DESCRIPTION: This is a doctoral seminar for PhD and ThM students, open to a limited number of advanced MA and MDiv students with permission of instructor. The course is designed to introduce students to the thought of John Calvin in his sixteenth-century context by reading and analyzing selected writings. The 2009 seminar will focus primarily on Calvin's Institutes, supplemented by excerpts from commentaries, controversial writings, and pastoral texts.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Calvin's theology was formed in the crucible of sixteenth-century conflicts, all of which bore ministerial, ecclesiastical, exegetical, and doctrinal dimensions. Students concerned to understand the Reformed tradition of Protestant theology can benefit from the various ways in which Calvin stands as a model of the pastor-theologian and thereby become better formed theologically--that is, pastorally--by studying his life and writings with care so as to learn from his successes and failures.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who pass this course will be able to demonstrate familiarity with the content of John Calvin's Institutes and other selected writings, as well as an ability to represent and interact critically with secondary literature in this field. Students at the ThM and PhD level will further demonstrate the ability to conceive and execute a research agenda leading to a competent essay on a topic pertinent to this course.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar format, meets for three hours weekly to discuss readings and issues.

REQUIRED READING:

Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559). 2 vols. Westminster, 1960. [575 pp. read]

Lane, Anthony N. S. A Reader's Guide to Calvin's Institutes. Baker, 2009. [160 pp. read]

McKim, Donald K., ed. Cambridge Companion to John Calvin. Cambridge University Press, 2004. [311 pp. read]

Naphy, William G. Calvin and the Consolidation of the Genevan Reformation. Westminster John Knox, 2003. [190 pp. read]

Various other readings from and about Calvin, to be furnished electronically.

One additional text of the student's choice, from a list available at http://documents.fuller.edu/sot/faculty/thompson_john/CH853syllabus.pdf.

RECOMMENDED READING:

De Greef, Wulfert. The Writings of John Calvin. Expanded edition. Westminster John Knox, 2008.

Muller, Richard A. Dictionary of Latin and Greek Theological Terms. Baker, 1985.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Assigned readings (1500 pages for CH553; 2000 pages for CH853).

2. Weekly written response to readings, completed before each class (40% for 553; 15% for 853).

3. Critical book review, with class presentation (20% for 553; 10% for 853).

4. Weekly Latin tutorials (10%).

5. Final examination, take-home essay, due at end of term (30% for 553; 15% for 853).

6. Original research paper, outline due week 6 (50% for 853; optional for 553 students, who may substitute a research paper for #3 & #5 above).

PREREQUISITES: For MA/MDiv students only: Church History "B" and permission of instructor.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: MDiv elective.

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (7/09)