DESCRIPTION:

This course examines the Christian faith in relation to the identity of Jesus Christ, his redeeming death, his resurrection and the fundamental questions of justification, sanctification, election, saving grace, and the spiritual life of faith. We will emphasize the christological and soteriological questions of major importance for Latin American Christianity: its relation to natural theology, mariology, the role of the church, Vatican I and II, the "Other Spanish Christ," popular religion, spiritism, sectarian groups, the Christology of Latin American Liberation Theology, and the Christology of Pentecostalism in relation to pneumatology. We will focus on the Latin American context of a radical break between the Christology "from above" and Christology "from below."

This course provides the student with the opportunity to reflect on fundamental issues of the Christian faith, the faith and witness of the Church, and the proclamation of the Gospel in the context of Latin America. The readings and assignments have been designed to facilitate this kind of reflection from the point of view of a biblical and dynamic pastoral activity in the context of Latin America.

The class will meet on five Thursdays (October 2, 23, 30, November 6, and December 11) from 3:00 p.m. to 5:50 and 6:30 to 9:20. Although the course is strongly contextualized, for reasons of integration, it will try to maintain close ties with the same material as taught in the course in English. Effort will be made so that the high majority of the readings and assignments may be done in Spanish. The readings will be complemented by explanation, reflection, and discussion.

Berkhof, L. Manual de Doctrina Cristiana. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979, chapters 28-37.

Carballosa, Evis L. La Deidad de Cristo. Barcelona: Publicaciones Portavoz Evangélico, 1982.

Calvino, Juan. Instituciones de la Religión Cristiana. Grand Rapids: The Evangelical Literature League, 1989.

LaCueva, Francisco. La Persona y la Obra de Jesucristo. Terrassa: CLIE, 1979.

Mackay, Juan A. El Otro Cristo Español. (conseguir del profesor).

Choose one of the works on Latin American Christology, Hispanic/Latino Christology or global Christology drawn from the bibliography provided in class.

A. Write six book reviews on the books read, following the format distributed in class.

B. There will be a take-home exam on the major elements of Christian thought concerning Christology and soteriology.

C. For the third assignment the student may choose one of these two options:

1. The student may develop a series of 10 (ten) sermons or Bible studies concerning the person, work, ministry and mission of Jesus Christ.

2. Write a paper (minimum 12 pages, maximum 15) concerning a pastoral and contextual matter related to the course.

Spanish.

Meets M. Div. core requirement in Systematic Theology "B" (STB).

Yes.