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Christology, Soteriology, Eschatology Reformed Theological Seminary, Washington D.C

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Christology, Soteriology, Eschatology Reformed Theological Seminary, Washington D.C ST517: Christology, Soteriology, Eschatology Reformed Theological Seminary, Washington D.C. Fall 2018 Howard Griffith Office hours: Mondays 3-5PM, or by appointment. Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] Course Description This course explores biblical doctrine from a systematic perspective. Topics include Christology, soteriology and eschatology. Two books (not assigned reading) that may help you clarify Reformed theology are Gregg R. Allison, Roman Catholic Theology and Practice: An Evangelical Assessment, and Roger E. Olsen, Arminian Theology, Myths and Realities. Roman Catholic and Arminian theologies are historic opponents of the Reformed tradition. Class Meetings Monday, 7-9:30 PM, August 27th – December 10th. No class on September 3rd or October 8th (reading week). Required Books1 John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion; ISBN: 978-0664220280 Sinclair B. Ferguson, The Whole Christ; ISBN: 9781433548000 Richard B. Gaffin, By Faith, Not By Sight, Paul and the Order of Salvation, Second Edition; ISBN: 9781596384439 Anthony A. Hoekema, The Bible and the Future; ISBN: 9780802808516 Gregory MacDonald (= Robin Parry), The Evangelical Universalist, 2nd Edition; ISBN: 9781620322390 Donald Macleod, The Person of Christ; ISBN: 9780830815371 Donald Macleod, Christ Crucified: Understanding the Atonement; ISBN: 9780830840618 John Murray, Redemption Accomplished and Applied; ISBN: 9780802811431 The Westminster Confession of Faith (WC) Other Required Reading (on the “Modules” section in Canvas) 1 A number of these titles are available as e-books. I recommend printed books for study (though I do not require that you purchase them). The titles by Calvin, Murray, Gaffin and Macleod are books you will almost certainly want to read and reread. Likewise, the Westminster Confession of Faith. 1 Richard B. Gaffin, “The last Adam, the life-giving Spirit” Jonathan Gibson, “For Whom Did Christ Die? Particularism and Universalism in the Pauline Epistles” Donald Macleod, “Definite Atonement and the Divine Decree” John Murray, Collected Writings, Vol. 2, selections on “Definitive Sanctification” James I. Packer, “Arminianisms” Fred Sanders, “Introduction to Christology: Chalcedonian Categories for the Gospel Narrative,” 1-36 Francis Turretin, Institutes of Elenctic Theology, v. 2, selections. Assignments The assignments will be weighted as indicated on the components listed below. 1. Exams: Students will take 2 short essay exams that assess their understanding and articulation of the course lectures, reading assignments, and relevant creeds and confessions. These exams are open book, open notes. However, exam essays must be your own individual work. Group collaborations will result in automatic failure of the course. See the Assignments section of the Canvas course homepage. Details will be discussed in class. The Mid-term exam (30%) is due, emailed to me by 11:59PM on October 20, 2018. The Final exam (30%) is due, emailed to me by 11:59PM on December 15, 2018. 2. Reading report (20 %): Attached to the last exam, students will turn in a reading report that states the percentage of assigned readings that they have read by the due date of the final exam. Total required reading ~ 1,685 pages. 3. M.Div. students will memorize and recite Westminster Shorter Catechism, questions and answers 20-38 and report on this on the final exam. 4. Theological essay (20 %): All students will write a brief theological essay (eight pages, double spaced, no more, no less) that compares two writings on justification. Specifics will be discussed in class. Drawing upon knowledge gained from lectures and readings, the paper should contain a clear thesis statement, follow a coherent outline, and address both theological and practical dimensions of the doctrine. The essay is due emailed to me by 11:59PM on December 21, 2017. If you would prefer, I will accept a 15 page, double space, research paper in place of the theological essay. However, I must approve your topic by October 5, 2018. No exceptions. Mid-term exam 30% Final exam 30% Reading Report 20% Theological Essay 20% 2 N.B. a failing grade on any of the above will result in failure of the course (F’s will not be averaged in). See the RTS grading scale in the Catalog, p. 51. For example, if you read less than 70% of the required reading, you will fail the course. (But as a theology student, why would you do that?) Academic Policies 1. Late assignments: apart from exceptional circumstances, I will not accept late assignments for credit. 2. Plagiarism: plagiarism, whether intentional or unintentional, will result in a failing grade for the course. Reading Assignments Due The reading should be completed before the related class lecture and discussion. 1. August 27. Macleod, “Definite Atonement and the Divine Decree” (36 pp.) Calvin, Institutes, Book 3, chapters 21-24. (66pp.) WCF, Chapter 3. No class September 3. 2. September 10. Sanders, “Introduction to Christology,” 1-36. Gaffin, “The last Adam the life-giving Spirit”, pp. 191-211. Macleod, The Person of Christ, pp. 11-152. 3. September 17. Person of Christ, pp. 155-264. WCF, Chapters 7-8. 4. September 24. Macleod, Christ Crucified, pp. 15-129. 5. October 1. Macleod, Christ Crucified, pp. 130-255. No class October 8 (reading week). 6. October 15. Gibson, “For Whom Did Christ Die?” Ferguson, The Whole Christ, pp. 17-122. Mid-term exam due October 20. 3 7. October 22. Ferguson, The Whole Christ, pp. 123-237. Gaffin, “The last Adam, the life-giving Spirit,” pp. 211-31. Murray, Redemption—Accomplished and Applied, pp. 79-87. Packer, “Arminianisms” 8. October 29. Gaffin, By Faith, Not By Sight, all. Murray, Redemption—Accomplished and Applied, pp. 88-116. WCF, Chapter 10, 14, 15. 9. November 5. Murray, “Definitive Sanctification” (not the same as the next reading below). Murray, Redemption—Accomplished and Applied, pp. 141-150. WCF, Chapters 13, 16. 10. November 12. Murray, Redemption—Accomplished and Applied, pp. 117-140. Turretin, Institutes, 2: 646-656, and 669-675. WCF, Chapter 11. 11. November 19. Catch up or something fun. 12. November 26. Murray, Redemption—Accomplished and Applied, pp, 151-181. WCF, Chapters 12, 17. 13. December 3. MacDonald, Evangelical Universalist, pp.1-177 only. Hoekema, The Bible and the Future, pp. 13-163. WCF, Chapter 32. 14. December 10. Hoekema, The Bible and the Future, pp. 164-287. WCF, Chapter 33. Final exam due December 15. Theological Essay due December 21. 4 Christology, Soteriology, Eschatology Lecture Outline August 27 1. The plan of salvation. a. The order of the divine decrees. b. Historic Christian views of the question. c. Unconditional (sovereign) election. Pactum salutis, Historia salutis, Ordo salutis September 10 2. Christology The gospel. First and last Adam. Challenges. a. Person of Christ i. Covenant Mediator, Old and New Testaments. Threefold office. ii. Pre-existence. iii. Incarnation (historia salutis). September 17 iv. Unipersonality 1. Councils and controversies. 2. The one Christ who acts. 3. The flowering of the covenant. September 24 b. Work of Christ i. In suffering/humiliation 1. Threefold office. 2. Obedience. 3. Atonement. a. Paradoxes of Scripture. b. Death as sacrifice offered to God motivated by God’s love for guilty sinners. October 1 c. Imputation. 5 d. Apostolic doctrine i. Expiation. ii. Propitiation. iii. Reconciliation. iv. Redemption. v. Victory. vi. Summary: satisfaction* October 15 4. Definite Atonement. 5. Free offer of the gospel. ii. In glory/exaltation 1. Resurrection as the “redemption” of Christ 2. Pentecost/Life-giving Spirit 3. The threefold office continues October 22 3. Soteriology (ordo salutis) a. Orientation to Soteriology i. What is grace? RC, Reformed, Arminian ii. Relationship of soteriology to eschatology iii. The centrality of Christ’s resurrection October 29 b. Union with the resurrected Christ i. Predestinarian, redemptive historical (representative), living (existential). ii. The two-fold benefit: justification and sanctification. iii. Context of union with Christ: calling and regeneration. iv. Realization of union with Christ: faith and repentance. November 5 v. Benefits of union with Christ: 1. Sanctification. November 12 6 2. Justification. November 19 Catch up or something fun. November 26 3. Perseverance. 4. Glorification. December 3 4. Eschatology a. Inaugurated and Future. Individual. Challenges. December 10 b. Future eschatology. Course Objectives Related to MDiv* Student Learning Outcomes Course: ST517 Professor: Howard Griffith Campus: Washington D.C. Date: Fall 2018 MDiv* Student Learning Outcomes Rubric Mini-Justification In order to measure the success of the MDiv curriculum, RTS has defined the Strong following as the intended outcomes of the student learning process. Each course Moderate contributes to these overall outcomes. This rubric shows the contribution of this Minimal course to the MDiv outcomes. None *As the MDiv is the core degree at RTS, the MDiv rubric will be used in this syllabus. Articulation Broadly understands and articulates knowledge, both oral Strong Theological essay; essay exams (oral & written) and written, of essential biblical, theological, historical, and cultural/global information, including details, concepts, and frameworks. Scripture Significant knowledge of the original meaning of Scripture. Moderate Biblical theology emphasized in lectures. Also, the concepts for and skill to research further into the original meaning of Scripture and to apply Scripture to a variety of modern circumstances. (Includes
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