TH403 - The Doctrines of Grace and Eschatology

  • 0 Standard Tuition Fee
  • 4
    Credit Points
  • 0.125 EFT 
  • 7
    AQF level
  • theologyUnit Discipline

Corequisites

8cps of foundational OT and/or NT study, plus 4cps of CH or TH

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will

A. Know and understand

In relation to the doctrines of grace:

  1. The Gospel of God
  2. The concepts of repentance faith, forgiveness, justification, election and grace
  3. The work of the Holy Spirit, especially in regeneration, sanctification and fellowship

In relation to eschatology:

  1. The kingdom of God present and future
  2. Judgment present and future
  3. Consummation of all things in Christ
  4. Death, immediate state, resurrection
  5. Heaven and hell

B. Be able to

  1. Interpret the Bible theologically
  2. Understand the major creeds and confessions and other classical theological statements
  3. Trace the interrelationships with the major themes of Christian theology
  4. Identify the role of cultural and ecclesial contexts in the task of Christian theology
  5. Analyse the relationship between Christian doctrine and individual and corporate Christian life
  6. Present an Analytical, evidence based argument or reflection’

C. Be in a position to

  1. Inform their Christian thinking in both formal and informal study with perspectives about the doctrines of grace and eschatology
  2. Show how the doctrines of grace and eschatology are appropriated in personal life and the life of the community
  3. Apply the doctrines of grace and eschatology to situations and issues in contemporary church and society

Content

Students are required to cover the whole syllabus. But assessment procedures will allow for a certain amount of specialisation, so that students are not expected to study each topic in detail.

Section A : The Doctrines of Grace

  1. The Gospel of God;
  2. Repentance, faith, forgiveness, justification, election and grace;
  3. The work of the Spirit : regeneration, sanctification and fellowship.

Section B : Eschatology

  1. The kingdom present and future;
  2. Judgement present and future;
  3. Consummation of all things in Christ;
  4. Death, intermediate state, resurrection;
  5. Heaven and hell.

Set Readings

Suitable textbooks include:

Erickson, M. J.,  Christian Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1992).

Grenz, S. J., Theology for the Community of God (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2000).

McGrath, A. E., Christian Theology: An Introduction (Oxford: Blackwell, 2002).

Reymond, R. L. A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith. (Nelson, 1998)

 

Prescribed Reading:

In addition to the primary biblical documents, candidates will be expected to be familiar with the relevant sections of the three Creeds and of confessional documents such as the 39 Articles and the Westminster Confession.

A. The Doctrines of Grace

Recommended:

Basinger, D. (ed.) The Case For Freewill Theism. (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 1996).

Bird, M. F., The Saving Righteousness of God: Studies on Paul, Justification and the New Testament. (Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2007).

Bloesch, D. G., The Holy Spirit: Works and Gifts (Downers Grove, IL. : InterVarsity Press, 2000).

Boice, J. M. and P. G. Ryken, The Doctrines of Grace: Rediscovering the Evangelical Gospel. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2002).

Boice, J. M., Whatever Happened to the Gospel of Grace? (Wheaton: Crossway, 2001).

Carson, D. A. and J. D. Woodbridge (eds), Hermeneutics, Authority and Canon. (Leicester: IVP, 1986.

Carson, D. A., Scripture and Truth. Leicester: IVP, 1983).

Cole, G A., He Who Gives Life: The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit. (Wheaton: Crossway, 2007).

Eveson, P., Justification By Faith Alone. (Leominster, UK: Day One, 1998).

Frame, J., Evangelical Reunion. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1991).

Ferguson, S., The Holy Spirit. (Leicester: IVP, 1996).

Horton, M., Four Views on Eternal Security. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002).

Jensen, P., At the Heart of the Universe. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 1997).

Kruse, C. G., Paul, the Law and Justification (Leicester: Apollos, 1996).

Lane, A. N. S., Justification by Faith in Catholic-Protestant Dialogue: An Evangelical Assessment (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 2002).

McCormack, B. (ed.), Justification in Perspective (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2006).

Oden, T., The Justification Reader (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002).

Peterson, D., Possessed by God: A New Testament Theology of Sanctification and Holiness. New Studies in Biblical Theology (Leicester: Apollos, 1995).

Pinnock, C. H. (ed.), Grace Unlimited (Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 1999).

Pinnock, C. H. (ed.) The Grace of God, the Will of Man (Grand Rapids: Academie, 1989).

Piper, J., Counted Righteous in Christ: Should We Abandon the Imputation of Christ’s Righteousness? (Leicester: IVP, 2003).

Piper, J., The Future of Justification: A Response to N.T. Wright (Wheaton, IL : Crossway Books, 2007).

Schreiner, T. R. and B. A. Ware (eds), Still Sovereign: Contemporary Perspectives on Election. Foreknowledge and Grace (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2000).

Seifrid, M., Christ our Righteousness:  Paul’s Theology of Justification (Leicester: Apollos, 2000).

Smith, R., “Justification in ‘the New Perspective on Paul.’” Reformed Theological Review 58 (1999): 16-30.

Smith, R., “A Critique of the ‘New Perspective’ on Justification.” Reformed Theological Review 58 (1999): 98-113.

Smith, R., Justification and Eschatology: A Dialogue with ‘The New Perspective on Paul’ (Reformed Theological Supplement Series 1. May 2001).

Sproul, R. C., Justification by Faith Alone (Orlando: Ligonier Ministries, 1998).

Treier, M., Justification: What’s at Stake in the Current Debates (Downers Grove: IVP, 2004).

‘What’s the Good News? Nine Evangelical Leaders Define the Gospel’. Christianity Today 44/2 (2000): 46-51

 

Classics:

Augustine, “The Spirit and the Letter” Augustine: Later Works L.C.C. (Ed John Burnaby; Philadelphia: Westminster, 1955.)

Barth, K., Chapter VII “The Election of God” Church Dogmatics. II.2; (trans G.W. Bromiley et al; Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1957).

Calvin, J., Volume 3 “The way in which we receive the grace of Christ: what benefits come to us from it and what effects follow” Institutes of the Christian Religion. (Edited by John T McNeill. 2 vols, Library of Christian Classics. Philadelphia: Westminster Pr, 1960).

Edwards, J., ‘Treatise on Grace’. Pages 149-197 in Writings on the Trinity, Grace and Faith (Ed Sang Hyun Lee. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2003).

Erasmus, D., “On the Freedom of the Will” Luther and Erasmus: Free Will and Salvation L.C.C. (eds E. Gordon Rupp & Philip S. Watson; Philadelphia: Westminster, 1969).

Luther, M., “On the Bondage of the Will” Luther and Erasmus: Free Will and Salvation L.C.C. (Eds E .Gordon Rupp & Philip S. Watson; Philadelphia: Westminster, 1969).

Luther, M., “The Two Kinds of Righteousness” Martin Luther: Selections from His Writings (Ed John Dillenberger; New York: Doubleday, 1961).

Pink, A. W., The Sovereignty of God (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1928, 1959).

Hoekema, A. A., Saved by Grace (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989).

 

B. Eschatology

Recommended:

Bauckham, R. (ed.) God Will be All in All: The Eschatology of Jürgen Moltmann (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1999).

Bauckham R. and T. Hart, Hope Against Hope (London: Darton, Longman and Todd, 1997).

Beasley-Murray, P., The Message of the Resurrection: Christ Is Risen! The Bible Speaks Today: Bible Themes Series (Leicester: IVP, 2000).

Bloesch, D. G., Essentials of Evangelical Theology, Volume 2: Life, Ministry, & Hope (London: Harper & Row, 1978).

Bloesch, D. G., The Last Things: Resurrection, Judgment, Glory (Downers Grove: IVP, 2004).

Cameron, N. M. de S. (ed.) Universalism and the Doctrine of Hell: Papers Presented at the Fourth Edinburgh Conference in Christian Dogmatics, 1991. (Carlisle: Paternoster, 1992).

Carson, D. A., ‘On Banishing the Lake of Fire’, The Gagging of God (Leicester: IVP, 1996) pp. 515-536.

Daley, B. E., The Hope of the Early Church: A Handbook of Patristic Eschatology. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991).

Doyle, R. C., Eschatology and the Shape of Christian Belief. (Carlisle: Paternoster, 1999).

Dumbrell, W., The Search for Order: Biblical Eschatology in Focus. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994).

Fudge, E., et. al., Two Views of hell. (Downers Grove: IVP, 2000).

Johnston, P., Shades of Sheol: Death and Afterlife in the Old Testament. (Leicester: IVP, 2002).

Kik, M., The Eschatology of Victory. (Philadelphia: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1971).

König, A., The Eclipse of Christ in Eschatology. (Blackwood: New Creation Publications Inc, 1999).

Milne, B., The Message of Heaven and Hell: Grace and Destiny. The Bible Speaks Today: Bible Themes Series. (Leicester: IVP, 2002).

O'Donovan, O., Resurrection and Moral Order. (Leicester: IVP, 1986).

Petterson, A., ‘Antecedents of the Christian Hope of Resurrection’. Reformed Theological Review 59/1 and 59/2 (2000): 1-15, 53-64.

Shedd, W. G. T., The Doctrine of Endless Punishment. (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1986).

Vos, G., The Pauline eschatology. (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed, 1986).

Wright, N. T., Jesus and the Victory of God. (London: SPCK, 1996).

Wright, N. T., New Heavens, New Earth. (Cambridge: CUP, 1999).

 

Classics:

Aquinas, T., ‘Treatise on the Resurrection’ and ‘Treatise on the Last Things’ Q69-99 Supplement to the Summa Theologica. (Benziger Bros. edition, 1947).

Augustine, “The City of God”. Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church. (Vol II; ed. Philip Schaff; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979).

Barth, K., Commentary on chapter 13, The Epistle to the Romans (6th ed. London OUP, 1933).

Berkouwer, G. C., The Return of Christ (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1966).

Calvin, J., “Chapter IX, Meditation on the Future Life”. Institutes of the Christian Religion. (Edited by John T McNeill. 2 vols, Library of Christian Classics. Philadelphia: Westminster Pr, 1960).

Cullmann, O., Salvation in History. (New York: Harper and Row, 1967).

Dodd, C. H., The Parables of the Kingdom. (London: Fontana, 1961).

Edwards, J., The History of Redemption:Including a History of the Jews to the Destruction of Jerusalem. ([London]: Religious Tract Society, [18--]).

Harris, M. J., Raised Immortal: Resurrection and Immortality in the New Testament. (Basingstoke: Marshall Morgan & Scott, 1983).

Hoekema, A. A., The Bible and the Future. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979).

Ladd, G. E., The Presence of the Future. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1974).

Moltmann, J., Theology of Hope: On the Ground and the Implications of a Christian Eschatology. (Trans James W. Leitch. London: SCM, 1967).

Moltmann, J., The Coming of God: Christian Eschatology. (London: SCM, 1996).

Moltmann, J., Trinity and the Kingdom of God. (London: SCM, 1981).

Schweitzer, A., The Guest of the Historical Jesus: A Critical Study of Its Progress from Reimarus to Wrede. (London: Black, 1926).