ST503
Volf
ST503: SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY III. Miroslav Volf.
DESCRIPTION:
- The doctrines of ecclesiology and eschatology will be treated with
reference to their biblical, classical, and contemporary theological
expressions. The course is intended to challenge students to develop their own
understanding of the nature and life of the church, ministry, sacraments,
death, resurrection, judgment, heaven and hell.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- This course is designed to provide the student with an overview of
principal doctrines of the Christian faith. Such knowledge is deemed essential
to the ministry of preaching and teaching in the church of Christ and helpful
in the daily living of the Christian life.
COURSE FORMAT:
- The course will meet once a week for a three-hour session and will
consist of lectures (approximately three hours a week) and discussion
(approximately one hour a week). Lectures will not cover the whole
material that belongs to Systematic Theology III (and is listed in the above
course description) but will rather concentrate on key eschatological
problems. Discussion time is designated to help the students with comprehension
of the reading materials, and will deal primarily with ecclesiological
themes.
REQUIRED READING:
- Bauckham, Richard. The Theology of the Book of Revelation.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993 (160 pp.).
- Grenz, S. J. Theology for the Community of God. Nashville: Broadman
& Holman, 1994 (pp. 603-859).
- Hauerwas, S. and W. Willimon. Resident Aliens. Nashville: Abingdon,
1989.
- Moltmann, J. The Coming of God. San Francisco: Harper, 1996
(portions, approx. 250 pp.).
- Volf, M. Trinity and Community. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997 (300
pp.).
- _______. Work in the Spirit: Toward a Theology of Work. New York:
Oxford University Press, 1991, (pp. 88-122).
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Balthasar, H. U. von. Dare We Hope "That All Men Be Saved"?
San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1986.
- Evans, James. We Have Been Believers. Minneapolis: Fortress Press,
1992.
- Hick, J. Death and Eternal Life. San Francisco: Harper & Row,
1980.
- Keller, Catherine. Apocalypse Now and Then. A Feminist Guide to the End
of the World. Boston: Beacon Press, 1996.
- Küng, H. The Church. Garden City: Doubleday, 1976.
- Moltmann, J. Church in the Power of the Spirit. San Francisco:
Harper & Row, 1977.
- Ratzinger, J. Principles of Catholic Theology: Building Stones for a
Fundamental Theology. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1987.
- Zizioulas, J. Being as Communion. Crestwood: St. Vladimir's Press,
1985.
- Wallis, J. The Soul of Politics. Maryknoll: Orbis Books,
1994.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Short papers, midterm quiz, and a take-home final exam. In lieu of
short papers and the midterm, students who have previously taken overview
courses in Christian doctrine may write a research paper.
PREREQUISITES:
- None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets M. Div. core requirement in Systematic
Theology III (STC).
FINAL EXAMINATION: Take-home.