WESTERN SEMINARY

                                                                 Portland, Oregon

 

                                           THS 503 - THEOLOGY III

         LIVING AS THE COMMUNITY OF THE SPIRIT

                              Monday evenings, 6–10 p.m. (no class May 26); 2 credit hours

                                                           Summer Semester, 2003

                                                         Gregg R. Allison, Instructor

 

                                                                  SYLLABUS

 

CATALOG DESCRIPTION

 

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.  Credit hours: 2

 

COURSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

 

1.         You will become familiar with the key issues in the theological study of pneumatology (the doctrine of the Holy Spirit), ecclesiology (the doctrine of the Church), and eschatology (the doctrine of the last things).

 

2.         You will synthesize and personalize your theological understanding of the above loci in the writing of a personal doctrinal statement for each area.

 

3.         You will develop some proficiency in critical thinking in the above areas by being exposed to divergent positions on various topics, by studying key Scriptural passages on those matters and developing theological convictions on them, by consulting important theological resources, etc.

 

4.         You will be exposed to the history of the doctrines of the Holy Spirit, the Church, and the last things, as well as to contemporary discussions on them.

 

5.         You will be encouraged to relate your theological understanding of these areas to contemporary issues, ministry situations, personal challenges, etc.

 

6.         You will be stimulated to make appropriate existential responses to the various doctrines studied. For example, it is hoped that through this course you will grow in your dependence upon the power of the Holy Spirit, commitment to and involvement in the Church, and anticipation of our blessed hope, the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

 

 

1.         Regular attendance at, and participation in, class lectures and discussions.

 

 

2.         Thorough reading of the following (25 hours):

 

 

            Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

 

 

J. Rodman Williams, Renewal Theology, vol. 2, pp. 181-236

 

           

            Wayne Grudem, ed., Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? (about half)

 

 

            Darrell Bock, ed., Three Views on the Millennium and Beyond (one third)

 

           

3.         Doctrinal statements (15 hours).  Write a succinct statement of your own personal doctrinal commitment on each of the topics studied.  Your statement on the Holy Spirit should be one page, double-spaced; the doctrine of the Church should be three pages; and your statement on eschatology should be two pages.  A handout entitled "Suggestions for Preparation of Doctrinal Statements" is available to help you, and your work on statements in THS 501 and 502 should serve as a model.  (N.B. doctrinal statements are double-spaced).

 

 

4.         Examination (10 hours).  Adequate demonstration of knowledge gained from the readings, lectures and             discussions on one exam that will combine factual matters, short essays, integrative questions, state and defend questions, ministry applications, etc.

 

 

5.         Theology exercise (10 hours). Write a four-page (double-spaced) paper setting forth your      personal view with regard to the so-called “miraculous” or “sign” gifts. See below in            course assignments for details.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

 

A.  pneumatology, or the doctrine of the Holy Spirit (May 5)

 

            readings:

 

            Grudem, chs. 30 and 39

            Williams, pp. 181-236

 

            doctrinal statement: the Holy Spirit (one page, double-spaced)

 

            personhood

            deity

            Old Covenant ministry

            New Covenant ministry

                        ministry to unbelievers

                        ministry to believers

 

B.  ecclesiology, or the doctrine of the Church (May 12, 19; June 2, 9)

 

            readings:

 

            Grudem, chs. 44-53

 

            theology exercise: spiritual gifts in the Church today

 

            Wayne Grudem, ed., Are Miraculous Gifts for Today?

 

Where do you stand on this issue?  Read (at least) two of the four positions, choosing those which will most help you to articulate your position; also read chapter 5 (pp. 311-349) to get an overview of all four perspectives. Then write a four page (double-spaced) presentation of your view. This may correspond to one of the four positions, it may be a modification of one of them, or it may be a combination of two or more of them.

 

            doctrinal statement: the Church (three pages, double-spaced)

 

            the universal Church

                        definition/nature/characteristics/purpose

                        inauguration

                                   

            the local church

                        definition/nature/characteristics/purpose

                        government

                        ordinances/sacraments

                                                           

C.  eschatology, or the doctrine of the last things (June 16, 23)

 

            readings:

 

            Grudem, chs. 54-57

 

            Bock:

 

·        postmillennialism: 13-14 (introduction); 22-57; skip the historical development of postmillennialism

·        amillennialism: 83-100 (introduction; how the NT treats OT prophecy); 112-129; skip some less important NT passages on amillennialism

·        premillennialism: 157-160 (introduction); 192-227; skip two models of eternal life

 

            doctrinal statement: the last things (two pages, single-spaced)

 

            individual eschatology

                        death

                        the intermediate state (of believers and unbelievers)

 

            cosmic/general eschatology

                        the millennium

                        the Second Coming of Christ

                        the rapture

                        the tribulation

                        resurrections

                        final judgment and eternal punishment

                        the eternal state

 

            final exam (handed out June 23; due June 30)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COURSE  POLICIES

 

 

     Course Grading:

 

            Reading and participation                      10%

            Doctrinal statements                              30%

            Exam                                                    30%

            Applied theology exercises                    30%    

 

 

     Late Assignments:

 

Assignments (theology exercise, doctrinal statements) turned in late will be lowered 1/2 of a grade (e.g. B to B-) for each class day they are turned in after the assigned date. Reading assignments completed late will be lowered 15% for each class day they are completed after the assigned date.   

 

 

     Absence Policy:

 

If you are not able to attend a class session, you must make arrangements to get the notes from a colleague (your instructor will not give out copies of his lecture notes).  You may make arrangements in advance with a colleague to tape a session you know you will miss, but that tape is for your private use only.

 

Your instructor will grant extensions on tests and papers only in the case of a true emergency (serious sickness, death of a family member, etc.).  Do not expect to be given a reprieve for unexcused "emergencies." Part of your preparation in seminary consists of learning to work within strict deadlines, and your instructor will not rob you of valuable lessons by easily granting extensions. Also, your instructor’s contract with Western Seminary ends on June 30, 2003, so extensions beyond that date are not possible.

 

 

     Questions Concerning This Course:

 

Before asking your instructor a question about this course, please carefully consult this syllabus to see if that question has already been answered.

 

 

 

 

N.B. To facilitate note taking and retention of the material, you have purchases structured notes for this course. Under NO CONDITIONS may these notes be reproduced in ANY FORM without my written consent. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER.

 

READING ASSIGNMENTS REPORT

 

A.  pneumatology, or the doctrine of the Holy Spirit

 

            Assignment                 Due Date                    Date Read                   % Credit

 

            G 30                               5/5

 

            G 39                               5/5

 

            Williams                          5/5   

 

 

B. ecclesiology, or the doctrine of the Church

 

            Assignment                 Due Date                    Date Read                   % Credit

 

            G 44                               5/12

 

            G 45                               5/12

 

            G 46                               5/12

 

            G 47                               5/19

 

            G 48                               5/19

 

            G 49                               6/2

 

            G 50                               6/2

 

            G 51                               6/9

 

            G 52                               6/9

 

C. eschatology, or the doctrine of the last things

 

            G 54                               6/16

 

            G 55                               6/16

 

            G 56                               6/16

 

            G 57                               6/16

 

            Bock                               6/23

IMPORTANT DATES

 

 

Pre-class reading assignment: must be completed by the first class session (May 5)

 

Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, chs. 30 and 39

 

J. Rodman Williams, Renewal Theology, vol. 2, pp. 181-236

 

 

Theology Exercise (spiritual gifts): June 9

 

 

Doctrinal Statements (double-spaced)

 

            Holy Spirit (one page):  May 19          

 

            Church (three pages):   June 16           

 

            last things (two pages): June 30            

 

 

Exam: June 30                        

 

 

N.B. On June 23, I will give you a take-home exam, on which you will have one week to work. On June 30, you will turn in two items—the exam and your doctrinal statement on eschatology. Both of these are due on that day (please, no extensions except in the case of emergency).