Winter 2021/Online

HT503

Rosner

HT503: THE CHURCH’S UNDERSTANDING OF CHURCH, HUMANITY, AND CHRISTIAN LIFE IN ITS THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION (4 Units: 160 hours). Jennifer M. Rosner.

DESCRIPTION: HT503 is a survey of systematic and philosophical theology that focuses especially on revelation and scripture; creation and providence; theological anthropology (human identity and nature, the image of God, the fall, sin, and evil), soteriology (the election, calling, justification, regeneration, and sanctification of the Christian), and ecclesiology (the ministry and mission of the church). The course reflects the historic Christian church's development of these doctrines in dialogue with its opponents and with its cultural context. Related topics and themes to be addressed may include the development and articulation of the inspiration and authority of scripture, God's work in creation, human persons in relation to God, and the place of the church in the purposes of God.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who complete HT503 will demonstrate: (1) a basic critical theological knowledge of the conceptual and normative dimensions of the doctrines of revelation, creation and providence, anthropology, soteriology, and ecclesiology as those and other selected doctrines emerged in the early church and developed to this day; (2) a basic competence in interpreting historic and contemporary perorations of these doctrines and an ability to evaluate these theological issues and their historical and contemporary development; and (3) a critical and sympathetic appreciation for the breadth, unity, and diversity of the Christian church.

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning. This course modality provisions a fully asynchronous structure enhanced with optional synchronous meeting times. Although it does not require synchronous meeting times, faculty may provide one or more opportunities for live interaction scheduled to support represented time zones.

REQUIRED READING: 1,150 total pages of required reading

Plantinga, Richard J., Thomas R. Thompson, Matthew D. Lundberg. An Introduction to Christian Theology. Cambridge University Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0521690379, Pub. Price $37.99 [250 pages assigned].

Soulen, R. Kendall. The God of Israel and Christian Theology. Fortress, 1996. ISBN: 978-0800628833, Pub. Price $25.00 [208 pages assigned].

Willard, Dallas. The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives. HarperOne, 1999. ISBN: 978-0060694425, Pub. Price $15.99 [274 pages]. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library.

Additional readings available in eReserves (includes material from Augustine, Karl Barth, John Calvin, Jonathan Sacks and others) [100 pages].

Two additional books chosen by the student from a list in the syllabus [approximately 320 pages]

RECOMMENDED READING:

Bader-Saye, Scott. Church and Israel After Christendom: The Politics of Election. Wipf & Stock, 2005. ISBN: 978-1597520782, Pub. Price $25.00.

Jenson, Robert W. Systematic Theology: Volume 1: The Triune God. Oxford University Press, 2001. ISBN: 978-0195145984, Pub. Price $45.95.

Sacks, Jonathan. To Heal a Fractured World: The Ethics of Responsibility. Schocken Books, 2007. ISBN: 978-0805211962, Pub. Price $15.00.

Soulen, R. Kendall. The Divine Name(s) and the Holy Trinity: Distinguishing the Voices. WJK, 2011. ISBN: 978-0664234140, Pub. Price $35.00.

Torrance, Thomas F. The Mediation of Christ. Helmers & Howard, 1992. ISBN: 978-0939443505, Pub. Price $17.95.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Video lectures, PowerPoint presentations,etc. [15 hours].
  2. Weekly forum posts (250-300 words) reflecting on class material and weekly responses to classmates’ posts (150-200 words) (30%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1, 2, 3] [20 hours].
  3. 1,150 pp. of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcome 1, 2, 3] [75 hours].
  4. Two critical analysis papers (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 1, 2, 3] [4-6 pages each; 20 hours total].
  5. Synagogue Site Visit and Reflection Paper (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 2, 3] [5 hours].
  6. Final research paper (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 2, 3] [8-10 pages; 25 hours preparing & writing].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the TH2 or TH4 requirement in the 120 MDiv and 80 MAT Programs (Fall 2015). Option to meet the TH2 requirement in the 80 MATM and 80 MAICS Programs (Fall 2015). Meets the STB requirement in the 144 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change. Copyright 2019 Fuller Theological Seminary.