DESCRIPTION:

This course is designed to provide a foundational understanding of Christian beliefs about Christ, salvation, and the Holy Spirit. Topics include biblical and historical developments of Christological and pneumatological traditions, their contemporary and contextual/intercultural varieties, various approaches to election, atonement, salvation, healing, and Spirit-baptism. On the basis of biblical and historical developments, a contemporary Evangelical theology will be constructed in dialogue with ecumenical and contextual/intercultural perspectives.

An essential part of preparation for Christian ministry is to learn to think theologically through issues of faith and ministry. The student is encouraged to assess and (re-)affirm his/her spiritual and doctrinal heritage, develop his/her own theology and cultivate ecumenical and cultural sensitivity toward other traditions.

The class will meet two weeks daily for four-hour sessions of lectures, discussions, and some student presentations.

Blue, Ken. Authority to Heal. InterVarsity Press, 1987.

Grenz, S. J. Theology for the Community of God. Eerdmans, 2000, pp. 243-460.

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. To Know Christ. A Contemporary Introduction to Christology (photocopy).

_______________. Pneumatology. The Holy Spirit in International, Ecumenical, and Historical Perspective. Baker, 2002.

_______________. One with God: Salvation as Deification and Justification (photocopy).

Choose one contextual/intercultural text from below or of the student's choice (with approval):

Barr, W. R. Constructive Christian Theology in the Worldwide Church. Eerdmans, 1997.

Pope-Levison, P. and Levison, J. R. Jesus in Global Contexts. Westminster, 1992.

Schreiter, R. J., ed. Faces of Jesus in Africa. Orbis, 1991.

Sobrino, J., ed. Jesus in Latin America. Orbis, 1987.

Sugirtharajah, R. S., ed. Asian Faces of Jesus. Orbis, 1995.

Volker, Küster, The Many Faces of Jesus. An Intercultural Christology. Orbis, 2001.

Gunton, C. E. The Articulation of Atonement. Eerdmans, 1989.

Kraus, N. C. Jesus Christ Our Lord: Christology from a Disciple's Perspective. Herald Press, 1990.

LaDue, W. J. Jesus Among Theologians. Contemporary Interpretations of Christ. Trinity, 2001.

Moltmann, Jürgen. The Way of Jesus Christ. Harper & Row, 1990.

__________. The Spirit of Life: A Universal Affirmation. Fortress Press, 1992.

Pannenberg, W. Systematic Theology. Vol. 2. Eerdmans, 1991.

Pinnock, C. A Flame of Love: A Theology of the Holy Spirit. InterVarsity Press, 1993.

(1) 1,000 pages of required reading. (2) Reading responses: about 15 pages. (3) A research paper, 10 pages (4) Take-home final exam; topics will be given in the beginning of the course.

Meets M.Div. core requirement in Systematic Theology "B" (STB).

Yes, take-home.