Fall 2005/Pasadena
ST502
Shuster
ST502: SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY 2: CHRISTOLOGY AND SOTERIOLOGY. Marguerite
Shuster.
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.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/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.
RELEVANCE FOR 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.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet for two-hour sessions twice a week for ten
weeks, for multimedia lecture and discussion.
REQUIRED READING:
- Jewett, Paul K. The Holy Spirit: A Summary Statement
(photocopied, handed out in class).
- Thompson, Francis, "The Hound of Heaven," in G. K. Chesterton, The Hound
of Heaven and Other Poems. Branden Books, 1995.
- Choose at least one:
- Aulén, Gustaf. Christus Victor. Wipf
& Stock, 2003.
- Anselm of Canterbury. Why God Became Man, in The Major Works.
Oxford, 1998.
- Choose one:
- Pope-Levison, P. and J. R. Levison. Jesus in Global
Contexts. Westminster, 1992.
- Volker, Küster. The Many Faces of Jesus. Orbis,
2001.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Choose one, if you desire additional general material
(sections relevant to Theology 2):
- Berkhof, Louis. Systematic Theology. New ed.
Eerdmans, 1996; or Grenz, Stanley. Theology for the Community of
God. Eerdmans, 2000; or Oden, Thomas. The Word of Life.
HarperCollins, 1992.
- Placher, William C., ed. Essentials of Christian Theology.
Westminster/John Knox, 2003.
- Also recommended (many additional and equally worthy titles will be
on reserve):
- Davis, Stephen, et al., eds. The Incarnation
(2002). The Redemption (2004). The Resurrection (1999). Oxford
University Press.
- Green, Michael. I Believe in the Holy Spirit. Rev. ed. Eerdmans,
2004.
- Gunton, Colin E. The Actuality of the Atonement. T & T Clark,
2003.
- Husbands, M. and D. Treier. Justification: What's at Stake in the
Current Debates. IVP, 2004.
- O'Collins, Gerald. Christology. Oxford University Press, 1995.
- Ockholm, D. and T. Phillips. Four Views on Salvation in a Pluralistic
World. Zondervan, 1996.
- Schwarz, Hans. Christology. Eerdmans, 1998.
ASSIGNMENTS: 1,500 pages of reading (about 30% of grade). Midterm examination
(35%) and final examination (about 35%, not including reading questions).
Optional extra-credit paper (up to 10%).
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Systematic Theology
"b" (STB).
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.