Birmingham Theological Seminary s2

Birmingham Theological Seminary

2200 Briarwood Way

Birmingham, AL 35243

205-776-5650

Summer 2014 Professor: Rev. Jim Maples

ST3528 Systematic Theology III 256-531-6529

Class Hours: 2

Course Purpose

The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the study of Christology, focusing on the person and work of Christ. A survey of the nature, states, and work of Christ will be presented.

Course Objectives

1. The student will be able to describe and explain the nature, states, and work of Christ.

2. The student will be able to describe the necessity of and implications of these various

doctrines for Christian orthodoxy.

3. The student will be able to describe common historical errors in these various

doctrines and the modern form of such errors.

4. The student will be prepared for further reading and study and will be able to critically

evaluate different positions in the area of Christology.

Course Texts

Athanasius. On the Incarnation: the Treatise De Incarnation Verbi Dei/St.Athanasius.

trans and ed. by a religious of C.S.M.V. with an introduction by C.S. Lewis.

Crestwood, New York: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1996.

Berkhof, Louis. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.,

1996 (pp. 305-412).

Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. trans. Henry Beveridge. Wm. B.

Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997 (Book II, chapters xii-xvii).

Fairweather, Eugene R., ed. and trans. A Scholastic Miscellany: Anselm to Ockham.

Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1956 (pp. 100-183).

Murray, John. Redemption Accomplished and Applied. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans

Publishing Co., 1961 (Part I, pp. 1-78).

The Westminster Confession of Faith. Atlanta: Committee for Christian Education &

Publications PCA, 1990. (Chapter VIII).

Note: Cur Deus Homo by Anselm (Fairweather) and De Incarnatione by Athanasius may be accessed on the internet if you do not want to buy these two books.

Course Requirements

1. Class attendance

2. Completion of all assigned reading

3. Write a theological paper of at least 10 pages and not more than 15 pages exclusive of footnotes, bibliography, title page, and table of contents on any of the topics listed below. You may write on another subject with the professor’s prior approval. All papers must be formatted in accordance with Turabian Chicago standards including the title page.

The Hypostatic Union

The Nature and Extent of the Atonement

The Virgin Birth of Christ

Anselm’s Contribution to the Theology of the Atonement

The Doctrine of Imputation

Athanasius’ Contribution to the Doctrine of the Incarnation

The Active and Passive Obedience of Christ

4. A mid-term exam made up of short answer, multiple choice, and short essay questions.

5. A final exam which will lean more to short answer and essay questions.

Papers

BTS has made the decision to adopt the Turabian style of writing format for all papers, clinicals, dissertations (DMin) and reports. Also, all papers are to be double spaced, 12-point font and Times New Roman script. This will bring consistency and less confusion for both students and professors. In this technological age, information is readily available; make sure that you understand about giving reference sources the proper recognition.

The theological paper of up to fifteen pages should incorporate (on average) two footnotes per page and a bibliography of eight to twelve references and the required extracurricular research to support such a paper.

Grading

All course materials must be submitted to the professor at the end of the semester (last day of class). Thereafter, course materials may be submitted for up to six weeks after the end of the semester directly to the office of the registrar with the permission of the professor. If a student submits course materials after the end of the semester but within the six week grace period, the student’s grade will be lowered by one letter grade. The course materials will not be accepted after the six week grace period and a failing grade will be posted to the student’s transcript.

Grading

1. Completion of assigned reading 10%

2. Theological paper 30%

3. Mid-term exam 25%

4. Final exam 30%

5. Class attendance and participation 5%

Course Outline

June 5th – Introduction, exposition of John 1:1-18 and Colossians 1:15-20

The names of Christ Read: WCF, Berkhof pp. 305-315

June 12th – Christ’s divine nature and human nature Read: Athanasius,

Berkhof pp. 315-320, Calvin II.12-14

Necessity of the two natures and common errors related to Christ’s nature

June 19th – No class – concentrate on reading assignments and paper

June 26th – The hypostatic union Read: Berkhof pp. 321-330

Review of the Nature of Christ

July 3rd – No Class – work on reading/paper

July 10th – Exposition of Philippians 2:5-11

Christ’s humiliation, exaltation, return Read: Berkhof pp. 331-355

July 17th – Mid-term exam

July 24th – Christology in contemporary study Read: Fairweather

The work of Christ

July 31st – The prophetic office Read: Berkhof 356-366, Calvin II.15

The priestly office

August 7th – The priestly office (cont’d) Read: Murray, Berkhof pp. 367-405,

The theology of the atonement Calvin II.16-17

August 14th – The extent of the atonement

Errors concerning the atonement

August 21st – The Kingly Office Read: Berkhof pp. 406-412

Theological Paper Due

August 28th – Final exam