Spring 2020/Pasadena

HT503

Tibbs

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

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.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: HT503 introduces students to a basic historical and theological knowledge of the doctrines of creation, theological anthropology, soteriology and ecclesiology as these doctrines and associated practices developed especially in the early church, with an eye to developing skills in interpretation and critical appreciation; it thereby seeks to implement the SOT PLO, “Students will have demonstrated capacities for historically informed theological and ethical reflection.”

COURSE FORMAT: This course meets on four Saturdays: (April 4th, April 25th, May 9th, and May 30th) from 8 am-4:30 pm for a total of 34 instructional hours of classroom lecture and discussion plus 6 hours of directed learning activities, for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: selections from the following texts, not to exceed 1,100 pages.

ELECTRONIC COURSE READER contains essays and primary texts by leading theological scholars on contemporary topics, particularly the Trinity and Christology [100 pp.].

Kärkkäinen, Veli-Matti. Trinity and Revelation: A Constructive Christian Theology for the Pluralistic World, Volume 2. William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2014. ISBN: 978-0802868541, Pub. Price $40.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [approx. 350 pp. assigned].

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. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [approx. 300 pp. assigned].

Wiles, Maurice & Mark Santer (eds.) Documents in Early Christian Thought. Cambridge University Press, 1977. ISBN: 978-0521099158, Pub. Price $46.99. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [approx. 100 pp. assigned and use in class].

Student will choose one text from a list of texts provided on the syllabus, which will allow the student to explore an area of specific interest in more depth. [200-250 selected pages].

RECOMMENDED READING: Please see course syllabus for list of recommended reading

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 1,100 pages of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1] [73 hours].
2. Two in-class quizzes, which test the mastery of basic terms and concepts, based primary on lecture material (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1].
3. Four 800-word critical response essays (30%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3]. [24 hours].
4. A research essay on an assigned topic [10 pages] (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [30 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the TH2 or TH4 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. 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.