Fall 2009/Pasadena
CH853/553
Thompson
CH553/853: SEMINAR ON CALVIN AND CALVINISM. John L. Thompson.
DESCRIPTION: This is a doctoral seminar for PhD and ThM students, open to a
limited number of advanced MA and MDiv students with permission of instructor.
The course is designed to introduce students to the thought of John Calvin in
his sixteenth-century context by reading and analyzing selected writings. The
2009 seminar will focus primarily on Calvin's Institutes, supplemented
by excerpts from commentaries, controversial writings, and pastoral texts.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Calvin's theology was formed in the
crucible of sixteenth-century conflicts, all of which bore ministerial,
ecclesiastical, exegetical, and doctrinal dimensions. Students concerned to
understand the Reformed tradition of Protestant theology can benefit from the
various ways in which Calvin stands as a model of the pastor-theologian and
thereby become better formed theologically--that is, pastorally--by studying
his life and writings with care so as to learn from his successes and
failures.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who pass this course will be able to demonstrate
familiarity with the content of John Calvin's Institutes and other
selected writings, as well as an ability to represent and interact critically
with secondary literature in this field. Students at the ThM and PhD level will
further demonstrate the ability to conceive and execute a research agenda
leading to a competent essay on a topic pertinent to this course.
COURSE FORMAT: Seminar format, meets for three hours weekly to discuss
readings and issues.
REQUIRED READING:
- Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559). 2
vols. Westminster, 1960. [575 pp. read]
- Lane, Anthony N. S. A Reader's Guide to Calvin's Institutes. Baker,
2009. [160 pp. read]
- McKim, Donald K., ed. Cambridge Companion to John Calvin. Cambridge
University Press, 2004. [311 pp. read]
- Naphy, William G. Calvin and the Consolidation of the Genevan
Reformation. Westminster John Knox, 2003. [190 pp. read]
- Various other readings from and about Calvin, to be furnished
electronically.
- One additional text of the student's choice, from a list available at http://documents.fuller.edu/sot/faculty/thompson_john/CH853syllabus.pdf.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- De Greef, Wulfert. The Writings of John Calvin. Expanded
edition. Westminster John Knox, 2008.
- Muller, Richard A. Dictionary of Latin and Greek Theological Terms.
Baker, 1985.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
- Assigned readings (1500 pages for CH553; 2000 pages for CH853).
- Weekly written response to readings, completed before each class (40% for
553; 15% for 853).
- Critical book review, with class presentation (20% for 553; 10% for 853).
- Weekly Latin tutorials (10%).
- Final examination, take-home essay, due at end of term (30% for 553; 15%
for 853).
- Original research paper, outline due week 6 (50% for 853; optional for 553
students, who may substitute a research paper for #3 & #5 above).
PREREQUISITES: For MA/MDiv students only: Church History "B" and permission of
instructor.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: MDiv elective.
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (7/09)