<p> SYLLABUS FOR HPPC COURSE HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE MTG # DATE TOPIC REQUIRED RECOMMENDED READINGS READINGS</p><p>Meeting Feb 5 The Doctrine of Authority: Hannah, (All) Bingham (9-17) 1 On what basis do we believe? Meeting Feb 12 Defending Doctrine: Gonzalez (7-31) Bingham (19-44) 2 How do we respond to heresy and persecution? Meeting Feb 19 The Doctrine of the Trinity: Gonzalez (33-39) Bingham (45-50) 3 How can God be Three-In-One? Meeting Feb 26 The Doctrine of Christology: Gonzalez (41-49) Bingham (51-59) 4 Why the God-Man? Meeting Mar 5 The Doctrines of Sin & Grace: Bingham (63-99) 5 How serious is the problem and how extensive is the solution? Meeting Mar 19 The Doctrine of Atonement: Gonzalez (51-66) 6 Why did Jesus need to die? </p><p>Meeting Mar 26 The Doctrine of Justification: Gonzalez (67-75) Bingham (102-126) 7 How can a sinner stand before the justice of God? Meeting April 2 The Doctrine of the Church: Gonzalez (77-82) 8 What are the defining marks of the church? Meeting April 9 The Doctrine of Authority “Enlightened:” Gonzalez (83-88) Bingham (129-148) 9 Why should I trust an authority other than myself? Meeting April 16 Doctrine in Practice: Gonzalez (89-95) Bingham (149-165) 10 Why must the message shape our methods? </p><p> All required readings should be completed prior to the class date listed next to the reading. These readings will cover the general historical background and thus enable us to use our discussion time to delve more deeply into the theological controversies and issues. </p><p> Required Texts: John Hannah, The Kregel Pictorial Guide to Church History, Vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2001). http://store.kregel.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=423 Justo Gonzalez, Church History, An Essential Guide (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996). http://www.amazon.com/Church-History-Essential-Justo- Gonzalez/dp/0687016118 </p><p> Recommended Text: D. Jeffrey Bingham, Pocket History of the Church (Downers Grove, Il: IVP, 2002). http://www.amazon.com/Pocket-History-Church-IVP- Reference/dp/0830827013 SUBJECT MATTER FOR THE COURSE: 1) A very general overview of the history of the church. 2) A particular focus on theological controversies, what spawned them, and the creedal/confessional statements that were developed in response to them. 3) A consistent relation of doctrinal questions and controversies of the past to the doctrine and life of the church (and its members) in the present. </p><p>GOALS OF THE COURSE: 1) To gain a basic knowledge of church history. 2) To gain an understanding of the basic issues of historic Christian theology. 3) To begin to develop biblical/gospel-centered thinking in all areas of life (in other words, to lay the foundation for a Christian worldview) 4) To grow in an understanding of the central issue of historic Christian theology, that is the gospel. It is our desire that you will grow in your understanding of it, love for it, and commitment to it in your life and ministry. 5) To develop doctrinally sound teachers and leaders within the church who can both entrust what they have learned to others and steer the church according to the revealed word of God. 6) To motivate toward other opportunities for Christian training and service. </p><p>COMMITMENT LEVEL REQUIRED: This is not a casual commitment. While the workload is not heavy, we do expect you to come to class prepared and ready to participate. Below, you will find the basic expectations: *Attendance: Once/week discussion meeting lasting no more than 90 minutes. If you end up having to miss a session, of course, that is understandable. Nonetheless, the commitment to attendance should not be taken casually, for this is neither good for you or the rest of the class. *Assignments: Weekly required reading---less than 1 hour/week.</p><p>WHY STUDY CHURCH HISTORY? </p><p>1) History Makes Sense of the Present Church history allows us to understand why the church thinks, acts, and speaks the way that it does today. It answers the questions “how did we get here?” and “why are things the way they are?” </p><p>2) History Offers Perspective on the Present If you ask a fish about water, he will likely say, “What is water?” He is so immersed in water that he hardly notices it is there. So too it is with us. We are so immersed in our culture and time that it is hard for us to see it with any objectivity. Like a cross- cultural encounter, therefore, church history allows us to see our own time with a fresh perspective. We can see where we have improved and perhaps where we have gone astray. It enables us to see where we have neglected obedience to the whole counsel of God in favor of particular ideas, emphases and practices. 3) History Relativizes the Present How quickly the present forgets the past! As a result, we tend to attach undue optimism to new programs and methods and their messianic promises of success. History teaches, however, that there is little new under the sun. Much of what we might try has already been tried in the past. And in history, there are few great events or life changing moments. Change tends to be gradual. It is the little things that tend to bring about significant change, which should teach us realism and patience. </p><p>4) History Protects from the Pride of the Present Particularly in our day and age, in which the theory of evolution has been projected into the realm of human history, we tend to think of history as an ascent of inevitable progress. Accordingly, our modern catchphrase could well be “the newer the truer.” Surely we in the present must have things better figured out than those in the past. C.S. Lewis rightly calls this mindset “chronological snobbery.” For while we may see better if standing on the shoulders of giants, the fact of the matter is that Biblical interpretation, doctrinal precision, and faithful church practice are not tied to a particular period of time. The same Holy Spirit who indwells us has indwelled our brothers and sisters in Christ for the past two thousand years. We are a part of the same body of Christ and live in the same era of history, between Jesus’ first and second comings. Therefore we should expect to have much to learn from those who have come before us. Indeed, books that have stood the test of time for hundreds of years tend to be better than the latest and greatest bestsellers. </p><p>5) History Arms the Present with the Wisdom of the Past As Solomon wisely put it, “there is nothing new under the sun.” Most of the errors and heresies of the church emerge and reemerge. Indeed, nearly every heresy with which the church contends today has already embroiled the church in the past. The Jehovah’s Witnesses are modern day Arians. T.D. Jakes and the Potter’s House Church are modern day Modalists. Etc. Etc. Thus the knowledge of the history of the church can preserve the church from error, providing both polemical and apologetic weapons against deception. The accumulated wisdom of history can provide an arsenal of weapons to struggle against present opponents from within and without. </p><p>6) History Promotes Peace in a Turbulent Present If the history of the church teaches us anything, it is that Jesus Christ is faithful to his promise. He will build his church and the gates of hell will not stand against it. For though the devil has employed every strategy against the church, armies have marched against it, faithless scholarship has relentlessly assaulted it, internal bickering has divided it, and martyrdom has depleted its ranks, the church marches forward in triumphal anticipation of when the kingdoms of this world will be put under Christ’s feet, and the bride, without wrinkle or spot, will be given to the king. </p>