DESCRIPTION:

This is an introductory course on the Person and work of Jesus Christ; the Holy Spirit; the communication of salvation in election, justification, and sanctification; and the life of faith.

Understanding of the principal doctrines of the Christian faith is vital to the preaching and teaching ministry of the church, as well as informing Christian living. Knowledge of traditional central affirmations and contemporary options in Christology and soteriology is critical in a day when these matters at the heart of evangelical faith are being challenged on many fronts, both within and outside of the church.

The class will meet for two hours twice a week for ten weeks, for multimedia lecture, discussion, and, perhaps, a few (optional) student presentations. The required reading is designed specifically to address issues that receive lesser attention in lectures, or to highlight particular primary sources.

Jewett, Paul K. The Holy Spirit: A Summary Statement (photocopied, handed out in class).

Thompson, Francis, "The Hound of Heaven," in G. K Chesterton, The Hound of Heaven and Other Poems. Branden Books, 1995.

Choose at least one:

Aulén, Gustaf. Christus Victor. Wipf & Stock, 2003.

Anselm of Canterbury. Why God Became Man, in The Major Works. Oxford, 1998.

Choose one:

Pope-Levison, P. and J. R. Levison. Jesus in Global Contexts. Westminster, 1992.

Volker, Küster. The Many Faces of Jesus. Orbis, 2001.

Choose one, if you desire additional general material (sections relevant to Theology II):

Berkhof, Louis. Systematic Theology. New ed. Eerdmans, 1996.

Grenz, Stanley. Theology for the Community of God. Eerdmans, 2000.

Oden, Thomas. The Word of Life. HarperCollins, 1992.

Placher, William C., ed. Essentials of Christian Theology. Westminster/John Knox, 2003.

Also recommended (many additional and equally worthy titles will be on reserve):

Davis, Stephen, et al. The Incarnation. Oxford, 2002.

Davis, Stephen, et al. The Resurrection. Oxford, 1999.

Green, Michael. I Believe in the Holy Spirit. Rev. ed. Eerdmans, 2004.

Gunton, Colin E. The Actuality of the Atonement: A Study of Metaphor, Rationality and the Christian Tradition. T & T Clark, 2003.

O'Collins, Gerald. Christology. Oxford, 1995.

Ockholm, Dennis and T. Phillips. Four Views on Salvation in a Pluralistic World. Zondervan, 1996.

Schwarz, Hans. Christology. Eerdmans, 1998.

1,500 pages of reading, selected from required reading and titles in the recommended or reserve lists, which represent many points of view. Midterm and final examinations. Optional extra-credit paper.