DESCRIPTION: This course will examine Christian beliefs about Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and salvation. Topics will include biblical and historical Christological and pneumatological developments, as well as their contemporary varieties, as expressed in various ecclesial and contextual/intercultural perspectives, and ways of speaking about salvation in Jesus Christ, including atonement, justification, forgiveness, sanctification, redemption, and renewal.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated (1) a basic understanding of issues in their traditional and contemporary expressions; (2) an ability to reflect theologically upon the topics for this course; (3) skills towards developing one's own theology in critical dialogue with various views; (4) an acquaintance with a range of cultural and contextual matters that shape our understanding of theological issues; (5) an appreciation of ecumenical and cultural diversity.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: An informed understanding of the principal doctrines of the Christian faith is crucial to Christian preaching, teaching, evangelizing, and discipleship.

COURSE FORMAT: Meets daily for two weeks for four hours of lecture, discussion & student presentations.

REQUIRED READING:

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

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. Pneumatology. Baker Academic, 2002.

__________. Christology: A Global Introduction. Baker Academic, 2003.

Green, J.B., and M. D. Baker. Recovering the Scandal of the Cross. InterVarsity Press, 2000.

Strongly Recommended:

Grenz, S., et al. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms. InterVarsity Press, 1999.

Select one special topic text:

Barr, W. R., ed. Constructive Christian Theology in the Worldwide Church. Eerdmans, 1997 (Part IV or Part VI).

Dunn, J. D. G. Christology in the Making. 2nd ed. Eerdmans, 1996.

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. Union with God: Salvation as Deification and Justification. Liturgical Press, 2003.

Küster, Volker. The Many Faces of Jesus: An Intercultural Christology. Orbis, 2001.

Lutheran World Federation, Roman Catholic Church, Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, Eerdmans, 2000.

McGuckin, J. A. Cyril of Alexandria and the Christological Controversy. St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 2004.

Meyendorff, J. Christ in Eastern Christian Thought. St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1997.

Summer, G. The First and the Last: The Claims of Jesus Christ and the Claims of Other Religious Traditions. Eerdmans, 2004.

Yong, A. Beyond the Impasse: Toward a Pneumatological Theology of Religions. Baker, 2003.