Winter 2001
ST503
Shuster
ST503: SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY III: ECCLESIOLOGY AND ESCHATOLOGY. Marguerite
Shuster.
DESCRIPTION:
- This is an introductory course on the church, including its nature,
authority, worship and sacraments, and institutional expression; and on
individual and corporate eschatology, including death, resurrection, judgment,
heaven and hell.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- Understanding of the principal doctrines of the Christian faith is
vital to the preaching and teaching ministry of the church, as well as
informing Christian living. Knowledge of what has traditionally been construed
as essential to the church and its ministry is particularly critical in a time
of changing models of the church and ministry. Similarly, awareness of options
and central affirmation in eschatology has heightened importance at a time of
end-of-millennium eschatological interest.
COURSE FORMAT:
- The class will meet for two hours twice a week for ten weeks, for
lecture, discussion, and, perhaps a few (optional) student presentations or an
optional paper. Part of the reading is designed to address issues which receive
lesser attention in the lectures.
REQUIRED READING:
- Choose two:
- Clouse, Robert. The Meaning of the Millennium: Four
Views. InterVarsity Press, 1977.
- Cooper, John W. Body, Soul, and Life Everlasting. Regent College,
1995.
- Hauerwas, Stanley and William Willimon. Resident Aliens. Abingdon,
1989.
- Jewett, Paul K. The Lord's Day. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1971
(reprinted by FTS).
- ________. Infant Baptism and the Covenant of Grace. Eerdmans, 1978
(reprinted by FTS).
- ________. The Ordination of Women. Eerdmans, 1980 (reprinted by
FTS).
- Willis, Jim. The Soul of Politics. Harcourt Brace,
1995.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Choose one (sections relevant to Theology III):
- Berkhof, Louis. Systematic Theology. New ed.
Eerdmans, 1996.
- Grenz, Stanley. Theology for the Community of God. Broadman &
Holman, 1994.
- Oden, Thomas. Life in the Spirit. HarperCollins, 1992.
- Also Recommended (many additional titles will be on reserve):
- Hick, John. Death and Eternal Life. Westminster
John Knox, 1994.
- Moltmann, Jürgen. The Coming of God. Fortress, 1996.
- Volf, Miroslav. After Our Likeness. Eerdmans, 1997.
- Wainwright, Geoffrey. Doxology. Oxford University Press, 1980.
- White, James. Introduction to Christian Worship, 2nd ed. Abingdon,
1990.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- 1,500 pages of reading, selected from required reading and titles
in the recommended or reserve lists. Midterm and final exams.
PREREQUISITES:
- None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
- Meets M. Div. core requirement in Systematic Theology "c" (STC).
FINAL EXAMINATION:
- Yes.