ST517: Christology, Soteriology, Eschatology Reformed Theological Seminary, New York City Fall 2016

Transcription

1 ST517: Christology, Soteriology, Eschatology Reformed Theological Seminary, New York City Fall 2016 Howard Griffith Please feel free to contact me at Course Description This course explores biblical doctrine from a systematic perspective. Topics include Christology, soteriology and eschatology. Class Meetings 1. Saturday, September 10, 9AM-5:30PM; Format: Dr. Griffith in NYC classroom 2. Saturday, October 1, 9AM-5:30PM; Format: Dr. Griffith via Google Hangouts 3. Saturday, October 22, 9AM-5:30PM; Format: Dr. Griffith in NYC classroom 4. Saturday, November 12, 9AM-5:30PM; Format: Dr. Griffith via Google Hangouts 5. Saturday, December 3, 9AM-5:30PM; Format; Dr. Griffith in NYC classroom Required Books 1 Sinclair B. Ferguson, The Whole Christ; ISBN: Richard B. Gaffin, By Faith, Not By Sight, Paul and the Order of Salvation, Second Edition; ISBN: Gregory MacDonald (= Robin Parry), The Evangelical Universalist, 2 nd Edition; ISBN: Pierre Ch. Marcel, In God s School; ISBN: Donald Macleod, The Person of Christ; ISBN: Donald Macleod, Christ Crucified: Understanding the Atonement; ISBN: John Murray, Redemption Accomplished and Applied; ISBN: Other Required Reading (on the Modules section in Canvas) Richard B. Gaffin, The last Adam, the life-giving Spirit Richard B. Gaffin, Theonomy and Eschatology: Reflections on Postmillennialism 1 A number of these titles are available as e-books. I recommend printed books for study (though I do not require that you purchase them). The titles by Murray, Gaffin and Macleod are books you will almost certainly want to read and reread. 1

2 Jonathan Gibson, For Whom Did Christ Die? Particularism and Universalism in the Pauline Epistles John Murray, Collected Writings, Vol. 2, selections on Definitive Sanctification James I. Packer, Arminianisms Fred Sanders, Introduction to Christology: Chalcedonian Categories for the Gospel Narrative, 1-36 Francis Turretin, Institutes of Elenctic Theology, v. 2, selections. Cornelis P. Venema, Christ and the Future, The Bible s Teaching About the Last Things, selections The Westminster Confession of Faith (WC) Assignments 1. Exams (50 %): Students will take 2 short essay exams that assess their understanding and articulation of the course lectures, reading assignments, and relevant creeds and confessions. See the Assignments section of the Canvas course homepage. Details will be discussed in class. The mid-term exam is due, uploaded to the Canvas course homepage by 11:59PM on October 6, The Final exam is due, uploaded to the Canvas course homepage by 11:59PM on December 10 th, Reading report (25 %): Attached to the final exam, students will turn in a reading report that states the percentage of assigned readings that they have read with reasonable care by the due date of the final exam. 3. Theological essay (25 %): All students will write a brief theological essay that compares two writings on the incarnation (specifics will be discussed in class). Draw upon knowledge gained from lectures and readings. The paper should contain a clear thesis statement, follow a coherent outline, and address both theological and practical dimensions of the doctrine. The essay is due uploaded to the Canvas course homepage by 11:59PM on November 19, Academic Policies 1. Late assignments: apart from exceptional circumstances, I will not accept late assignments for credit. 2. Plagiarism: plagiarism, whether intentional or unintentional, will result in a failing grade for the course. Reading Assignments Due 1. September 10 Marcel, In God s School, pp (Lessons 1-12) Gaffin, The last Adam, the life-giving Spirit WC chapters 7-8 Macleod, Person of Christ 2. October 1 2

3 Sanders, Introduction to Christology, 1-36 Macleod, Christ Crucified Gibson, For Whom Did Christ Die? 3. October 22 Marcel, In God s School, (Lessons 13-16) Packer, Arminianisms Ferguson, The Whole Christ Gaffin, By Faith WC chapters November 12 Murray, Redemption Accomplished and Applied, Turretin (not Calvin), Institutes, Volume 2: Murray, Collected Writings, Vol. 2: Marcel, In God s School, (Lessons 24-27) 5. December 3 Venema, Christ and the Future, selections WC chapters MacDonald, Evangelical Universalist Gaffin, Theonomy and Eschatology Lecture Outline 1. Christology The gospel. First and last Adam. Challenges. a. Person of Christ i. Plan of salvation 1. Pactum salutis, Historia salutis, Ordo Salutis 2. Covenant Mediator, Old and New Testaments. Three offices. ii. Pre-existence iii. Incarnation (historia salutis) iv. Unipersonality 1. Councils and controversies. 2. The one Christ who acts. 3. The flowering of the covenant. b. Work of Christ i. In suffering/humiliation 1. Threefold office 3

4 2. Obedience 3. Atonement a. Paradoxes of Scripture. b. Death as sacrifice offered to God motivated by God s love for guilty sinners. c. Imputation. d. Apostolic doctrine i. Expiation. ii. Propitiation. iii. Reconciliation. iv. Redemption. v. Victory. 4. Definite Atonement. 5. Free offer of the gospel. ii. In glory/exaltation 1. Resurrection as the redemption of Christ 2. Pentecost/Life-giving Spirit 3. The threefold office continues 2. Soteriology (ordo salutis) a. Orientation to Soteriology i. What is grace? RC, Reformed, Arminian. ii. The centrality of Christ s resurrection. b. Union with the resurrected Christ i. Predestinarian, redemptive historical (representative), living (existential). ii. The two-fold benefit: justification and sanctification. iii. Context of union: calling and regeneration. iv. Realization of union: faith and repentance. v. Benefits of union: 1. Sanctification. 2. Justification. 3. Perseverance. 4

5 3. Eschatology (historia salutis and ordo salutis) a. Death, heaven and hell. b. The new world. 5