Western
Seminary Center for Lifelong Learning
Course Descriptions
Systematic and Biblical Theology
Note: Course syllabi for most courses may be found on the WSCLL student website: www.wscll.net/Syllabi/
THS 501E – Knowing the Triune God: Theology I. Gerry Breshears, Ph.D. You will begin to cultivate your ability to think theologically by exploring how theology is done in various approaches in order to develop a practical theological method. Then you will probe God’s progressive revelation focusing on the nature and authority of Scripture before pondering God’s triune nature and work culminating in the incarnation of the Son. Your passion for carrying out God’s mission in the world will expand as you begin to understand how the Father’s revelation has impacted the world He created. Delivered via CD ROM with Internet-based resources. 4 hours or 4 Learning Units.
THS 501XE - Knowing the Triune God: Theology 1 Pt 1. Gerry Breshears, Ph.D. You will begin to cultivate your ability to think theologically by exploring how theology is done in various approaches in order to develop a practical theological method. Then you will probe God’s progressive revelation focusing on the nature and authority of Scripture before pondering God's triune nature. 2 hours or 2 Learning Units.
THS 501YE - Knowing the Triune God: Theology 1 Pt 2. Gerry Breshears, Ph.D. You will continue your study of theology with an exploration of God's work in Creation, and a study of the unique nature of Jesus Christ as the unique God-man. Prerequisite: THS501X or its equivalent. 2 hours or 2 Learning Units.
THS 502E – Glorying the God of our Salvation: Theology II. Gerry Breshears, Ph.D. Continuing the process of learning to think theologically you will now apply yourself to biblical revelation regarding the Son as the source of life. You will investigate humanity, its dignity as image of God and its depravity as sinful beings, the reality and impact of spiritual beings as backdrop for the atoning work of the Son and its application in the aspects of our salvation. Contemplating the majesty of the Son’s work in light of the depth of sin will invigorate our worship and impel our work for His kingdom. Prerequisite: THS501 or THS501E. Delivered via CD ROM with Internet-based resources. 4 hours or 4 Learning Units.
THS 502XE - Glorifying the God of our Salvation: Theology 2 Pt 1. Gerry Breshears, Ph.D. Continuing the process of learning to think theologically you will now apply yourself to biblical revelation regarding the Son as the source of life. You will investigate humanity, its dignity as image of God and its depravity as sinful beings, as well as the reality and impact of spiritual beings. Prerequisite: THS 501. 2 hours or 2 Learning Units.
THS 502YE - Glorifying the God of our Salvation: Theology 2 Pt 2. Gerry Breshears, Ph.D. Based on your theological study to this point, you will focus in this course on the atoning work of the Son and its application in the aspects of our salvation. Contemplating the majesty of the Son's work in light of the depth of sin will invigorate our worship and impel our work for His kingdom. Prerequisite: THS 501, THS 502X. 2 hours or 2 Learning Units.
THS 503E – Living as the Community of the Spirit: Theology III. You will culminate the process of learning to think theologically by exploring the Spirit’s life-giving work. Then you will investigate the church as God’s covenant community and instrument of His present working, ending with the consummation of His kingdom program in end time events. Throughout the course the Spirit will transform us as we see our part in His grand work. Prerequisite: THS 501. 2 hours or 2 Learning Units.
THS 572E – Integrating a Theology of Women in Ministry. Gerry Breshears, Ph.D., Carolyn Mata, M.Div. Near the top of the list of critical issues we are faced with in the church today is deciding what leadership roles women may fill in the church. In this course, you will examine key biblical texts, understand and evaluate the major positions and their underlying assumptions, and apply the resulting principles to ministry situations in our world. 24 video sessions. 2 hours or 2 Learning Units.
ITS Audio Courses
IST 503E – Contemporary Theology I. John S. Feinberg, Ph.D. In this course we shall attempt to examine some of the major trends in contemporary thought. Discussion will cover the theologies of Hegel, Kierkegaard, Barth, Bultmann, Tillich, Wittgenstein, and conclude with the God is Dead theologies of Paul Van Buren and Thomas Altizer. 24 audio sessions. 2 hours or 2 Learning Units.
IST 504E – The Doctrine of Man and Sin. Roger R. Nicole, Th.D., Ph.D. This lecture series is designed as a critical and historical overview of positions regarding the nature of mankind, both as the image of God and as a being corrupted by sin. 24 audio sessions. 2 hours or 2 Learning Units.
IST 505E – The Doctrine of Salvation. Roger R. Nicole, Th.D., Ph.D. This lecture series is designed as a critical and historical overview of the plan and order of salvation, tracing each movement of the process from our regeneration to our final glorification. 24 audio sessions. 2 hours or 2 Learning Units.
IST 506E – The Doctrine of the Trinity. Peter Toon, D. Phil. This course presents the historic, classic and orthodox doctrine of the Holy Trinity. It follows a biblical, historical and dogmatic approach. It seeks to show how and why the classical doctrine/dogma emerged in the fourth century; what have been the major ways this dogma has been understood; and how crucial is this teaching for the right understanding of the relation of God to man and man to God. 24 audio sessions. 2 hours or 2 Learning Units.
IST 507E - Contemporary Theology II. John S. Feinberg, Ph.D. Postmodernism is having a profound influence on the Church, from within and without. Changing ideas about the source and nature of truth are affecting Christians' lives and ministry. In this course, learners examine current trends in contemporary theology and how these trends arose. 2 hours or 2 Learning Units.
