Summer 2006/Pasadena
Two-week Intensive: July 17-28
CH503
Muller

CH503: MEDIEVAL AND REFORMATION THEOLOGY. Richard Muller.


DESCRIPTION: A survey of the development of the Christian doctrine in the western church from Gregory the Great to the Reformation, with emphasis on the rise of scholasticism and the beginnings of the Reformation.

COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: There are four objectives to this course. First, that students become familiar with the central theological doctrines and developments in the church of the Middle Ages and Reformation, particularly those that led to the Reformation and have formed and expressed Protestant identity. Second, that students gain an understanding of the theological controversies of the Middle Ages and Reformation from diverse points of view, including the perspectives of the original participants and those of historians today. Third, that students practice the close reading of selected primary sources in order to analyze and faithfully articulate the theological arguments of a historical text. Fourth, that students reflect on the perennial nature of the doctrinal controversies that shaped Christian identity in this period as these doctrines and practices have engendered contemporary Christian diversity and ecumenical conversation.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: By introducing a significant body of theological and historical data, the course seeks to lead students to a broader perspective on their own ecclesiastical traditions, beliefs, and practices, as well as to a sympathetic appreciation for the unity and diversity of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church of which they are a part. Intensive work in primary sources will help students to acquire an improved facility in the analysis of theological arguments and an increased ability to articulate the meaning of the Christian faith in its historical development--skills that will also benefit the student's reading, understanding, and exposition of Scripture itself.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet daily for two weeks for four-hour sessions of lecture/discussion, with associated readings.

REQUIRED READING:

Fairweather, Eugene R. A Scholastic Miscellany: Anselm to Ockham. Westminster, 1956.

Hillerbrand, Hans J., ed. The Protestant Reformation. Harper & Row, 1968.

Hagglund, Bengt. History of Theology. Concordia, 1968. (Recommended reading prior to first class meeting: section on Medieval-Reformation history.)

Muller, Richard. Dictionary of Latin and Greek Theological Terms. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1985.

Syllabus.

RECOMMENDED READING:
Seeberg, Reinhold. Textbook of the History of Doctrines. 2 vols. Baker, 1979.

ASSIGNMENTS: Completion of required readings prior to each class meeting and participation in discussions. Four short papers on selected topics in the assigned readings (papers contribute 50% of final grade); final examination, in two parts--identifications and essays (50%).
Students may submit one of the written assignments on or before the first Friday of the course in order to receive a grade on that essay and comment on their work prior to the end of the session. All other assignments will be due by September 8, 2004.

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Church History "b" (CHB).

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.