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.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: 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.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will become familiar with the basic doctrinal loci in Christology and soteriology, that they might know the classic components of these loci, see how they are related to other aspects of Christian doctrine, and better understand what they believe and why. Students will have opportunity to explore a variety of theological options through diverse reading choices, and they will be exposed to theologians from differing cultural backgrounds, in order that they might appreciate how their own and others' cultural location and theological orientation affect theological formulations. Students will also be able to apply what they have learned to common problems one encounters in ministry settings and in Christian living.

COURSE FORMAT: Two-hour sessions twice a week for ten weeks; multimedia lecture and discussion.

REQUIRED READING:

Jewett, Paul K. The Holy Spirit: A Summary Statement (posted on Moodle).

Annotated version of Francis Thompson, "The Hound of Heaven," distributed in class.

Choose at least one:

Anselm of Canterbury. Why God Became Man, in The Major Works. Oxford, 2008. ISBN: 9780199540082. Pub.price: $14.95.

Aulén, Gustaf. Christus Victor. Wipf & Stock, 2003. ISBN: 9781592443307. Pub.price: $24.00.

Choose at least one:

Comblin, José. The Holy Spirit and Liberation. Wipf & Stock, 2004. ISBN: 9781592445622. Pub.price: $26.00.

Cone, James H. God of the Oppressed. Orbis, 1997. ISBN: 9781570751585. Pub.price: $20.00.

Dyrness, W. A., and V.-M. Kärkkäinen, eds. Global Dictionary of Theology. InterVarsity Press, 2008. ISBN: 9780830824540. Pub.price: $50.00 (selected articles only).

Volker, Küster. The Many Faces of Jesus. Orbis, 2001. ISBN: 9781570753541. Pub.price: $29.00.

Choose one, only if you desire additional general material (sections relevant to Theology 2 only):

Berkhof, Louis. Systematic Theology. New ed. Eerdmans, 1996. ISBN: 9780802838209. Pub.price: $52.00.

Grenz, Stanley. Theology for the Community of God. Eerdmans, 2000. ISBN: 9780802847553. Pub.price: $40.00.

Oden, Thomas. The Word of Life. Hendrickson, 2006. ISBN: 9781598560381. Pub.price: $34.95.

Placher, William C., ed. Essentials of Christian Theology. Westminster/John Knox, 2003. ISBN: 9780664223953. Pub.price: $40.00.