLF, Film/Literature October 17 God J. Calvin Ch 1 Paper Due (Handout) Buckley, OA, Ch. 1  The Self-Revealing DB: Ch 3; Gunton, BTR October 24 God Bloesch (Handout)  The Doctrine of the AM: Ch 10 Grenz, TCG, 56- Calvin Paper October 31 Trinity: Historical 71 Due Developments

 The Doctrine of the DB: Ch 7 Shults, Ch1, Ch November 7 Trinity: The 6 Relational God Zizioulas, BC, Ch. 1  The Doctrine of the DB: Ch 4-6 Gunton, TC, Exam 1 Due November 14 Trinity: The Triune Ch 4 Creator  Current Issues in AM: Ch 9; Gunton, TC, November 21 the Doctrine of DB: Ch 8-9 Ch 8 God Grenz, Ch 3

 Authority of Bloesch Gunton, BTR Hart Paper due November 28 Scripture (Handout)

 Conclusions: The Exam 2 Due December 5 Promise of December 9 Theology