Spring 2013/Houston
ST503
Miller
ST503: SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY 3: ECCLESIOLOGY AND ESCHATOLOGY. Kris A. Miller.
DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to provide a theological understanding of Christian beliefs about the church and the last things. The primary theological loci are the biblical and historical developments of ecclesiology and eschatology. These two loci will be developed in their relation to the topics of the nature, mission and ministry of the church as expressed in various ecclesial traditions, the sacraments/ordinances, as well as various approaches to the last things: the parousia, death, resurrection, new creation, judgment, the millennium, heaven and hell. Through critical engagement with the biblical and historical developments, a contemporary theology will be constructed in light of the church’s mission in a pluralistic context.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: An essential part of spiritual development and preparation for Christian ministry is to learn to think theologically through issues of faith and ministry.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated (1) a basic understanding of issues in their classical and contemporary expressions; (2) an ability to reflect theologically and analytically upon the course topics; (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 enhanced awareness of their own place in the historical, global Christian community; (6) an appreciation of the ecumenical diversity of the Christian tradition; (7) increased awareness of the implications of this course’s theological topics for one’s own life and ministry.
COURSE FORMAT: The course meets once a week for a three-hour and fifteen minute session for lectures, student presentations and discussion.
REQUIRED READING: Students should read approximately 1,200 pages, including the required reading and selections of their choice from the sections below.
Grenz, Stanley.J. Theology for the Community of God. (Eerdmans, 2000), pp. 461-659. ISBN: 9780802847553. Pub.price $40.00.
Kärkkäinen, V.-M. An Introduction to Ecclesiology. (InterVarsity Press, 2002), 233pp. ISBN: 978-0830826889. Pub.price: $20.00.
Schwartz, H. Eschatology. (Eerdmans, 2000), (selected pages). ISBN: 978-0802847331. Pub.price: $36.00.
(NOTE: Besides the above three required reading texts, please do not purchase any of the books below until we make choices on the first day of class.)
Introducing classical texts. Students will choose one from either A. Ecclesiology or B. Eschatology:
A. Ecclesiology
Barth, Karl. Church Dogmatics. Vol. IV.1. Chapter 62.2, “The Being of the Community,” pp. 650-725 (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1936); AND The Barmen Declaration of 1934, approx. 5pp. (free online resources.)
Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. Vol. II. Ed. John T. McNeill, trans. Ford Lewis Battles. Westminster Press, 1960. Book Four, Chapters 1-5, pp.1009-1084. ISBN: 978-0664220280. Retail price: $80.00. AND The Westminster Confession of Faith (1643). (Free online resources.)
Cyprian of Carthage, Saint. On the Church (St. Vladimir’s, 2006), 186pp. ISBN: 978-0881413120. Pub.price $16.00.
Vatican II, Lumen Gentium: Dogmatic Constitution of the Church. (Pauline Books & Media, 1965), 112pp. ISBN: 978-0819818430. Pub.price $5.95.
Luther, Martin. Authority of Councils and Churches. (Kessinger, 2009), Part III only. ISBN: 978-1104293956. Pub.price $18.96.
Symeon the New Theologian, Saint. On the Mystical Life: The Ethical Discourses, Vol. 1: The Church and the Last Things (St. Vladimir’s Press, 1995), selected chapters or “ethical discourses” on the church. ISBN: 978-0881411423. Pub.price $17.00.
World Council of Churches Faith and Order. The Nature and Purpose of the Church: A Stage on the Way to a Common Statement. Faith and Order Paper No. 181. (Geneva: World Council of Churches/Faith and Order, 1999), 61pp. ISBN: 978-2825413029. Pub.price $6.95.
Sattler, Michael. (John Howard Yoder, ed.), The Schleitheim Confession. (Scottsdale, PA: Herald Press, 1977), 32pp. ISBN: 978-0836118315. Pub.price. $5.99; AND Harold S. Bender, The Anabaptist Vision. (Scottsdale, PA: Herald Press, 1944), 48pp. ISBN: 978-0836113051. Pub.price $5.99.
B. Eschatology
Augustine of Hippo, St. The City of God. Books XX and XXII, approx. 83pp. (Independent, 20120. (Free online resources).
Barth, Karl. Church Dogmatics. Vol. IV.3.2. Chapter 73, “The Holy Spirit and Christian Hope” pp. 902-942. (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1936).
Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. Vol. 2. Ed. John T. McNeill, trans. Ford Lewis Battles. Westminster Press, 1960. Book Three, Chapter XXI, “Eternal Election,” pp.920-932, AND Book Three, Chapter XXV, “The Final Resurrection,” pp. 987-1008. ISBN: 978-0664220280. Retail price: $80.00.
Gregory of Nyssa, Life of Moses. (San Francisco:HarperOne, 2006), 144pp. ISBN: 978-0060754648. Pub.price $8.47.
Irenaeus of Lyons, St. Against Heresies. Book V, chaps. XXXI-XXXVI, pp. 636-656; And other selected chapters. (Independent Publishing, 2012). ISBN: 978-1475100600. Pub. price $15.65. (Free online resources).
Symeon the New Theologian, Saint. On the Mystical Life: The Ethical Discourses, Vol. 1: The Church and the Last Things (St. Vladimir’s Press, 1995), selected chapters or “ethical discourses” on “the last things.” ISBN: 978-0881411423. Pub.price $17.00.
Tertullian, On the Resurrection of the Flesh. (Free online resources.)
Wesley, John. (Albert Outler, ed.), John Wesley’s Sermons: An Anthology. (Abingdon, 1991), “The Circumcision of the Heart (1733), 10pp; “Christian Perfection (1741),” 16pp; “The Way to the Kingdom (1746),” 10pp; “The Scripture Way of Salvation (1765),” 10pp; “The End of Christ’s Coming (1781),” 10pp; “The New Creation (1785),” 8pp; “The Wedding Garment (1790),” 8pp. ISBN: 978-0687204953. Pub.price: $18.21.
Engaging a contemporary issue. Students will choose one book from any of the five topics:
The Kingdom of God and the Church
Lohfink, Gerhard, Jesus and Community (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1984), 185pp. ISBN: 0-8006-1802-5. Pub. price $24.10.
Snyder, Howard A. Models of the Kingdom (Wipf & Stock, 2001), 176pp. ISBN: 978-1579107017. Pub. price $22.00.
Wright, N.T. Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection and the Mission of the Church. (New York: HarperCollins, 2008), 289pp. ISBN: 978-0-06-155182-6. Pub.price $9.99.
Contemporary Ecclesiologies
Boff, L. Ecclesiogenesis: The Base Communities Reinvent the Church. (Orbis, 1986). ISBN: 978-0883442142. Pub.price: $22.
Callen, B.L. Radical Christianity: The Believers Church Tradition in Christianity’s History and Future. (Evangel Publishing House, 1999), 221 pp. ISBN: 978-0916035631. Pub.price: $14.95.
Dulles, Avrey. The Catholicity of the Church. (Oxford: OUP, 1987), 208pp. ISBN: 978-0198266952. Pub.price: $60.00
George, T. Pilgrims on the Sawdust Trail: Evangelical Ecumenism. (Baker, 2004). ISBN: 0801027640. Pub.price: $19.99.
González, J. Mañana: Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective. Abingdon, 1990. 186 pages. ISBN: 9780687230679. Pub. price: $20.00.
Harper, B. & Metzger, P.L. Exploring Ecclesiology: An Evangelical and Ecumenical Introduction. (Baker, 2009), 352 pp. ISBN: 1587431734. Pub.price: $21.80.
Hauerwas, Stanley. & Willimon, W.H. Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony. (Nashville: Abingdon, 1989). ISBN: 978-0687361595. Pub.price: $17.00.
Parratt, J. Reinventing Christianity: African Theology Today. Eerdmans, 1995. ISBN: 978-0802841131. Pub.price: $21.00.
Thomas, J.C. Toward a Pentecostal Ecclesiology: The Church and the Fivefold Gospel. CPT Press, 2010. ISBN: 1935931008. Pub.price: $17.99.
Volf, Miroslav. After Our Likeness: The Church as the Image of God. (Eerdmans, 1998). ISBN: 978-0802844408. Pub.price: $32.00.
Ware, Timothy, The Orthodox Church.(London & New York: Penguin, rev. ed., 1993), 368pp. ISBN: 978-0140146561. Pub.price $11.56.
Eschatology, General
Ladd, George Eldon. The Presence of the Future (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1974, 1996), 339pp. ISBN: 0-8028-1531-6. Pub.price $15.58.
Mbiti, J. New Testament Eschatology in an African Background. Oxford University Press, 1971. 228 pages. ISBN: 978-0198216599.
Moltmann, J. The Coming of God: Christian Eschatology. (SCM Press, 1994) (selections). ISBN: 978-0800636661. Pub.price: $25.00.
Pannenberg, W. Systematic Theology. Vol. 3. (Eerdmans, 1997). (eschatology). ISBN: 978-0802864567. Pub.price: $55.00.
Cosmic Eschatology and Science
Wilkinson, David. Christian Eschatology and the Physical Universe (London: T&T Clark, 2010), 256pp. ISBN: 978-0567045461. Pub.price $33.72.
Polkinghorne, John. The God of Hope and the End of the World. (New Haven: Yale, 2003), 192pp. ISBN: 978-0300098556. Pub price: $15.20
Eschatology, Final
Fudge, E.W. & Peterson, R.A. Two Views of Hell. (InterVarsity Press, 2000). ISBN: 978-0830822553. Pub.price: $17.00.
Parry, Robin, and Chris Partridge, eds. Universal Salvation: The Current Debate. (Eerdmans, 2004). ISBN: 978-0802827640. Pub.price: $28.00.
Mission/Missional Ecclesiology: Students will choose one:
Frost, M. & Hirsch, A. The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st Century Church. (Hendrickson, 2003). 256 pp. ISBN: 978-1565636590. Pub.price: $19.95.
Van Gelder, C. The Essence of the Church: A Community Created by the Spirit. (Baker, 2000). ISBN: 978-0801090967. Pub.price: $20.00.
Gelder C. van, ed. Confident Witness. (Gospel and Culture Series.) (Eerdmans, 1999). ISBN: 978-0802846556. Pub.price: $29.00.
Gelder, C. van & Zscheile, D.J. The Missional Church in Perspective: Mapping Trends and Shaping the Conversation. (Baker Acad., 2011), 208 pp. ISBN: 0801039134. Pub.price: $19.99.
Guder, D.L. & Barrett, L., eds. Missional Church. (Eerdmans, 1998). ISBN: 978-0802843500. Pub.price: $28.00.
Hirsch, A. The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating the Missional Church. (Brazos, 2009). 304 pp. ISBN: 1587431645. Pub.price: $19.99.
Newbigin, L. The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society. (Eerdmans, 1989). ISBN: 978-0802804266. Pub.price:$24.00.
Ramachandra, V. The Recovery of Mission: Beyond the Pluralist Paradigm. (Wipf & Stock, 2002). 308 pp. ISBN: 9781592440641. Price: $31.00.
Roxburgh, A. & Boren, S.M. Introducing the Missional Church: What It Is, Why It Matters, How to Become One. (Baker, 2009), 200 pp. ISBN: 978-0801072123. Pub.price: $17.99.
Roxburgh, A. Missional: Joining God in the Neighborhood. (Baker, 2011), 196 pp. ISBN: 978-0801072314. Pub.price: $16.99.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
PREREQUISITES: None. At least one course in biblical studies and in historical theology/church history as well as philosophical theology are strongly recommended.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Systematic Theology “C” (STC).