TH602 - The Doctrine of God and the Work of Christ

  • 0 Standard Tuition Fee
  • 4
    Credit Points
  • 0.125 EFT 
  • 8
    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 Christian doctrine of God

1. The being and attributes of God.

2. The person of Christ.

3. The Holy Spirit.

4. The Holy Trinity.

In relation to the work of Christ

5. His incarnation and ministry.

6. The death and resurrection of Jesus.

7. His ascension and session.

8. Leading theologians and their interpretations of the doctrine of God and the work of Christ.

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.

7. Discuss interpretations and applications of the doctrine of God and the work of Christ.

C. Be in a position to

1. Inform their Christian thinking in both formal and informal study  with perspectives about the doctrine of God and the work of Christ

2. Show how knowledge of the doctrines of God and the work of Christ is appropriated in personal life and the life of the community.

3. Apply the doctrines of God and the work of Christ to situations and issues in contemporary church and society.

4. Evaluate uses of the doctrine of God and the work of Christ.

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 Christian Doctrine of God

1. The being and attributes of God;

2. The Person of Christ, his humanity and deity;

3. The Holy Spirit;

4. The Holy Trinity;

Section B : The Work of Christ

1. His incarnation and ministry;

2. The death and resurrection of Jesus;

3. His ascension and session.

Teaching Aims

a. Assist candidates in gaining a grounding in the triune nature of God;

b. Introduce candidates to the characteristics of each of the three “persons” and their work;

c. Help students develop an integrated understanding of the work of Christ; and

d. Deepen candidates’ understanding of what the work of Christ means for them.

Set Readings

In all Theology units, 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.

Prescribed
Student should become familiar with the relevant sections of one of the following:

Erickson, M. J.,  Christian Theology (Grand Rapids: Baker,2nd ed. 2003).

Frame, J., Salvation Belongs to the Lord: An Introduction to Systematic Theology (Phillipsburg NJ: P&R, 2006).

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

Grudem, W., Systematic Theology (Downers Grove IL: IVP, 2007).

Kärkkäinen, V-M., The Doctrine of God: A Global Introduction. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004).

McGrath, A., Christian Theology: An Introduction (London: Wiley-Blackwell 3rd ed. 2006).

Migliore, D., Faith with Understanding (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2nd ed. 2004).

Oden, T. C., Classic Christianity: A Systematic Theology (New York: Harper Collins, 2009).

Recommended

The Doctrine of God

Bloesch, D., God the Almighty (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2005).

Erickson. M. J., God the Father Almighty (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006).

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

Crisp, O., Divinity and Humanity: The Incarnation Reconsidered (Cambridge: CUP 2007).

George, T., God the Holy Trinity (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006).

Grenz, S. J., Rediscovering the Triune God: the Trinity in Contemporary Theology (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress Press,  2004).

Gunton, C. E., Act and Being: Towards a Theology of the Divine Attributes (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003).

Gunton, C. E., Father, Son and Holy Spirit: Toward a Fully Trinitarian Theology (London/New York: T. and T. Clark, 2003).

Johnston, E. A., She Who Is (New York: Crossroad,2002).

Kärkkäinen, V.-M., Christology. A Global Introduction (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003).

Letham,  R., The Holy Trinity: In Scripture, History, Theology, and Worship (Phillipsburg NJ: P & R, 2004).

Torrance, T. F., The Christian Doctrine of God: One Being, Three Persons (Edinburgh/New York: T & T  Clark,1996, Paperback ed. 2001).

The Work of Christ

Bloesch, D., Jesus Christ: Savior and Lord (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2005).

Boersma, H., Violence, Hospitality and the Cross: Reappropriating the Atonement Tradition (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2004).

Ford, D. F. and M. Higton (eds), Jesus (Oxford; New York: OUP, 2002).

Gunton, C. (ed), The Theology of Reconciliation: Essays in Biblical and Systematic Theology (London/New York: T. & T. Clark, 2003).

Hill, C. E. and F. A. James (eds.), The Glory of the Atonement: Biblical, Theological and Practical Perspectives (Downers Grove: IVP, 2004).

Holmes, S., The Wondrous Cross (Carlisle: Paternoster, 2007).

Marshall, I. H., Aspects of the Atonement: Cross and Resurrection in the Reconciliation of Humanity (Carlisle: Paternoster, 2008).

Mattes, M. C., The Role of Justification in Contemporary Theology (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004).

Peterson, D. (ed.), Where Wrath and Mercy Meet (Carlisle: Paternoster, 2001).

Sherman, R. J., King, Priest and Prophet :A Trinitarian Theology of Atonement (Edinburgh: T.& T. Clark , 2004).

Stott, J., The Cross of Christ (Leicester UK/Downers Grove IL: IVP, 20th Anniversary edition, 2007).

Classics

Aulen, G., A G Herbert (trans), Christus Victor: A Historical Study of the Three Main Types of the Idea of the Atonement  (London: SPCK 1965 reprint of  1931 ed.).

Brunner, E., (trans. Olive Wyon), Mediator: A Study of the Central Doctrine of the Christian Faith  (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1947 (1st ed. (1927).

Moltmann, J., The Crucified God (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1993).

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

Morris, L., The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross (London: Tyndale, 1960).

Morris, L., The Lord From Heaven (Rev. ed.; London:IVP, 1995).

Owen, J., “The Death of Death in the Death of Christ”, in W. H. Goold (ed), The Works of John Owen (London/ Edinburgh: Johnstone and Hunter,1852 Vol X, III, VI, 2 61-264).

Schillebeeckx, E., Jesus (New York: Crossroad, 1990).

Wand, J. W. C., The Atonement (London: SPCK, 1963).

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